164 DIFFICULTY OF STALING. 



This does him no harm ; but, on the contrary, soothes 

 the irritability. As for medicine; iodine is here the 

 best that we are acquainted with, and it may be given 

 in the form recommended under the head of hydro- 

 thorax (page 117). 



After the discharge has abated, a few tonics ; very 

 gentle work; and some slight nursing, will usually 

 restore the horse to its former health : but during the 

 attack the animal should remain an inmate of the 

 stable. 



DIFFICULTY OF STALING. 



There is sometimes another and an opposite conse- 

 quence of bad food ; or the affection may be also 

 caused by tampering with diuretic medicines; it is 

 more dangerous than profuse staling. The horse 

 strains to void his urine ; the effort is evidently attended 

 with pain : and, after all, he is only able to evacuate a 

 small quantity. The groom, little thinking that this is 

 owing to the muscle of the urethra being constringed ; 

 either from spasm or sympathy with the surrounding 

 substances; gives a diuretic ball to overcome the stop- 

 page. He often does overcome it : for he determines 

 a quantity of fluid to the part, which no obstacle can 

 resist; but he does this at the hazard of producing 

 inflammation, or causing rupture of the bladder. 



In mild cases, gentle measures will be all that 

 is required. In other instances, however, the symp- 

 toms will be violent and alarming; the paroxysms 

 being most severe, and the brain even becoming 

 affected. The horse should at once have the catheter 

 passed; but no violence should be used if the spasm 

 resist its entrance. The hand should be introduced 



