THE HORSE IN SICKNESS AND DISEASE 375 



It is a consequence of excessive feeding. Prurigo may be 

 looked upon as the simplest form of surfeit. 



The Treatment must be such as tends to relieve plethora, 

 and to remove any inflammatory disposition that may exist 

 in the system ; at the same time the eruption itself should 

 be as much as possible encouraged. In cases of simple 

 evanescent eruption, nothing more is required, in general, 

 than the substitution of a mash for a corn diet — green 

 meat, if it can be procured, for hay — chilled water, warm 

 clothing and bandages, and additional walking exercise. 

 Should the eruption evince a permanent character, or 

 should it show a disposition to relapse, it may become 

 requisite to bleed and purge moderately ; and these evacu- 

 ations may be followed up by cooling febrifuges — antimony 

 and nitre — mingled in powder with the animal's mashes. 

 The following is good : 



Nitre 3 drachms. 



Sulphur 4 drachms. 



Black antimony .... 2 drachms. 

 Mix with bran and give in the corn. 



When the lumps on the skin are bursting and discharg- 

 ing, the time for evacuating remedies seems to have gone 

 by. We may then content ourselves with a cooling 

 regimen, and the exhibition of alteratives ; and sponge 

 the surface with warm water. Though, ''should the skin 

 require excitement," the same author recommends "frictions 

 with camphorated spirits." 



HIDEBOUND. 



When a horse's hide or skin sticks to his ribs, as it were, 

 and cannot be drawn out or moved as in the healthy state, 

 he is said to be hidebound. It indicates great weakness 

 and poverty, and sometimes a diseased state of the mesen- 

 teric vessels, and consumption. It is generally occasioned 

 by ill-usage, and bad or insufficient food, and cannot be 

 removed without proper feeding and good treatment. 

 One of the great causes is turning the animal out in a 

 strawyard. 



The following powder may be given daily in the food, 

 the effect of which will be, by stimulating the stomach and 



