FARMER'S CYCLOPEDIA OF LIVE STOCK 



of determining with some certainty 

 whether the animal has been exposed to 

 infectious diseases in other horses, or 

 whether the sickness is of a noninfec- 

 tious character and due to some condi- 

 tions in the environment of the particu- 

 lar horse. The condition of the coat, 

 especially if it appears rough and star- 

 ing, may indicate the presence of fever, 

 without any other symptom. Moreover, 

 the mucous membrane of the mouth and 

 eyes readily indicate the congested con- 

 dition which accompanies fever. In ad- 

 ministering medicine to horses, several 

 methods are at the disposal of the 

 farmer. (See under veterinary medi- 

 cines.) 



Influenza also called pink eye, epizoo- 

 tic, bilious fever, typhoid fever of the 

 horse, etc, is a highly contagious disease 

 of the horse, ass and mule, accompanied 

 with fever, changes in the blood, stupe- 

 faction, great depression and nervous 

 disturbances. One attack of the disease 

 ordinarily confers immunity. Some- 

 times influenza occurs merely in scat- 

 tered cases, but under other conditions, 

 not well understood, it may appear as 

 a general epizootic, affecting large num- 

 bers of horses. Simple cases of influenza 

 are not necessarily serious, but the dis- 

 ease is sometimes followed by troubles 

 in the nervous and blood systems. 



On account of the fact that one at- 

 tack of the trouble nearly always pro- 

 tects the animal against other attacks, 

 old animals which have had the disease 

 and recovered from it are safer to buy 

 than younger animals which have not 

 been affected. Apparently lack of ex- 

 ercise and over-feeding in young horses 

 are predisposing causes of influenza. 

 The symptoms occur within from four 

 to seven days after exposure. In mild 

 cases they may consist merely of a 

 short course of fever accompanied with 

 considerable depression and stupefaction 

 of the animal. The horse stands with 

 his head low and occasionally shows 

 chills and champing with his teeth. 

 The special senses are often affected, so 

 that the horse cannot hear, see or taste 

 correctly. The eye is greatly congested 

 and this gives rise to the term pink eye. 

 A reddish or saffron color also appears 

 in the mouth. During the course of the 

 disease the fetlocks and belly may swell 

 to a considerable extent. The disease 

 ordinarily lasts from six to ten days and 



during this time the horse may lose 

 from thirty to seventy-five pounds. At 

 times nearly half of the cases are com- 

 plicated with intestinal or pulmonary 

 troubles and when the lungs are affected 

 with a form of pneumonia the mortality 

 is very high. In fact influenza may be 

 followed by congestion of the feet, 

 pleurisy, peritonitis and various other 

 complications. 



As long as the appetite remains the 

 horse may be given small quantities of 

 grain, bran or hay, with roots or apples. 

 One method of reducing the tempera- 

 ture consists in giving large enemas of 

 cold water and quinine in one dram 

 doses. If the lungs are affected, it is nec- 

 essary to blanket and otherwise protect 

 the horse, as in cases of pneumonia. 

 Influenza, at best, is a rather serious 

 disease and proves fatal in a large per- 

 centage of cases, especially in young an- 

 imals. The percentage of cases in which 

 the lungs are affected is also high. 



Strangles — This disease is also called 

 distemper, catarrhal fever, or colt ill, 

 and is an infectious disease most fre- 

 quently seen in young animals. One at- 

 tack protects the animal against another. 

 The fever lasts for a few days, but dur- 

 ing the progress of the disease, pus may 

 form in the lungs and frequently absces- 

 ses develop in various parts of the body. 

 The first symptoms are sluggishness, ir- 

 regularity of appetite, increase in thirst, 

 a dry, staring coat, and rose color in the 

 mucous membranes of the eye and 

 mouth. After two or three days the an- 

 imal coughs and a discharge takes place 

 from the nostrils, the discharge being 

 first watery and later becoming thick 

 and yellowish in color. Later a swell- 

 ing takes place in the throat, between 

 the jaw bones. This swelling is puffy, 

 hot and sensitive and soon develops into 

 a large abscess, which breaks spontane- 

 ously, or may be opened. In simple 

 cases recovery takes place within about 

 two weeks. If the swelling in the throat 

 is accessible, it must be opened in order 

 to prevent the pus from burrowing too 

 deeply in the muscles. In some cases 

 there is more or less delirium, plunging 

 and involuntary movements, but mild 

 cases require little treatment, except 

 careful diet and protection from cold 

 drafts. If the fever is high, Glauber 

 salts may be administered in doses of a 

 handful three times daily. The swelling 

 about the throat may be treated with 



