t 



COUGH. 371 



fact that it is more violent in the morning than during other por- 

 tions of the day, and by its being continuous. It is described as 

 being of a " dry " character. Knowledge of the animal's age, and 

 examination of his mouth, to see if his gums are in an inflamed 

 condition, may aid us in determining its nature. Four-year olds 

 are said to be often affected in this manner. The treatment should 

 consist in giving the horse soft food for a few days with half a 

 pint of linseed oil mixed in it every day. Half an ounce of nitre 

 may be dissolved in the drinking water daily. 



2. COUGH DUE TO CHILL.— I am inclined to regard the condi- 

 tion shown by this cough as a mild form of laryngitis. Some horses, 

 from a naturally irritable state of their air-passages, are very apt 

 to develop a cough on trifling provocation. Although serious chest 

 affections are often passed over as "merely cough," we should re- 

 member that cough can be caused by an irritable condition of the 

 air-passages, without the occurrence of actual, or, at least, marked 

 inflammation. The treatment, in such cases, should consist in 

 warm clothing, avoidance of cold and wet, and feeding on green 

 meat, and on bran and linseed mashes, with half an ounce of 

 nitre daily in the water for a few days. No corn should be 

 given. In India, four or five pounds of young bamboo leaves 

 may be supplied daily with advantage. If these simple remedies 

 be not eftectual, give, morning and evening, the camphor and 

 belladonna electuary (p. 370) ; and stimulate the throat with equal 

 jDarts of ammonia, turpentine, and oil. As cough often appears 

 to be infectious, the animal should be removed away from his 

 fellows, esj)ecially if they are valuable. 



Racehorses are sometimes liable to get coughs, if, after exercise, 

 the hollow space between the branches of the lower jaw be not 

 promptly and carefully dried. The practice of making horses wear 

 " night caps '' (short hoods) tends, I think, to render them liable 

 to coughs. 



3. SYMPATHETIC COUGHS are generally caused by indigestion 

 or worms, for which the animal should be specially treated. 



4. CHRONIC COUGH often ajDpears as a result of sore throat, 

 influenza, or acute bronchitis, or as an accompaniment of chronic 

 bronchitis, Avhich, excepting the cough, and perhaps a slight run- 

 ning from the nose, may present no other symptoms of ill-health 

 to the casual observer. This cough is hard, dry, ringing, and 

 somewhat distressing. It is easily excited by exercise. A horse 

 which suffers from chronic bronchitis is always more or less " short- 

 winded." 



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