470 GENEEAL DISEASES. 



abscess is in course of formation. When death occurs, it is almost 

 always due to blood poisoning. " Frequently and particularly at 

 the time of convalescence, purpura appears as a complication of 

 strangles " (Friedherger and Frohner). In some cases, for a 

 month, or even more, before the abscess appears, the animal loses 

 condition; his coat stares; he becomes "hide-bound"; has a 

 cough ; and is " out of sorts. ^' This state has been sometimes 

 mistaken for glanders. 



The PERIOD OF INCUBATION is stated by Cadeac to vary 

 from three to five days. Friedberger and Frohner put it at from 

 four to eight days. 



TREATMENT. — If the animal be at grass, he may be taken up 

 and put into a comfortable stall, which should possess every con- 

 dition necessary for health ; such as, proper ventilation, good 

 situation, and freedom from crowding. At the same time we must 

 remember that attacks of strangles are often so mild, that an 

 affected animal which is at grass, need not be taken up ; supposing, 

 of course, that the weather is favourable. Under such circum- 

 stances, I would prefer to leave him at grass, with a comfortable 

 hovel or loose box at hand, so long as he keeps in good spirits. We 

 should give a laxative, though fairly generous diet, which may 

 consist of bran and linseed mashes, gruel, boiled barley, carrots and 

 freshly-cut grass. If there be constipation, administer an enema 

 (p. 632), and, if necessary, give half a pint of linseed oil as a drench. 

 It is advisable that the bowels should be regulated by the nature of 

 the food. Half an ounce of water may be mixed daily in the water. 

 Valuable horses, and especially those which are suffering from the 

 dangerous form of the disease, can, if the swelling at the throat 

 does not render balling or drenching dangerous, get 2 drachms of 

 quinine twice a day until the bodily temperature (normal, 100° 

 F.) is reduced to the usual standard. If difficulty of swallowing 

 exists, 1 oz. of liquor arsenicalis given in the food for a week, 

 may be substituted for the quinine. I am strongly of opinion 

 that as soon as the swelling under the jaw appears, it should 

 be well blistered with biniodide of mercury ointment (1 to 4 of 

 lard), which has a good effect in checking the development of 

 the abscess. The application should be repeated if necessary. 

 The abscess should be opened with the knife when it becomes 

 soft (p. 78), and the part treated antiseptically (p. 67, et seq). 



If the breathing becomes painful, the horse may be made to 

 inhale steam from boiling water mixed with about a quarter of a 

 pint of oil of turpentine, the action of which is to accelerate the 

 discharge from the nostrils. If the breathing becomes very 



