26 MANUAT. OF MODERN FARRIERY 



he is frequently seized with a spasmodic cough, with 

 suffocating symptoms. 



Cause. — Strangles is an eruptive febrile disease 

 dependent on a specific germ or microbe, and can be 

 transmitted by cohabitation, so that if the dam has 

 the disease she generally conveys it to her foal, and in 

 this way all the foals and young horses running to- 

 gether at grass may become infected. It appears to 

 be in some degree analogous to measles in the human 

 being ; and having passed through it, the constitution 

 of the animal seems to have undergone purification 

 and improvement. In some instances it has affected 

 the animal in so mild a form, that it has passed 

 throuo^h its various stao-es and ofone off without much 

 inconvenience to it, or any remedial means whatever 

 having been employed. Every horse has this com- 

 plaint once during his life, and once only. 



Remedies. — As the virus or blood-poison elimin- 

 ates itself by the formation of an abscess in the lymph 

 glands betwixt the jaws, or in the lymph glands in the 

 parotid region, the first thing to be attended to is 

 to bring the tumour to a suppuration. A sharp 

 mustard blister is the first thing to be applied. This, 

 administered in time, will facilitate the discharge a 

 w^eek or two earlier than it would have taken place, 

 if allowed to come to a period naturally. The old 

 practice of applying poultices and fomentations first 

 were very ineffectual appliances, from the great thick- 

 ness of the skin of the horse, but after one or two 

 applications of the mustard, they materially assist in 

 softening the inflammatory exudates and bringing the 

 abscess to a point. The abscess from absorption and 

 thinning of its walls and the tissues about it frequently 

 bursts of its own accord ; but if it should not, it must 

 be laid open with a lancet. It will be found that 



