DISEASES OF ANIMALS 933 



Nursing. — In spite of intelligent management and due regard for the 

 laws of hygiene, disorders and disease of the animal system will occur. 

 Sick animals require intelligent care and greater attention to details of 

 management even than do animals in health. Good nursing is of prime 

 importance in the treatment of disease. 



Sick animals should be placed in detached, well-ventilated and clean 

 box stalls, conveniently located. Such stalls should be roomy, clean, 

 cool and dry. In certain cases body clothing — blankets and bandages — 

 are necessary. 



All utensils, buckets, brooms, etc., used in the care of sick animals 

 should be kept clean and should not be used in other parts of the stable. 



All food not eaten should be removed from the sick animal and under 

 no circumstances offered to other animals. 



Bedding must be clean, sufficient in amount and comfortable for the 

 patient. 



Sick animals should be seen frequently, but should not be disturbed 

 more nor oftener than is absolutely necessary. 



Sick animals are more comfortable and improve more rapidly when the 

 bowels are in a lax state. Mashes and soft feed tend to keep them in this 

 condition. In addition to having laxatives, mashes, flaxseed tea, apples, 

 carrots or potatoes are serviceable in catering to their appetites. Exposure 

 for a short while daily to sunlight acts as a tonic to convalescent animals 

 and enables them to regain strength rapidly. 



Disease. — With the appearance of disease in an animal, it is essential 

 that its true nature be speedily recognized or diagnosed. To this end there 

 are observed the modifications in the external visible or otherwise acces- 

 sible parts of the body which indicate the nature of the internal changes 

 occurring. 



These modifications are perceived through one or more of the special 

 senses: sight, revealing alteration in size, conformation, color, etc.; sound, 

 differentiating cavities and solid parts; touch, the texture, sensibility to 

 pain, temperature variation, etc. ; smell, the natural or modified odor and 

 even the sense of taste, in milk examination for instance, serving an 

 important end. 



In addition to the immediate employment of the senses, the clinical 

 thermometer gives accurately the internal temperature, and various 

 tests are at the command of veterinarians for special examinations. It is 

 necessary for the stockman to recognize health and the earliest approach 

 of disease and be capable of applying the treatment prescribed. To do so, 

 he must acquaint himself with a system of examination which will enable 

 him to fairly well approximate the condition of the animal, as well as to 

 secure information which, compared with later examinations, will show the 

 progress of disease. 



The modifications in form and function of the body are known as 

 symptoms. By observing these the disease is located, and by them also 



