47 



I Lave good results from powdered opium>^! ^ga!faf^jS «*^ subnitrate of 

 bismuth, 1 ouuce, repeated three times a day. Oae-quarter pouud 

 doses of the "Thompsoniau composition," to which may be added 1 

 ouuce of baking soda, given two or three times a day, are frequently 

 effective. It should be remembered in all cases to look to the water 

 and feed the horse is receiving. If either of these is at fault they are 

 at once to be discontinued. We should feed sparingly of good, easily 

 digested foods. In that peculiar build of nervous horses that scour on 

 the road but little can be done, as a rule. They should be watered and 

 fed as long as possible before going on a drive. If there is much flat- 

 ulency accompanying diarrhea, baking soda or other lalkaline medicines 

 often produce a cure, while if the discharges have a very disagreeable 

 odor, this can be corrected by 1 ouuce of sulphite of soda or half-dram 

 doses of carbolic acid in water, repeated twice a day. Be slow to resort 

 to either the vegetable or mineral astringents, since the majority of 

 cases will yield to change of food and water, or the administration of oils. 

 Afterwards feed upon wheat-flour gruel or other light foods. The 

 body should be warmly clothed. 



Siqyerpnrgation.— This is the designation of that diarrhea or flux 

 from the bowels that, at times, is induced by and follows the action of 

 a physic. It is accompanied by much irritation or even inflammation 

 of the bowels, and is always of a serious character. Although in rare 

 instances it follows from a usual dose of physic and where every pre- 

 caution has been taken, it is most likely to result under the following 

 circumstances: Too large a dose of physic ; to giving physics to horses 

 suflering from pneumonia, iufluenza^ or other debilitating diseases; to 

 riding or driving a horse when purging ; to exposure or draughts of 

 cold air, or giving large quantities of cold water while the physic is 

 operating. There is always danger of superpurgation if a physic is 

 given to a horse suflering from diseases of the respiratory organs. Small 

 and often-repeated physics are also to be avoided, as they produce de- 

 bility and great depression of the system and predispose to this dis- 

 order. When a physic is to be given we should give the horse sloppy 

 food until the medicine begins to operate 5 we must clothe the body 

 with a warm blanket ; keep out of draughts; give only chilled water in 

 small quantities. After a horse has purged from twelve to twenty-four 

 hours it can mostly be stopped or " set," as horsemen say, by feeding 

 on dry oats and hay. Should the purging continue, however, it is 

 best treated by giving demulcent drinks— linseed tea, oatmeal or wheat- 

 flour gruel. After this the astringents spoken of for diarrhea may be 

 given. Besides this the horse is to receive brandy in doses of from 2 

 to 4 ounces, with milk and eggs, four or five times a day. 



Laminitis "founder" is a frequent sequelae of superpurgation and is 

 to be guarded against by removing the shoes and standing the horse on 

 moist sawdust or some similar bedding. 

 Dysentery— 'Willia.ms defines dysentery, or bloody flux, as an intes- 



