191 



cathartic aud iodide of potassa will be indicated, to be given as pre- 

 scribed for inflammation of the brain. 



Prevention. — Well adjusted collar, with strap running from the collar 

 to the girth, to hold down the collar when pulling up grade; regular 

 feed aud exercise, without allowing the animal to become excessively 

 plethoric; moderate checking, allowing a free aud easy movement of 

 the head; well ventilated stabling, proper cleanliness, pure water, etc. 



SUNSTROKE— HEAT EXHAUSTION. 



The term sunstroke is applied to affections occasioned not exclusively 

 by exposure to the sun's rays, as the word signifies, but by the action 

 of great heat combined generally with other causes, such as dryness 

 and rarefaction of the air aud an unusual accumulation of electricity. 

 Exhaustion produced by a long continued heat is often the essential 

 factor, and is called heat exhaustion. Horses on the race track uuder- 

 goiug protracted and severe work in hot weather often succumb to heat 

 exhaustion. Draught horses exposed to the direct rays of the suu for 

 many hours, which do not receive proper care in watering, feeding, rest 

 in shady places, suffer very frequently from sunstroke. 



St/mpfoms.—S'unstio]Le is manifested suddenly. The animal stops, 

 drops his head, bagins to stagger, and soon falls to the ground uncon- 

 scious. The breathing is marked with great stertor, the pulse is very 

 slow and irregular, cold sweats break out in patches on the surface of 

 the body, and the animal often dies without recovering consciousness. 



In heat exhaustion the animal usually requires urging for some time 

 previous to the appearance of any other symptoms, generally per- 

 spiration is checked, and then he becomes weak in his gait, the 

 breathing hurried or panting, eyes watery and bloodshot, nostrils 

 dilated and highly reddened, assuming a dark, purple color ; the pulse 

 is rapid and weak, the heart bounding, followed by uuconsciousuess 

 and death. If recovery takes place convalescence extends over a long 

 period of time, during which incoordination of movement may persist. 



Fathology.— Sunstroke, virtually active congestion of the brain, often 

 accompanied by effusion and blood extravasation, characterizes this 

 condition, with often rapid and fatal lowering of all the vital functions. 

 The death may be due in many instances to the complete stagnation in 

 the circulation of the brain, inducing aua3mia or want of nourishment 

 of that organ. In other cases it may be directly due to the excessive 

 compression of the nerve matter controlling the heart's action, and 

 cause paralysis of that organ. 



Treatment.— JJnder no circumstances is blood-letting permissible in 

 sunstroke. Ice or very cold water should be applied to the head and 

 along the spine and half an ounce of carbonate of ammonia or 6 ounces 

 of whisky should be given in a pint of water. Injections, per rectum, 

 of moderately strong ginger tea or weak ammonia water may be used 

 I with benefit. Brisk friction of the limbs and the application of spirits 



