215 



wound which has healed an excision of the cicatrix may be beneficial. 

 In all cases it is not uncommon to have a partial recovery followed by 

 relapse when the animal becomes excited from any cause. 



RABIES — HYDROPHOBIA — MADNESS. 



This disease does not arise spontaneously among horses, but is the re- 

 sult of a bite from a rabid animal— generally a dog or cat. The devel- 

 opment of the disease follows the bite in from three weeks to three 

 mouths — very rarely in twelve or fourteen days. 



Symptoms. — The first manifestation of the development of this disease 

 may be an increased excitability and viciousness; very sbght noises or 

 the approach of a person incites the animal to kick, strike, or bite at 

 any object near him. Very often the horse will bite his own limbs or 

 sides, lacerating the flesh and tearing the skin. The eyes appear star- 

 in '^, bloodshot : the ears are on the alert to catch all sounds : the head 

 is held erect. In some cases the animal will continually rub and bite 

 the locality of the wound inflicted by the rabid animal. This symptom 

 may precede all others. Generally the bowels become constipated and 

 he makes frequent attempts at urination, which is painful and the urine 

 very dark colored. The furious symptoms appear in paroxysms; at 

 other times the animal may eat and drink, although swallowing ap- 

 pears to become painful towards the latter stage of the disease, and 

 may cause renewed paroxysms. The muscles of the limbs or back may 

 be subject to intermittent spasms, or spasmodic tremors ; finally the 

 hind limbs become paralyzed, breathing very difiicult, and convulsions 

 supervene, followed by death. The pulse and respirations are increased 

 in frequency from the outset of the attack. Rabies may possibly be 

 mistaken for tetanus. In the latter disease we find tonic spasms of the 

 muscles of the jaws, or sLitfness of the neck or back very early in the 

 attack, and evidence of viciousness is absent. 



Treatment. — As soon as the true nature of the disease is ascertained 

 the animal should be killed. 



Prevention.— When a horse is known to have been bitten by a rabid 

 animal immediate cauterization of the wound with a red-hot iron may 

 possibly destroy the virus before absorption of it takes place. 



PLUMBISM — LEAD-POISONma. 



This disease is not of frequent occurrence. It may be due to habitu- 

 ally drinking water which has been standing in leaden conductors or 

 in old paint barrels, etc. It has been met with in enzootic form near 

 smelting works, where, by the fumes arising from such works, lead in 

 the form of oxide, carbonate, or sulphate was deposited on the grass 

 and herbage which the horses ate. 



Symptoms. — Lead poisoning produces derangement of the functions 

 of digestion and locomotion, or it may affect the lungs principally. In 



