THE HORSE, ITS DISEASES. 31f 



difficulty in breathing. In the chronic stages of the disease, the progress 

 is slow ; but the belly becomes more and more baggy ; and in some in- 

 stances the hair of the tail comes away easily or drops out, showing that 

 the skin and capillary glands of that part of the body are affected. 



The presence of water, when it has collected in any considerable quan- 

 tity, may be detected by placing the ear to the abdomen and having some 

 one slap the horse on the opposite side with the open palm. 



In mares, this enlargement of the belly is sometimes mistaken for a 

 pregnant condition ; but it may be readily distinguished by a fluctuating 

 feeling which follows a pressure upon the parts with the fingers, a sort of 

 fluid motion, as of water forcibly displaced. 



What to do. — If it is known to proceed from local injuries, or from 

 diseases of the vital organs, it is scarcely necessary to adopt any course 

 of treatment, unless, indeed, the primary disease can itself be removed; 

 but when it depends upon inflammation of the peritoneum, or when it 

 results from bad or deficient food and unwholesome surroundings, place 

 the horse in a good, dry and well-ventilated stall, feed him generously, 

 Mud give him the following tonic ball, night and morning : 



No. 49^ 1 Oz. powdered digitalis, 



}i Oz. sulphate of iron. 



Mix with mucilage and a spoonful of linseed meal to form a ball of 

 sufficient firmness for handling. 



It is important that the kidneys should be kept active, and the follow- 

 ing diuretic must be used for that purpose : 



Noo 50. 2 Pounds soap, 



2 Pounds nitrate of potash, 



3 Pounds rosin, 



2 Pounds Venice turpentine, 

 yi Pint oil of turpentine, 



Melt the soap and rosin slowly together, and stir in the other ingredi- 

 ents while the former mixture is cooling. Make it into 2-ounce balls 

 with linseed meal, and give one at a time as often as necessary to keep 

 up a somewhat copious action of the kidneys. 



If at any time the water accumulates in a great quantity, drav it off 

 by means of a fine trocar, plunged into the most dependent or lowest 

 part of the distended abdomen. 



