422 ILLUSTRATED STOCK DOCTOR. 



does. Six weeks or even two months may be required before the animal 

 retains the use of its powers. The cut iiiiUexed will illustnite the condi- 

 tion of a horse with tetanus. 



It will thus be seen that in a decided case it will be policy as well as 

 humanity to seriously consider whether it may not be better to relieve 

 the sufferings of the poor animal at once by shooting through the brain. 



VI. Cramps. 



Some horses are quite subject to cramps of the muscles and tendons. 

 It may be an irritability or spasm of a particular muscle or set of mus- 

 cles, which refuse to act, becoming stiff and inflexible. They cramp and 

 sometimes twitch excessively. This is again succeeded by another stag© 

 in which the muscles relax and are restored to their normal condition. 



Causes. — Strains, bruises, or over-taxation of the powers. In many 

 cases it is undoubtedly allied to rheumatism, a disorder attacking horses 

 much oftener than is supposed ; rheumatism very often being attributed 

 to bots, founder and various other causes by the ignorant. Both diseases 

 are quite painful, and leave the animal verylsore, and rheumatism often 

 for months. 



What to do. — Clothe the body warmly, find the seat of the difficulty 

 by feeling of the parts until the sore place is touched. Wash the part-s 

 with salt and water, and rub dry. Then apply the following liniment • 



No. 156. 1 Part solution of ammonia, 



1 Part spirits of camphor, 

 1 Part olive oil. 



Rub it in well, and hold a hot iron or brick to the parts to heal if 

 thoroughly. 



vn. Rheumatism. 



This is a peculiar form of inflammation attacking the fibrous structures 

 of the body, such as the joints, tendons, ligaments and muscles, and is 

 accompanied by stiffness, exceeding tenderness and pain, shifting from 

 place to place, often implicating the valves or other structures of the 

 heart, and when so usually results in death. 



Causes. — ^Exposure to cold, wet or drafts, especially when the system 

 is overworked. There is usually a constitutional predisposition in the 

 subjects, and in such it is easily brought on by diseases of the respiratory 

 or digestive organs, especially in horses of a full, gross habit. 



How to know it. — In its acute form there is dullness, followed by ex- 



