DISEASE IN GENERAL 155 



Rest is essential for a rapid recovery. It is nature's specific 

 for all diseases. Rest must be insisted upon as an adjunct to other 

 lines of treatment. It includes the removal of the saddle if saddle- 

 gall is present, withdrawal of nail in nail prick, change of ration or 

 withholding of the same in indigestion. Young horses and those 

 recovering from disease need more rest than other animals. Colts 

 are easily stunted by putting them to work too early. Dr. Gulick 

 has said that growth is predominantly a function of rest. Work 

 is chiefly an energy-expending and tearing-down process. Work 

 may furnish the conditions under which subsequent growth may 

 occur, but in itself it is destructive. By work we do things in the 

 world, but we do not grow by work; we grow during rest. It is 

 not the only condition of growth, but it is one of the essential con- 

 ditions. » 



Exercise is as important in the treatment of disease as rest. 

 It should be given daily, but in moderation, unless the patient is 

 suffering from a disease accompanied with a high fever, or is under- 

 going treatment involving immobility of a certain part, when 

 better results will be had from absolute rest. 



Medicines are agents of animal, vegetable, or mineral origin 

 used for the cure of disease or the relief of pain. The study of the 

 derivation, physical and chemical properties, physiologic actions, 

 and doses of drugs is known as materia medica. For full informa- 

 tion on this subject reference must be made to appropriate text- 

 books. Attention is drawn in this connection to the rapidly 

 increasing use of serums, vaccines, and other new biologic products 

 in veterinary medicine. Their field of usefulness is great when they 

 are employed in an intelligent manner. When used early as pre- 

 ventive agents they are especially valuable; many also have given 

 success as curative agents. 



Operative treatment means the use of surgery or surgical 

 methods as therapeutic aids. For the removal of tumors and 

 foreign bodies, and in the treatment of many of the common dis- 

 eases of the horse, this method of treatment is required in order to 

 secure a cure. 



THE TERMINATION OF DISEASE 



Disease may terminate in: 



(1) Recovery, by which the body regains its normal condition, 

 its functions being re-estabhshed by the various regulative mech- 



