Chapter XX1IL 



CATARRH. 



REFERENCE is made under the heads of " Circulation " and " Dis- 

 eases of the Air-Passages," especially on pages 406 and 483, to 

 the importance of guarding the horse from such variation of 

 temperature or serious disturbance of the circulation as would pro- 

 duce congestion of those parts ; and what is said on such pages should 

 be studied in connection with this. subject. 



Catarrh, or "cold in the head," is an affection of the lining mem- 

 brane of the nasal chambers and cavities 01 the head. It consists of 

 a conjested or inflamed state of that membrane, giving rise to a 

 glairy discharge from one or both nostrils, and when the head of 

 the windpipe (larynx) is implicated, accompanied by a cough. 



Causes may be classed" under predisposing and exciting, as the 

 majority of young horses under five years of age may be said to be 

 predisposed to this affection. The exciting causes are sudden va- 

 riations in the state of the temperature ; undue exposure to cold 

 when an animal is in a heated state, especially after a hard day's, 

 work or drive ; standing in stables badly ventilated, or any place ex- 

 posed to cold draughts. Perhaps the most common cause in young 

 horses is placing them in warm stables in the fall of the year imme- 

 diately on taking them off the pastures. A sudden change from a , 

 cold to a hot temperature is more likely to cause catarrh than a 

 change from a hot to a cold one. 



Symptoms. — If the horse is standing in the, stable, he will appear 

 dull, and incline to hang his head in the manger ; the mouth is hot, 

 and the pulse quickened and weak ; the coat is staring, and the lin- 

 ing membrane of the nose is reddened and injected. If the larynx 

 is involved, steady pressure on that region will cause coughing. 



