468 DISEASES AND THEIR TREATMENT. 



Prof. Law, in" his Veterinary Adviser, says : — 



Overfeeding on clover hay, sainfoin, lucern, and allied plants ; on chaff, cut 

 straw, and other bulky and innutritious food, is the main cause of heaves. In 

 Arabia, in Spain, and in California, where there is no long winter feeding on hay, 

 and in our Territories where clover is not used, heaves is a disease that is virtually 

 unknown ; it has advanced westward just in proportion as clover hay has been in- 

 troduced as a general fodder for horses, and it has disappeared in England and New 

 England in proportion as the soil has become clover sick, and as other aliment had 

 to be supplied. The worst conditions exist when a horse is left in the stable for 

 days and weeks, eating clover hay, or even imperfectly cured, dusty hay of other 

 kinds, to the extent of thirty pounds and upwards daily, and then is suddenly taken 

 out and driven at a rapid rate. Violent exertions of any kind, and diseases of the 

 lungs, are also potent causes. It is mainly a disease of old horses, but may attack a 

 colt two years old. Finally, horses with small chests are most liable, and thus the 

 disease proves hereditary. 



Treatment. — Turning out on natural pastures, feeding corn-stalks and other laxa- 

 tive food, will relieve, and even cure, mild and recent cases. Feeding on dry grain, 

 with carrots, turnips, beets, or potatoes, and a very limited supply of water, will 

 enable many broken-winded horses to do a fair amount of work in comfort. Hay 

 should never be allowed except at night, and then only a handful clean and sweet. 



The bowels must be kept easy by laxatives, the stables well aired, and sedatives 

 (digitalis, opium, belladonna, hyoscyamus, stramonium, lobelia) used to relieve the 

 oppression. If a white discharge from the nose co-exists, tonics should be given as 

 for chronic bronchitis, to which wild cherry bark may be added. Tar-water as an 

 exclusive drink mSy be given, and a course of carminatives (ginger, caraway, carda- 

 moms, fennel) may be added with advantage. But nerve tonics, and above all 

 arsenic in five-grain/ doses daily, and continued daily for a month or two, are espe- 

 cially valuable. 



No broken-winded horse should have food or water for from one to two hours 

 before going to work. 



The usual method of treatment adopted by "jockeys," is to feed 

 the horse on cut rye straw, to feed very little hay, and to feed all 

 aliments dampened. Rye straw is cut as you would cut hay, then 

 mixed with bran or middlings, into which a handful of salt is added, 

 and dampened with water. This is fed every night. Oats and other 

 grain is always dampened. Draught horses fed in this way seldom 

 show any sign of heaves. 



Prof. Law regards the following as the best preparation for 

 heaves : — 



Arsenic (Fowler's solution.) 1 oz. 



Belladonna ext 1 dr. 



Tinct. of ginger £ dr. 



Mix with a pint of water for a drench and give every morning 

 for a month or two. 



A favorite remedy for heaves, used by Prof. Dick, principal of 

 Edinburgh College, and undoubtedly of great value, is : — 

 Camphor, digitalis, opium, calomel, of each, 30 grs. 



