I20 ■ THE HORSB. 



Symptoms. In the milder forms this affection may appear as a 

 lameness in one limb, from indefinite cause, succeeamg to some sudden 

 exertion and attended by a dusky-brown color of the membranes of the 

 eye and nose and some wincing when the last ribs are struck. The 

 severe forms come on after one or two days of rest on a full ration, when 

 the animal has been taken out and driven one hundred yards or more. 

 The fire and life with which he had left the stable suddenly give place 

 to dullness and oppression, as shown in heaving flanks, dilated nostrils, 

 pinched face, perspiring skin, and trembling body. The muscles of the 

 loins or haunch become swelled and rigid, the subject moves stifiiy or 

 unsteadily, crouches behind, the limbs are carried half doubled, and he 

 soon drops, unable to support himself. When down, the body and limbs 

 are moved convulsively, but there is no power over the movement in the 

 muscles. The pulse and breathing are quickened, the eyes red with a 

 tinge of brown, and the urine, if passed, is seen to be highly colored, 

 dark brown, red, or black, but it contains neither blood clots nor glob- 

 ules. The color is mainly due to haemoglobin and other imperfectly 

 elaborated constituents of the blood. 



It may end fatally in a few hours or days, or a recovery may ensue, 

 which is usually more speedy and perfect if it has set in at an early 

 stage. In the late and tardy recoveries a partial paralysis of the hind 

 limbs may last for months. 



Prevention. To avoid this serious affection, restrict the diet and 

 give daily exercise when the animal is not at work. A horse that has 

 had one attack should never be left idle for a single day in the stall or 

 barn-yard. When a horse has been condemned to absolute repose on 

 good feeding he may have a laxative (one-half to one pound Glauber 

 salts) , and have exercise, beginning with a short walk and increasing 

 day by day. 



Treatment. In mild cases give a laxative, graduated daily exercise, 

 and a daily dose of saltpeter (one ounce). Sudden attacks will some- 

 times promptly subside if taken on the instant and the subject kept still 

 and calmed by a dose of bromide of potassium (four drams) and sweet 

 spirits of niter (one ounce). The latter has the advantage of increasing 

 the secretion of the kidneys. In severe cases, as a rule, it is desirable to 

 begin treatment by a full dose of aloes (four to six drams) with the 

 above-named dose of bromide of potassium, and this latter may be con- 

 tinued at intervals of four or six hours, as may be requisite to calm the 

 nervous excitement. Fomentations with wane water over the loins are 



