1 34 STRANGLES 



cation. There is considerable thirst, but after a gulp or two 

 the horse ceases to drink, yet is evidently desirous of contin ling 

 his draught. In the attempt to swallow, and sometimes when 

 not drinking, a convulsive cough comes on, which almost threat- 

 ens to suffocate the animal — and thence, probably, the name of 

 the disease. 



The tumor is under the jaw, and about the centre of the 

 channel. It soon fills the whole of the space, and is evidently 

 one uniform body, and may thus be distinguished from glanders, 

 or the enlarged glands of catarrh. In a few days it becomes 

 more prominent and soft, and evidently contains a fluid. This 

 rapidly increases ; the tumor bursts, and a great quantity of 

 pus is discharged. As soon as the tumor has broken, the 

 cough subsides, and the horse speedUy mends, although some 

 degree of weakness may hang about him for a considerable 

 time. Few horses, possibly none, escape its attack ; but, the 

 disease having passed over, the animal is free from it for the 

 remainder of his life. Catarrh may precede, or may predispose 

 to, the attack, and, undoubtedly the state of the atmosphere has 

 much to do with it, for both its prevalence and its severity are 

 connected vnth certain seasons of the year and changes of the 

 weather. There is no preventive for the disease, nor is there 

 anything contagious about it. . Many strange stories are told 

 with regard to this ; but the explanation of the matter is, that 

 when several horses in the same form, or in the same neighbor- 

 hood, have had strangles at the same time, they have been ex- 

 posed to the same powerful but unknovim exciting cause. 



As soon as the tumor under the jaw is decidedly apparent, 

 the part should be actively blistered. From the thickness of 

 skin, poultices, fomentations, &c., are of little avail. The blis- 

 ter will also abate the internal inflammation and soreness of 

 the throat, and thus lessen the cough and wheezing. 



As soon as the swelling is soft on its summit, and evidently 

 contains matter, it should be freely and deeply lanced. It is a 

 bad, although frequent practice, to suffer the tumor to burst 

 naturally, for a ragged ulcer is formed, very slow to heal, and 

 difficult of treatment. If the incision is deep and large enough, 

 no second collection of matter wiU be formed : and that which 

 is already there may be suffered to run out slowly, aU pressure 

 with the fingers being avoided. The part should be kept clean, 

 and a Httle friar's balsam daily injected into the wound. 



The remainder of the treatment will depend on the symp- 

 toms. If there is much fever, and evident affection of the 

 chest, and which should carefully be distinguished from the 

 oppression and choking occasioned by the pressure of the tumor 

 it will be proper to bleed ^" *^" — — -•^- -'• 



