370 HORSE AILMENTS AND HOW TO DOCTOR THEM. 



FITS. 



This is a disease occasionally occurring in the horse and re- 

 sembling the common fits in the human family. 



Symptoms. The horse stops, trembles, looks vacantly 

 around him, staggers, and falls, or falls suddenly. The con- 

 vulsions that follow are sometimes slight, but at other times are 

 terrible ; they usually pass off in a few moments, and the horse 

 gets up and proceeds as if nothing had happened. 



There is another variety of this disorder called " running 

 fits," which, when attacking a horse, he will run for perhaps a 

 mile or two for all that he is worth. Still another kind is 

 called " kicking fits," which causes a horse to kick as if kicking 

 for dear life, and this class I consider the most dangerous of 

 all. I have owJied horses subject to all the above variety of 

 fits, but know of no cure for them. My invariable treatment 

 for fits of all kinds is, first chloroform, then bury. 



FRACTURES OR BROKEN BONES. 



Fractures are liable to occur in any of the bones, but most 

 frequently in the long bones. Experience has established the 

 fallacy of destroying all horses that meet with a fractured 

 limb. But while fractures are serious injuries, they should 

 never be considered out of the reach of rational treatment. 



Fractures may occur in any bone of the limbs or body, and 

 yet a perfect union of the parts may take place, especially so 

 if the fracture is a simple one ; compound fractures, even, are 

 occasionally united. 



I shall only give here the general principles to be observed, 

 without describing .particularly each fracture. This being done, 

 almost any person of good common sense and a little ingenuity 

 may reduce and bandage any fracture. First ascertain the 

 nature and extent of the fracture, and then prepare the proper 

 splints and bandages. 



The splints may be made of wood, hollowed out with a 

 gouge, so as to fit the part to which they are to be applied ; or 

 a number of narrow splints may be used, being notched about 



