HORSE AILMENTS AND HOW TO DOCTOR THEM. 377 



Symptoms. The symptoms of inflammation of the bladder 

 are a considerable fever, great anxiety of the continence, con- 

 stant' straining efforts to urinate, but little water being passed, 

 and that quite dribbly. The animal will straddle when moving 

 as if he feared to bring his thighs together. 



To distinguish inflammation of the bladder from that of the 

 kidneys, in the latter there will be tenderness over the kidneys 

 on pressure, which tenderness does not exist in inflammation of 

 the bladder. 



In inflammation of the bladder, if the hand is passed into 

 the rectum, the bladder can be felt under it, and will be 

 swollen, hard and very hot ; in inflammation of the kidneys 

 the bladder will be felt but generally not so full, and will not 

 foe hotter than other parts. This is the best method of dis- 

 tinguishing between the two. 



Treatment. Give twenty-five drops of tincture of aco- 

 nite root every four hours until six doses have been given. 

 Give flax-seed tea to drink, but if the animal refuses to drink 

 give as a drench. Give plenty of cold water to drink. 



INDIGESTION. 



Indigestion in horses is equivalent to dyspepsia in man. It 

 is the foundation of other and more alarming diseases, among 

 which are colic, inflammation of the stomach, liver, bowels, 

 etc. 



Symptoms. The appetite becomes irregular. An unnatural 

 appetite will be manifested by the horse eating dirt, dry sticks, 

 etc., and especially the dirty straw with which he is bedded, 

 and for which, at times, he seems to have a great relish. His 

 bowels become more or less affected. He passes much undi- 

 gested grain in his manure which is often covered with slime. 

 Worms are usually more or less connected with indigestion. 



Treatment. The best possible treatment that I know of, is 

 to turn the horse out to grass, and when you take him up again 

 give regular feed and regular work to prevent a recurrence of 

 the trouble. The following might be given, also : Powdered 



