HORSE AILMENTS AND HOW TO DOCTOR THEM. 381 



nite, judiciously given, is the most beneficial remedy that I am 

 acquainted with. Give twenty -five drops of tincture of aconite 

 root in a cup full of cold water as a drench, or the same 

 amount of aconite made into a ball. Repeat the dose every 

 four hours until relief is given, till six doses have been admin- 

 istered. In most cases from one to three doses will suffice. 



LOCKED JAW OR TETANUS. 



This is a nervous affection of the muscles of the jaw and 

 neck. The name is derived from the fact that the muscles of 

 the jaw become powerfully affected, presenting one of the most 

 alarming features of the disease — the inability to chew or 

 swallow. Locked jaw frequently takes place as the last thing 

 before death in cases of severe wounds and other accidents. 



Treatment. Remove the animal into comfortable quarters 

 by himself, where no sight or sound will be likely to disturb 

 him, and allow no curious idler to intrude. Place a bucket of 

 thin gruel where he can get at it without an effort to 

 reach it. This is all the food he will need, but renew every 

 day and keep sweet. Administer thirty drops of diluted 

 prussic acid night and morning. Burdock leaves steeped in 

 pure cider vinegar, applied hot, may be bound on under the 

 jaws, as in case of distemper (which see), and the spine 

 may be well rubbed every day with Dimon's Spavin Cure; 

 and, in extreme cases, chloroform may be administered occa- 

 sionally as a temporary relief to severe pain. (See directions 

 for administering chloroform, Chap. XLVII, page 403.) 



LICE. 



These troublesome parasites should never be allowed to at- 

 tack the horse, but will occasionally be found on colts, and 

 especially weanlings and yearlings. Being of considerable size, 

 they can readily be seen, and should be destroyed at once. 



Treatment. Lice may readily be destroyed by rubbing into 

 the roots of the hair white precipitate in powder, taking care to 

 avoid sweating or wetting the skin for several days afterwards. 



