Dietetic and Qonstiinxtional Diseases. 163 



or disincliiiation to rise, the staggering gait, the hurried 

 breathing becoming quick and wheezing on the least exer- 

 tion, and the palpitations are highly characteristic. Towards 

 the end the urine may pass involuntarily or diarrhoea may 

 supervene. Death sometimes occurs early, before there is 

 much emaciation, and horses will even die in harness. 



Prevention. Avoid everything calculated to reduce the sys- 

 tem imduly. Severe depletive treatment of disease (bleed- 

 ing, purging, diuretics,) should only be resorted to under 

 necessity. Hard work, excessive yield of mDk, etc., can only 

 be warranted under a rich, abundant food, and in an animal ■ 

 of great powers of digestion and assimilation. Regularity in 

 feeding, watering and work are essential. 



The effect of a spare diet, even ia idleness, must be care- 

 fully watched, as well as a long-continued feeding on one 

 variety of plant. If evU effects are shown there should be 

 a prompt change to natural hay or grass, consisting of a 

 variety of plants grown on a dry soU, and a Uberal supply of 

 grain. 



In cases due to parasites or other removable cause, atten- 

 tion to these is manifestly the first step to prevention. 



Treatment. After removal of the causes, support by nour- 

 ishing, easily-digested food in small bulk to avoid exhausting 

 the powers of the stomach. Ground oats, barley, oU-eake, 

 and a little natural hay may be especially mentioned, though, 

 for weak subjects, thick, weU-boUed gruels and beef tea 

 (even for herbivora) may be resorted to. Tonics are all-im- 

 portant (iron, gentian, quassia, cascariUa, cinchona, common 

 salt, pepsia,) but should be given in small doses to the weaker 

 subjects. Iron and gentian, given as tinctures, are espe- 

 cially useful In extreme cases, health may be speedily re- 

 vived by the transfusion of blood from a healthy animal. In 

 all cases, the patient should be allowed rest in a dry, warm, 

 weU-aired place, and should have light, sunshine, and groom- 

 ing. 



