THE HORSE—GENERAL DISEASES AND INJURIES. 199 
and like articles which have been used in treating a glandered horse should 
be burned, as that is absolutely safe, though a thorough washing with car- 
bolic acid may counteract the virus. The stable, manure, and whatever 
the infected animal has touched, should be thoroughly treated with carbolic 
acid, the bedding being burned. Let the attendants be as few as can do the 
necessary work. Never handle a glandered or farcied horse if the skin 
of the hands is sore or broken, for man may readily take the disease and 
suffer distressingly if not fatally. Always wash the hands in dilute car- 
bolic acid after treating an infected animal, and before going near other 
people or beasts. If the clothes have the virus on them, or if doubt exists as 
to this, they should be washed in the same way. Keep well animals of all 
kinds completely away from an infected one. Every one who is to go near 
the suffering horse should be fully advised upon the virulent nature of the 
disease, and take the necessary precaution against contracting it. 
DROPSY. 
The cause of dropsy is some obstruction of the circulation, or a dis- 
eased state of the blood, with general reduction of the system. It is called 
general dropsy when it causes a collection of watery fluid under the tissues 
of the skin generally, 2ydrothorax when it affects the lungs merely, and 
ascites when the belly or intestines are involved. General dropsy is caused 
by exposure to wet and cold, as when a horse is turned out of a warm 
stable to a marsh, or to pasture in cold weather; the coating processes of 
spring and autumn are causes, as well as derangement of the heart. AZy- 
drothorax is occasioned by general weakness, by fever-epidemics, as influ- 
enza; and also results from the unwise operation of bleeding. Ascvtes has 
the same causes as general dropsy, and is also a result of diseases of the 
belly, chest and membranes about the small intestines, indigestion, obstruc- 
tion of the veins, and general debility; it frequently results from peritonitis. 
Symptoms.—The universal symptom of dropsy is swelling of the skin, 
which retains for some time indentations of the fingers, and is attended 
with great weakness, with absence of inflammation and pain; fever-symp- 
toms, at first slight, become marked. If 2ydrothorax results from pleurisy, 
when acute symptoms subside the motion of the water in the chest may be 
clearly detected by striking with the hand; the animal loses appetite, 
grows languid, depressed, weak, and has an anxious look; the back is rigid, 
- flanks drawn in, hair rough and easily pulled from the tail and mane; pulse 
rapid, feeble, and finally imperceptible at the jaw; nostrils spread; eyes, 
mouth and nose of a leaden color; breathing short and. very labored; fore 
legs stand apart; urine scanty, bowels bound; swellings over the limbs, 
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