Dietetic and ConBtitutional Diseases. 71 



or disinclination to rise, tile staggering gait, tlie 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. 



Prewntion. Avoid eveiything calculated to reduce the sys- 

 tem unduly. Severe depletive treatment of disease (bleed- 

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

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

 be warranted imder a rich, abundant food, and in an animal 

 of gi-eat powers of digestion and assimilation. Regularity in 

 feeding, watering and work are essential. 



The efl'ect of a spare diet, even in idleness, must be care- 

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

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

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

 variety of plants grown on a dry soil, and a liberal supjJy 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 hj nour- 

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

 the powers of the stomach. Ground oats, barley, oil-cake, 

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

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

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

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

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

 subjects. Iron and gentian, given as tinctures, are esj)e- 

 ciaUy useful. In extreme cases, health may be speedily re- 

 vived by the transfusion of blood fi'om a healthy animal In 

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

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

 ing. 



