186 The Farmer's Veterinary Adviser. 



hundred yards, the fire and life suddenly giving place tc 

 anxiety and despondency, the subject seems to be in vio- 

 lent pain, the flanks heave, the nostrils are dilated, the 

 face is pinched, the surface is drenched in perspiration, 

 the body trembling violently, the hmbs weak, so that they 

 sway and bend, while the animal walks crouchingly behind 

 and soon goes down unable to support himself. If urine 

 is passed it is high-colored, dark brown, red or black, and 

 is usually thought bloody, but it contains neither clots nor 

 blood-corpuscles, its color being due to the imperfectly 

 oxidized albuminoids mixed with an excess of urea. When 

 the patient is down the hmbs and whole body are still 

 convulsed at intervals, but are beyond the control of the 

 animal, showing the poisonous effect on the nervous sys- 

 tem. The pulse is variable but high and the temperature 

 of the body normal at first, though it rises slightly if the 

 animal survives. Death may ensue in a few hours or days, 

 or improvement manifested at any period may go on to 

 complete recovery. The blood is dark, difiluent, clots 

 loosely if at all, and smells strongly. In some cases of re- 

 covery a partial paralysis of the hind Hmbs or wasting of 

 the crural nerve and muscles above the stifle will some- 

 times persist for a time, showing structural nervous disease. 



Prevention is to be sought by regular daily exercise. In 

 the case of horses which have had a period of absolute 

 repose, submit to walking exercise only, at first, and in- 

 crease this day by day until they have attained good, hard 

 condition. 



Treatmeiit. Clear out the bowels and unload the por- 

 tal vein and Hver by active purgatives. PodophylHn ^ 

 drachm, aloes 4 drachms, may be given by the mouth, and 

 copious injections of soap-suds with oil or salts by the 

 anus until the bowels respond, in which case a favorable 

 termination may be hoped for. Drachm doses of bromide 

 of potassium may be given frequently to calm nervous dis- 

 order, and when the bowels have responded half drachm 

 doses of colchicum and drachm doses of muriate of 



