PUTREFACTION. 181 



oozing out of them. Invariably the horse is scarcely able 

 to move. The worst form of this disease, is the purpura 

 haemoragica, or bleeding purpura. The small boils are 

 the result of extravasation from the minute blood vessels 

 under the skin. 



Cause. Venous congestion of the whole surface of the 

 body, and, possibly, a deterioration of the blood itself. 



Treatment. Support the strength, to keep off typhoid 

 symptoms ; enrich the blood, and attend to the surface 

 sores. For this purpose, give the following powders, night 

 and morning: Powdered sulphate of iron, three ounces j 

 gentian root, two ounces and a half; carbonate of ammonia, 

 four ounces. Mix, and divide into twelve powders, one to 

 be given twice in the day. Give, occasionally, forty to 

 sixty drops of commercial sulphuric acid in a bucket of 

 cold water. Feed the horse well, and apply to the sores 

 olive oil, three ounces ; and creosote, one ounce ; once every 

 second day, and wash the sores twice a week. Horses once 

 attacked by this disease, are ever after liable to it. 



Pus. — This is the material found in abscesses. Pus 

 may be healthy, or laudable, as it is called. Unhealthy, 

 when it is mixed with blood and has a stinking smell. 

 Healthy pus is of the thickness and color of cream, and is 

 insoluble in water. 



Putrefaction, — Certain diseases are regarded as putrid, 

 where the discharges have a black appearance, and putrid 

 smell. When weakness and debility are present, putrid 

 ulcers spread rapidly. The treatment of putrefaction, in a 

 living animal, should be directed to laying open the sores, 

 so as to get rid of the putrid discharge before it is absorbed 

 into the circulation. Then wash immediately with the 

 solution of the chloride of lime, after which dress the sores 



