116 DISEASES OF THE HORSE. 



aid to drive off the feeling of suffocation ; the body is bathed with 

 sweat; the horse staggers, but quickly recovers his balance; he may 

 now, for the first time during the attack, lie down ; he does so, how- 

 ever, in the hope of relief, which he fails to find, and with difficulty 

 struggles to his feet; he pants; the nostrils flap; he staggers and 

 sways from side to side and backward and forward, but still tries to 

 retain the standing position, even by propping himself against the 

 stall. It is no use, as after an exhausting fight for breath he goes 

 down ; the limbs stretch out and become rigid. In fatal cases death 

 usually occurs in from 10 to 20 days after the beginning of the 

 attack. On the other hand, when the disease is terminating favor- 

 ably the signs are obvious. The fever abates and the animal gradu- 

 ally improves in appetite; he takes more notice of things around 

 him ; his spirits improve ; he has a general appearance of returning 

 health, and he lies down and rests. In the majority of cases pneumo- 

 nia, if properly treated, terminates in recovery. 



Treatment. — ^The comfort and surroundings of the patient must be 

 attended to first. The quarters should be the best that can be pro- 

 vided. Pure air is essential. Avoid placing the animal in a stall 

 where he may be exposed to drafts of cold air and sudden changes of 

 temperature. It is much better for the animal if the air is cold and pure 

 than if it is warm and foul. It is better to make the animal comfort- 

 able with warm clothing than to make the stable warm by shutting off 

 the ventilation. From the start the animal should have an unlimited 

 supply of fresh, cold drinking water. Blanket the body. Eub the legs 

 until they are warm and then put bandages on them from the hoofs 

 up to the knees and hocks. If warmth can not be reestablished in 

 the legs by hand rubbing alone, apply dry, ground mustard and rub 

 well in. The bandages should be removed once or twice every day, 

 the legs' well rubbed, and the bandages replaced. Much harm is often 

 done by clipping off hair and rubbing in powerful blistering com- 

 pounds. They do positive injury and retard recovery, and should 

 not be allowed. Much benefit may be derived from hot application 

 to the sides of the chest if the facilities are at hand to apply them. 

 If the weather is not too cold, and if the animal is in a comfortable 

 stable, the following method may be tried : Have a tub of hot water 

 handy to the stable door ; soak a woolen blanket in the water, then 

 quickly wring as much water as possible out of it and wrap it around 

 the chest. See that it fits closely to the skin ; do not allow it to sag 

 so that air may get between it and the skin. Now wrap a dry blanket 

 over the wet hot one and hold in place with three girths. The hot 

 blanket should be renewed every half hour, and while it is off being 

 wetted and wrung the dry one should remain over the .wet part of 

 the chest to prevent reaction. The hot applications should be kept 

 up for three or four hours, and when stopped the skin should be 



