DISEASES OF THE RESPIRATORY ORGANS. 97 
temperature moderates. In such cases a light blanket thrown over 
the animal may prevent a cold. Overwork or overexertion often 
causes the greater number of fatal cases of congestion of the lungs. 
Avoid prolonged or fast work when the horse is out of condition or 
unaccustomed to it. Animals that have been working in cold rains 
should be dried and cooled out and not left to dry by evaporation. 
When the temperature of the weather is at the extreme, either of heat 
or cold, diseases of the organs of respiration are most frequent. 
It is not to be supposed that farmers can give their horses the par- 
ticular attention given to valuable racing and pleasure horses, but 
they can most assuredly give them common-sense care, and this may 
often save the life of a valuable animal. If the owner properly con- 
siders his interests, he will study the welfare of his horses so that he 
may be able to instruct the servant in details of stable management. 
WOUNDS ABOUT THE NOSTRILS. 
Wounds in this neighborhood are common, and are generally 
caused by snagging on a nail or splinter or by the bite of another 
horse; or by getting “run into,” or by running against something. 
Occasionally the nostril is so badly torn and lacerated that it is im- 
possible to effect a cure without leaving the animal blemished for life, 
but in the majority of instances the blemish, or scar, is the result of 
want of conservative treatment. As soon as possible after the acci- 
dent the parts should be brought together and held there by stitches. 
If too much time is allowed to elapse, the swelling of the parts will 
considerably interfere. Never cut away any skin that may be loose 
and hanging, or else a scar will certainly remain. Bring the parts 
in direct apposition and place the stitches from a quarter to a half- 
inch apart, as circumstances may demand. It is not necessary to 
have special surgeons’ silk and needles for this operation; good linen 
thread or ordinary silk thread will answer. The wound afterwards 
only requires to be kept clean. For this purpose it should be cleansed 
and discharges washed away daily with a solution made of carbolic 
acid 1 part in 40 parts of water. If on account of the irritability the 
horse is inclined to rub the wound against some object, his head 
should be tied by means of two halter ropes attached to the opposite 
sides of the stall to prevent him from opening the wound. Except 
when at work or eating, the head should be so tied about 10 days. 
TUMORS WITHIN THE NOSTRILS. 
A small, globular tumor is sometimes found within the false nostril, 
under that part of the skin that is seen to puff or rise and fall when a 
horse is exerted and breathing hard. These tumors contain matter of 
a cheesy consistency. 
36444°—16—-7 
