COMMON AILMENTS OF THE HORSE 425 



in flesh and otherwise out of condition. Thus the horse 

 that is liable to attack should be kept in a vigorous and 

 thrifty condition. In many cases affected horses that 

 are given a good variety and an abundance of nutritious, 

 laxative food, with some tonic, recover their normal con- 

 dition. Turpentine in two-ounce doses, is an excellent 

 remedy. The turpentine should always be well diluted, 

 either with milk, olive oil or raw linseed, so that it will 

 not blister the mouth or throat. These doses should be 

 given once daily for two or three days, and followed by a 

 good physic, as a quart of linseed oil, which should be 

 given with care. 



Azoturia. — This is an ailment resulting from high feed- 

 ing and lack of exercise. It is known by a variety of 

 names, as lumbago, black water and holiday disease, so 

 called because of its occurrence after the horse has stood 

 idle a day or longer without usual work or exercise. It 

 often comes on quickly, attacking the horse after travel- 

 ing only a short distance. He becomes stiff, particularly 

 in the hindquarters, and sweats profusely. The muscles 

 tremble, the hind parts become difficult to control and the 

 animal goes down and is often unable to rise again. The 

 treatment in mild cases is a laxative and daily exercise. 

 In sudden attacks friction of the limbs is good. Blankets 

 wrung from hot water and placed over the loins and hips 

 assist the circulation. Rubbing the affected muscles with 

 iodine often relieves the tension. Purgatives are also of 

 value. The horse should have free access to water. 



Distemper. — This ailment is known by a variety of 

 names, chief of which are strangles, colt ill, catarrhal fever 

 and shipping fever. It appears as a fever lasting a few 

 days, with formation of matter or pus in the air tubes, 

 and often the formation of abscesses under the Jaw. At 

 the end of a couple of days a cough is heard and the dis- 

 charge comes from the nostrils. The disease passes from 

 one animal to another, and there are few that escape it 

 when once exposed. Light cases require little treatment 



