360 DISEASES OF BREATHING. 



to content himself with following the general directions laid down, 

 as regards fresh air, water, fomentations, warm clothing, laxative 

 food, and nitre. This advice is given to inexperienced horse- 

 owners, assuming of course that they are unable to obtain the 

 aid of a veterinary surgeon, who "is the only person competent to 

 intelligently treat such serious cases. 



If there be great difficulty in breathing, which will occur when 

 laryngitis (sore throat, p. 365) is present, tracheotomy may have 

 to be performed. Although this is a very simple operation ; it is 

 generally advisable to defer it as long as possible, from the danger 

 of its causing the horse to subsequently " make a noise,'' if the 

 edges of the divided cartilage happen to unite in an irregular 

 manner. When the animal's breathing becomes laboured, he 

 should be carefully watched, and the operation performed the 

 moment he begins "to fight for breath." 



If diarrhoea sets in, it is not generally advisable to check it; as 

 it is almost always an effort of nature to expel waste and dele- 

 terious matters from the system. 



In the second stage, when the fever has passed off, com should 

 be gradually given, with, if much debility exists, a couple of quarts 

 of beer a day, or skimmed milk and, say, a dozen raw eggs. Dis- 

 continue the nitre, and give twice a day in a pint of ale — 



Powdered gentian or chiretta 3 drachms. 



„ ginger 2 „ 



Sweet spii'its of nitre ... 1 J oz . 



Or, 



Sulphate of quinine ... ... ... 1-^ drachm. 



Dilute nitro-muriatic acid 1^ „ 



Water ... ... ... ... ... 1 pint. 



If the cough continues, blister the throat with cantharides. Nurse 

 the horse, and attend to his general health. 



The liver is frequently implicated in an attack of various chest 

 diseases, as will be indicated by the yellow colour of the gums and 

 lining membrane of the eyelids. The practitioner should, how- 

 ever, neglect such secondary symptoms, and attend solely to the 

 alleviation of the original disorder ; resting assured, that, as it 

 subsides, the liver symptoms will gradually disappear. 



Chest diseases are often far more serious than they seem to 

 be at first glance. Hence, if the person who has charge of the 

 horse suspects that there is anything wrong with the animal's 

 organs of breathing, he should use, when possible, the clinical 

 thermometer (p. 691) ; for there is always, during the acute stage 

 of these attacks, a marked rise in the temperature of the body, 

 with a corresponding degree of danger to the animal. This 



