SOEE THROAT. 365 



coloured and soft, and their substance is easily broken: appeal - 

 ances which might lead an inexperienced person to imagine that 

 tliese organs were rotten, and that the disease was of long stand- 

 ing, when, in fact, the condition may have become developed in a 

 very short time. 



TREATMENT.— If the disease is due to over-exertion in tlie 

 open air, the rider should dismount, slacken the girths, take the 

 horse under some shelter, turn him head to wind, cover him over 

 with any clothing procurable, give him a qua,rter of a pint of 

 spirits (such as whisky or brandy) in a pint of water, supply him 

 with water to drink, and rub him briskly over, so as to draw the 

 blood to the surface of his body and away from his lungs. The 

 spirits and water may be repeated aiter a quarter of an hour or 

 twenty minutes. Two ounces of sweet spirits of nitre, or an ounce 

 of tincture of arnica, may be used instead of the whisky or brandy. 

 If possible, place the legs in warm water, and use warm fomenta- 

 tions to the sides. If the nature of the pulse indicates high arterial 

 pressure (p. 354), we may bleed. Before deciding on bleeding, 

 remember however that to be efficacious, it must, be performed 

 early, and that it is safest to employ it only in those cases of 

 congestion of the lungs which are brought on by violent exertion. 



In cases of indirect congestion of the lungs, blister as directed 

 on p. 358, and use other means of relief as the symptoms may 

 indicate. The same may be said of cases arising from causes 

 unconnected with exertion. 



During convalescence give laxative food, with ^ oz. of nitre mixed 

 in it daily for about a week. 



Alcohol in small and repeated doses tends to relieve congestion 

 of the lungs by quickening the general circulation, and also by 

 stimulating the action of the skin. In large doses, it is extremely 

 hurtful in this disease ; as it would then diminish the number of 

 pulsations of the heart, as well as the rate of breathing. Despite 

 the disrepute into which arnica has fallen, when given internally, 

 it is useful in stimulating the horse's skin to act. 



Sore Throat (^Inflammation of the Larynx and Pharynx). 



Sore throat usually consists in inflammation of the mucous mem- 

 brane which lines the larynx and pharynx. When the disease is 

 confined to the larynx, it is characterised by difficulty in breath- 

 ing ; when to the pharynx, by difficulty in swallowing. As simple 

 inflammation of the pharynx (pharyngitis) is, as a rule, a mild 

 disease which does not require any special treatment, the follow- 

 ing remarks are made particularly with reference to the far graver 

 one of laryngitis. 



