INFLUENZA. 453 



pink-eye be prevalent, be very careful in giving purgatives to 

 horses unaffected by this disease ; for even a mild aperient would 

 be likely, by weakening the bowels, to predispose the animal to 

 which it was given, to contract the intestinal form of influenza. 



In pink-eye, then, if neither diarrhoea nor continued colicky 

 pains be present, give | pint of linseed oil, followed by a drench 

 composed of — 



Carbonate of ammonia ... ... ... 1 drachm 



Nitre 2 drachms 



Cold Water .., I pint 



This drench may be given three times a day, and may be 

 continued for three or four days, or until the severity of the 

 symptoms abates. 



If carbonate of ammonia be not at hand, we may give a drench 

 of— 



Turpentine 1 oz. 



Linseed oil... 8 „ 



To be repeated three times a day, in the same manner as the other 

 drench, and an ounce of nitre in the food or water daily. 



Turpentine acts as an antiseptic in checking morbid changes in 

 the blood ; as an astringent in preventing undue transudation of 

 serum; as a diuretic in hastening the removal of effete matter 

 from the system ; eind as a stimulant in supporting the strength. 

 Both the carbonate of ammonia (a powerful diffusible stimulant) 

 and the nitre (a diuretic) appear to have a well-marked action 

 in retarding the coagulation of blood in the vessels. During the 

 progress of the disease, the animal should be freely supplied with 

 common salt, which is not alone a useful antiseptic, but also tends 

 to keep the blood fluid, and is necessary for the building up of 

 tissue. 



Do not be deterred from giving a laxative by the existence, in 

 the animal, of great debility, which will be relieved as soon as the 

 bowels begin to act. This 'seems to indicate that the weakness is 

 caused by the presence, in the blood, of some deleterious matter 

 (p. 446) which acts on the nervous system. As the bowels, in this 

 disease, are very susceptible to the action of purgatives, give such 

 medicines only in small doses. 



If there be soreness of the throat, neither carbonate of ammonia 

 nor turpentine should be given, as either medicine would cause 

 irritation, and thus greatly distress the animal. In place of them, 

 linseed oil and nitre may be substituted, and may, respectively, be 

 given in the mash and water. 



