184 ABDOMINAL INJURIES. 
of stout may be allowed, and some nourishing food, as bread, on which a 
very little salt has been sprinkled, may be offered by hand. The horse 
feels man to be its master and appreciates any attention bestowed upon 
it in the hour of sickness. It will stand still to be caressed, and advance 
its hanging ears to catch the accents of sympathy. 
Beware of what is termed active treatment; a purgative is death dur- 
ing influenza. It generally will induce the prostration from which the 
animal never recovers. Formerly it was common to see four strong 
men propping up a horse during its endeavor to walk. But the lower 
class are fond of joking one with another. Such was the usual result of 
their employment on these occasions. In the fun the horse got but par- 
tial support, while the noise distressed the diseased sensibilities. Horses 
ees 
h : 
A COMMON SIGHT DURING RECOVERY FROM INFLUENZA, WHEN ACTIVELY TREATED. 
have large sympathies, and readily comprehend the attentions dictated 
by kindness. The disregard which people too often display toward 
sickness in an animal acutely pains the creature: its effects may be told 
by the altered character of the pulse. Whereas the voice, when softened 
by pity, often causes the heavy head to be turned toward the speaker; 
and the muzzle of a diseased inmate of the stable has frequently reposed 
long upon the chest of the writer. 
ABDOMINAL INJURIES. 
These are of various kinds. They differ materially, but they all pro- 
voke inflammation of the vast serous membranes lining the abdominal 
cavity; and their symptoms are therefore too nearly alike to be distin- 
guished from each other. A mere list of such perils must astonish the 
reader; and his pity will be excited when he learns that such accidents, 
numerous as they are, generate the most violent agony. These injuries 
consist of ruptured diaphragm, ruptured stomach, ruptured spleen, 
