CHAPTER VII 

 DISEASES OF THE HORSE 



The horse is a robust animal and with proper care is easily 

 kept in health. Like all other farm animals, however, he is 

 subject to ills and accidents, many of which can be prevented if 

 taken in time, while if they go unnoticed, may become serious and 

 render the animal useless. Every one who owns a horse should 

 know how to care for the- simpler difficulties, and when to call for 

 the advice of a veterinarian. This chapter will not take the place 

 of a veterinarian; it may tell you when to call one. Nowthatwe 

 are giving so much attention to feeding and breeding we should 

 also give additional thought to the difficulties and ailments. 



The horse is subject to a very large number of ailments, 

 some of which are simple and easily cared for, more of which are 

 complicated and require skillful treatment. Little more than 

 a catalogue of the more common ailments is given in the follow- 

 ing pages; to discuss them fully would require a volume larger 

 than this manual. ^ 



TREATING SICK HORSES 



Horses that are ailing should receive much care. In many 

 cases good care is to be preferred to the use of medicine. In 

 other cases rest is to be preferred to both. The aim is to hasten 

 recovery from the ill effects of the ailment ; and to be most 

 efficient one must understand the horse thoroughly and be able 



1 The reader may consult Mayo's " Diseases of Animals" for fuller 

 popular description and treatment. 



151 



