DISEASES OF THE HORSE 177 



MISCELLANEOUS DISEASES 



There are many ailments of the horse, more or less general 

 in their nature. Some of them involve more than one of the 

 systems of the animal body. Many of them are not well under- 

 stood. It has seemed best, therefore, to set these ailments out 

 by themselves and discuss under one general heading. 



Wounds are injuries to the living tissue. Their causes are 

 varied and numerous. First examine the wound to find the 

 depth and direction and to see that there is no foreign substance 

 in it. All foreign materials, such as dirt, hair, and the like, 

 must be carefully washed out with water to which a little car- 

 bolic acid has been added, about a teaspoonful of the acid to a 

 quart of water. Where there is much bleeding, this must be 

 stopped, at least in part. If the bleeding is from an artery, it 

 may be necessary to tie the end of the artery towards the 

 heart. In ordinary wounds the treatment is to hasten the 

 formation of a clot. • To do this bring the edges of the wound 

 together and bind them there. If this is not convenient, apply 

 some material, such as absorbent cotton, to the wound; this 

 serves to gather and hold the blood, thus hastening the clot. 

 Ordinary wheat flour apphed to the wound is good to hasten 

 clot formation. So is bathing in alum solutions. Cold water 

 is also good. In large wounds it may be necessary to sew the 

 edges together. In doing this much care must be exercised to 

 keep everything perfectly clean. The parts must be brought 

 together evenly so that the edges will not pucker. In stitching, 

 if possible use silk thread, but whatever material used, it should 

 first be dipped into a solution of carbolic acid. ' Make the 

 stitches independent, tying the two ends across the wound. 

 Place stitches one-quarter to one-half inch apart. Bathe in 5 

 per cent solution of carbolic acid. Protect the wound and re- 

 strain the horse so it cannot rub or bite the injured part. 



Distemper, often called strangles, colt ill, catarrhal fever, or 



