DISEASES OF FARM ANIMALS 255 



STRINGHALT IN HORSES— Stringhalt is 

 an involuntary contraction of the muscles that 

 bring the hind leg or legs forward. The cause of 

 stringhalt is a deranged condition of the nerves 

 supplying the muscles, causing the leg or legs to 

 be brought up with a jerk. In slight cases of 

 stringhalt it is necessary sometimes to turn the 

 animal round from right to left, and from left to 

 right, in order to make him show signs of string- 

 halt, the symptoms of the disease being exhibited as 

 he turns one way only. This disease sometimes 

 comes on suddenly, but generally develops slowly. 

 It is an unsoundness, and depreciates the animal's 

 value and makes him unfit for hard work or fast 

 driving. There is no sure cure for stringhalt; the 

 animal can sometimes be relieved by giving him 

 one ounce bromide of potassium at a dose twice a 

 day in bran mash, and continuing it for one week, 

 then skipping a week and giving again. It can 

 sometimes be relieved by cutting the tendon or 

 tendons of the affected muscles, but the operation 

 should be performed by a qualified veterinarian. 



SUNSTROKE.— See Heat Exhaustion and Sun- 

 stroke. 



SWAMP FEVER. — This disease, by some called 

 infectious anemia of horses, is produced by an in- 

 visible organism, which is transmissible to horses, 

 mules, and asses. About the first symptoms noticed 

 are a general weakness of the animal ; it tires very 

 easily and is not able to do any work. The loss of 

 flesh is apparent in spite of the voracious appetite 

 which the animal has at times. The appetite 

 usually remains good until death, but the feed 

 seems to do the animal no good. The temperature 

 is very irregular. Some days it runs quite high, 

 at times to 107°; again it is below normal. An 



