CHAPTER II. 
DISEASES OF THE RESPIRATORY OR BREATHING 
ORGANS. 
1. Simple Catarrh or Cold in the Head. 
This disease is a running or discharge from the nose and 
sinuses of the head. It first commences with congestion of 
the mucous membrane, or what is commonly known as the 
lining membrane of the nose and head. This congestion is 
then followed by an inflammation and dryness of the mem- 
brane, which in a few days is followed by a discharge of a 
watery nature. Later on as the disease progresses this turns 
to a thicker fluid of a whitish or yellowish color, varying 
according to the severity of the case. 
Causes. — The' most common, perhaps, is exposure or 
sudden change in the weather, such as that of the fall and 
spring, or standing in a draft, while warm, after driving. It 
is generally found in horses that are in poor condition, the 
system being run down b}^ poor feeding or overwork. 
Symptoms. — The animal appears to be dull and does not 
eat very well. The hair stands out and looks rough ; pulse, 
not much aflfected ; the throat shows soreness when you press 
on it. There are also discharges freely from the nostrils. 
The breathing is about natural, and usually the animal does 
not make quite so much urine, or water, as under ordinary 
conditions. 
Treatment. — As a general thing the treatment is quite 
simple. Make the horse as comfortable as possible in the 
stable. See that plenty of pure air can get in, and that his 
stall is kept nice and clean. Feed plenty of soft food such 
as warm bran mashes, boiled oats, or scalded chopped oats. 
It is a good plan to boil some flax seed and put a teacupfnl 
of the juice and boiled flax seed in with the food two or three 
times a day, according to how much this seems to loosen tht' 
bowels. In all cases of this kind it is well to keep the bowels 
open with soft food. In bad cases it is best not to work the 
animal very much — just enough for good exercise. Give him 
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