258 On the Domestic Veterinary Treatment of 
in a well-ventilated box, and be tempted with any kind of food 
which may stimulate the failing appetite ; water should be placed 
within reach, and a little nitre, half an ounce to the bucket- 
ful of water, may be dissolved in it daily, but the fluid should on 
no account be made lukewarm, as nothing is more distasteful to 
most horses. Sponging the nostrils occasionally with vinegar 
and water refreshes a sick animal much, and the creature's 
comfort will be further promoted by attention to the temperature 
of the surface of the body and extremities ; bandages to the legs, 
warm or cool covering to the body, according to the season, 
and friction to the skin, are all valuable curative measures 
which are within the scope of domestic treatment of disease. 
Beyond the provision of nitrated water for the sick horse to 
drink, the farmer cannot safely do much in medical treatment ; 
but if sore throat and cough are present, the electuary, the com- 
position of which is given in the list of necessary medicines at 
the end of this essay, may be employed with advantage. A 
small portion of the compound should be introduced into the 
mouth by means of a flat piece of wood, or it may be smeared 
on the tongue with the hand. 
Influenza in its common catarrhal form may be successfully 
treated in the manner above described, but it must not be for- 
gotten that the development of fresh symptoms indicative of 
complications, should be the signal for calling in veterinary 
aid. 
Inflammation of the Lungs, Bronchitis, or Pleurisij, are serious 
diseases of the breathing-organs arising out of, or at any rate 
following closely on, a common cold in many cases. It is worse 
than useless to attempt the cure of these maladies by the use of 
domestic medicines. The old methods of bleeding, blistering, 
and rowelling, are now deservedly exploded, and milder remedies 
have taken their place ; but the effective use of these remedies 
demands the skill of the experienced practitioner. 
In general terms it may be said that so long as the disorder 
of the breathing-organs is confined to the upper part of the air- 
passages, and the animal can cough out well and strongly, lies 
down as usual, and does not refuse food and water, the farmer 
may be content to continue the system of nursing, and by 
way of medical treatment he may give half an ounce of nitre 
per day in the food or water ; but domestic veterinary treatment 
should not be carried on when the animal's breathing becomes 
rapid or oppressed, the cough soft and painful, and the animal 
refuses to lie down, or to take food or water. Under these cir- 
cumstances the farmer may be sure that he has more than a 
common cold to deal with ; and if he values the animal, he will 
get the best assistance without a moment's delay. 
