ON THE MARSH DISEASE IN THE HORSE. 
179 
irritation. Then a restricted diet, and bleeding, by relieving and 
lessening the force of the sanguineous system, would, perhaps, in 
some colts produce a re-absorption of the serous effusion ; but at 
the period when this disease is ordinarily discovered, I should think 
this mode of treatment very improper to adopt. 
The first thing to be done is to withdraw the animal from the 
influence of this cold and dampness, and put it into a comfortable 
stable — to lead him into the open air, when the weather will per- 
mit — to give him very gentle exercise there — to give him regular 
but somewhat gentle hand-rubbing — to lessen the quantity of drink 
to which he has been accustomed, and to let that which is allowed 
be mixed with a little gruel, and a weak solution of some prepa- 
ration of iron — to administer some special excitants, as the oxides 
of iron, crude antimony, powdered gentian, elecampane ( inula he- 
lenium ), powdered resin, or any or all of these used in drinks, with 
the farina of wheat or barley — an occasional gentle purgative, and 
to let the usual nourishment be substantial and easy of digestion. 
When the cedematous enlargements are considerable, excitant 
frictions will, perhaps, be necessary for those on the shoulder and 
the croup. It is not the same, however, with those on the belly ; 
and instead of minute punctures or incisions with a bistoury, I have 
often pierced the skin in twenty or thirty places with the point of 
a sharp heated iron. An abundant limpid serosity will generally 
run from all these openings. Eschars will follow, but at the end 
of a few days they will fall off, and give place to a thick suppura- 
tion. This will soon cease, and the engorgement will not be mate- 
rially diminished. 
Setons, of which we are often too prodigal, are seldom more 
efficacious. I once saw a colt with two setons in the thighs, two 
in the chest, and one under the belly. They discharged a great 
quantity of good pus, but this did not in the least degree prevent 
the commencement and rapid growth of the neighbouring parts, 
and the formation of new abscesses, and the animal, drained in 
every part, at length died a perfect skeleton. It is, however, rarely 
that I treat this disease without the application of at least one 
seton in the chest, especially when the progress of the disease seems 
to be arrested. 
Such is the treatment which I have oftenest used ; and I have 
many times been led to remark, that even the colts that may be 
said to have been cured do not possess confirmed health for many 
years. There is no disease with regard to which it is of so great 
importance that veterinary surgeons should communicate to each 
other the result of their experience. 
