ON THE PRESENT EPIZOOTIC AMONG HORSES. 251 
the exhibition of aloes, the purgative usually prescribed on such 
occasions. Instead, however, of there being such a costive state 
of the bowels as to indicate the necessity of aperients, it will be 
found that, after the first stage of the attack, they are generally 
rather lax than otherwise. In cases, however, where they do not 
become spontaneously relaxed, but the costiveness is considerable, 
a few enemataof warm water may be thrown up, which will rarely 
fail in producing the desired effect. 
Counter-irritation will never be found necessary in the simple 
form of the disease, without some accidental complication, except- 
ing in those instances where there is sore throat present. In 
such cases the part may be rubbed with a little camphorated soap 
liniment. Where counter-irritation becomes necessary, as in the 
complications of pneumonia, pleurisy, or enteritis, the means 
cannot be too energetic. The application of mustard well rubbed 
on the surface — the part being first closely clipped or shaved — is 
a most effectual mode of procedure, where an almost instantane- 
ous effect is desirable. 
Regimen . — With respect to the diet of horses labouring under 
the present disease, the lower they can be kept the better. They 
should have nothing to eat for the first twenty-four hours. If in- 
clined to take any thing, they will find quite sufficient by search- 
ing among the straw of their beds. Until the disease has en- 
tirely subsided, hay should be kept from them entirely, and no- 
thing allowed excepting a very small quantity of scalded bran, 
which should be well cooled previous to being given. The sili- 
cious particles of the bran act as a mechanical irritant on the 
mucous coats of the stomach and intestines, the consequence of 
which is a considerable increase of their secretion, an aperient 
effect being the result. It may starile many when I assert that 
starvation will be found one of the most useful agents in the re- 
duction of inflammatory action in the horse. Yet it is an incon- 
trovertible fact. No medicine can compete with it. 
Accidental Complications . — If, previous to the animal being 
attacked, any of his organs have been suffering from chronic dis- 
ease, the appearance of the new morbid action in his system is 
almost certain to aggravate the pre-existing evil, by establishing 
acute inflammatory action in those parts which were before 
affected. Or, in case there exists any constitutional tendency in 
a particular tissue to take on inflammation, it will most probably 
participate in the derangement. Thus are frequently found, as 
accidental additions, coryza, laryngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, 
pleuritis, hepatitis, enteritis, and, in fact, inflammation of every 
organ and membrane throughout the entire frame. Their occur- 
rence has been the source of much confusion by many veterina- 
