78 
DIABETES IN HORSES. 
Simple Diabetes. 
It is chiefly to this kind that authors allude in describing dia- 
betes ; yet it is clear that they have seen the other. Gibson, and 
White in quoting Gibson, say, that “the true diabetes is not soon 
conquered, and that it usually ends in rottenness.” By rottenness 
I suppose is meant farcy and glanders, or disorganized lungs, which 
are frequently the results of febrile diabetes, but never, in my ex- 
perience, of the simple kind. 
Symptoms . — In the 10th vol. of The VETERINARIAN, p. 683, 
there is a very good account of the symptoms. Profuse urination 
and excessive thirst are the principal symptoms, from beginning to 
end. The horse stales from four to twelve times an hour, and he 
almost never refuses water. Even when his thirst seems to be 
fairly quenched by two or three pailfuls of water, he will take as 
much more in less than an hour. The urine is always quite transpa- 
rent ; but I never had the curiosity to see if it contained any sugar, 
like that of human diabetic urine. The patient cannot stand much 
work ; he eats, but not heartily, and when water is withheld he 
refuses his corn. There is no sign of fever. After a time, of un- 
certain duration, the horse loses flesh, and becomes very weak. In 
this state he is usually put under treatment. I cannot tell what 
would happen if he were longer neglected, or not cured. I have 
had no case that resisted the treatment. Perchance some other prac- 
titioner has; and to him the profession, I doubt not, will be thankful 
for the other symptoms, and for the appearances found on dissection. 
I have never seen any body who could tell me. 
Cause . — Simple diabetes is sometimes produced by damaged 
food : but such seems not to be the only and invariable cause ; for 
I have seen it occur when the food was faultless, and not producing 
it in other horses. This requires further investigation. 
Treatment . — The shortest way of curing the disease cannot be 
taken unless the horse be put out of work. Let him rest, forbid- 
ding even exercise. Put him on bran mashes and good hay. Green 
meat, roots, and corn raw or boiled, are not good. Bran mash and 
hay are sufficient. Give, every day, solid opium, three drachms; 
catechu, gentian, and ginger, of each two drachms, beaten into a 
ball with a little tar. Alum, acetate of lead, chalk and other as- 
tringents, may be used ; but, after "trying many, I can recommend 
the opium ball as the best. About the third or fourth day, the 
urine should be dark-coloured, or turbid, and in little more than the 
ordinary quantity. If the diabetes do not abate somewhat on the 
second day, two of the balls may be given, one at morning and one 
at night. One ball should be given for two or three days after the 
diabetes has ceased, for it is apt to return. I usually give the horse 
