ss 
DOMESTIC ANIMALS. 
of weakness may bang about him for a considerable time. Few horses, 
possibly none, escape its attack ; but the disease having passed over, the 
animal is free from it for the remainder of his life. Catarrh may pre- 
cede, or may predispose to, the attack, and, undoubtedly, the state of 
the atmosphere has much to do with it, for both its prevalence and its 
severity are connected with certain seasons of the year and changes of 
the weather. There is no preventive for the disease, nor is there any 
thing contagious about it. Many strange stories are told with regard 
to this; but the explanation of the matter is, that when several horses 
in the same form, or in the same neighborhood, have had strangles at 
the same time, they have been exposed to the same powerful but un- 
known exciting cause. 
As soon as the tumor under the jaw is decidedly apparent, the part 
should be actively blistered. From the thickness of skin, poultices, 
fomentations, etc., are of little avail. The blister will also abate the 
internal inflammation and soreness of the throat, and thus lessen the 
cough and wheezing. 
As soon as the swelling is soft on its summit, and evidently contains 
matter, it should be freely and deeply lanced. It is a bad, although 
frequent practice, to suffer the tumor to burst naturally, for a ragged 
ulcer is formed, very slow to heal and difficult of treatment. It the 
incision is deep and large enough, no second collection of matter will 
be formed : and that which is already there may be allowed to run out 
slowly, all pressure with the fingers being avoided. The part should 
be kept clean, and a little friar’s balsam injected daily into the wound. 
The remainder of the treatment will depend on the symptoms. If 
there is much fever, and evident affection of the chest, and which 
should carefully be distinguished from the oppression and choking 
occasioned by the pressure of the tutu or, it will be proper to bleed. In 
the majority of cases, however, bleeding will not only be unnecessary, 
but injurious. It will delay the suppuration of the tumor, and increase 
the subsequent debility. A few cooling medicines, as nitre, emetic 
tartar, and perhaps digitalis, may be given, as the case requires. The 
appetite, or rather the ability to cat, will return with the opening of the 
abscess. Bran-mashes, or fresh-cut grass or tares, should be liberally 
supplied, which will not only afford sufficient nourishment to recruit 
the strength of the animal, but keep the bowels gentiy open. If the 
weakness is not great, no further medicine will be wanted, except a dose 
of mild physic in order to prevent the swellings or eruptions which 
sometimes succeed to strangles. In cases of debility, a small quantity of 
tonic medicine, as chamomile, gentian, or ginger, may be administered. 
Poll-Evil. — From the horse rubbing and sometimes striking his poll 
against the lower end of the manger, or hanging back in the stall and 
bruising the part with the halter — or from the frequent and painful 
stretching of the ligaments and muscles by unnecessary tight reining, 
and, occasional!)', from a violent blow on the poll, inflammation ensues, 
and a swelling appears, hot, tender, and painful. It used to be a disease 
of frequent occurrence, but it is now, from better treatment of the ani- 
mal, of comparatively rare occurrence. 
It has been stated that the ligament of the neck passes over the atlas, 
