THE ARMY HORSE

IN

ACCIDENT AND DISEASE

A MANUAL

PREPARED FOR THE USE OF STUDENTS OF THE

TRAINING SCHOOL FOR FARRIERS

AND HORSESHOERS

BY THE

TRAINING SCHOOL INSTRUCTORS
1909

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Webster Family Library of Veterinary Medicine
Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at
Tufts University
200 Westboro Road
North Grafton, MA 01536

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THE ARMY HORSE

IN

ACCIDENT AND DISEASE

EDITION: 1909

A MANUAL PREPARED FOR THE USE OF
STUDENTS OF THE TRAINING SCHOOL
FOR FARRIERS AND HORSESHOERS BY
THE TRAINING SCHOOL INSTRUCTORS

MOUNTED SERVICE SCHOOL
FORT RILEY, KANSAS

MILITARY PUBLISHING CO.

42 BROADWAY

New York

PREFACE TO REVISED EDITION, 1906.

This manual, as originally compiled l)y Alexander Plummer, D. V. S., veterinarian
Fourth Cavalry, and Richard H. Power, V. S., veterinarian Artillery Corps, was pub-
lished in 1903. In this edition the work has been revised by the compilers, assisted
by Charles 11. Jewell, D. V. M., veterinarian, Thirteenth Cavalry, and Capt. Geo. H.
Cameron, Fourth Cavalry, secretary.

Matter from the companion text-book, '"The Army Horseshoer," has been substi-
tuted in several places for that of the original.

An original chapter on Tropical Diseases, by Veterinarian Jewell, and many illus-
trations from photographs and drawings, have been added.

Captain Cameron, in addition to his work on the revision of the text, made the
original drawings and prepared the others for reproduction. His valuable assistance
is here acknowledg(?d.

The greater part oi the photographic work was done by First Lieut. S. B. Pearson,
Ninth Cavalry.

The arrangement of tlie text has been adapted to the course of practical instruction,
and the language, as far as possible, to study by men who, as a rule, have had limited
educational advantages.

, School of Application for Cavalry and Field Artillery,
Fort Kilt'!/, Kans., Decernhrr JO, 1905.

PREFACE TO REVISED EDITION, 1909.

In this edition- a few errors of plates and text have been corrected, and certain
parts of the text have been rewritten as the result of the class room experience of the
instructors, \'eterinarian Alexander Plummer, Fourth Cavalry, and Veterinarian
Charles II. Jewell, Sixth Field Artillery (horse).

A chapter on Age by the Teeth, compiled by the secretary, First Lieut. Robert M.
Danford-, Fifth Field Artillery, has been added. Plate IX has been redrawn and
Plate XIX, prepared by Capt. Geo. H. Cameron, P'ourth Cavalry, assistant comman-
dant.

Mounted Service School,

Fort BUey, Kans., Jubj .W, 1909.

3

AUTHORITIES CONSULTED.

BcEEAU OP Animal Industry: Special Report on Diseases of the Horse.
Cadiot: a Treatise on Veterinary Therapeutics of the Domestic Animals.
Chauvbau: Comparative Anatomy of Domesticated Animals.
Dun: Veterinary Medicines, Their Actions and Uses.
Fleming: Operative Veterinary Surgery.

Friedburger and Frohner: Pathology and Therapeutics of the Domestic Animals.
GouBAUx AND Barrier: The Exterior of the Horse. (Translation.)
Law: Veterinary Medicine.
Liautard: Manual of Veterinary Surgery.
Moller: Operative Veterinary Surgery. (Translation.)
Neumann: Parasites and Parasitic Diseases of the Domesticated Animals.
Quitman : Notes on Veterinary Medicine.
Smith: Veterinarj' Hygiene.
Smith: A Manual of Veterinary Physiology.
Strangeway: Veterinary Anatomy.

Williams: Principles and Practice of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery.
Winslow: Materia Medica.
Wyman: Diagnosis of Lameness in the Horse.
4

CONTENTS,

Chapter I.— Conformation and Points. Defects and Blemishes.
II.— Stable Management of the Sick and Injured.

III.— Anatomy.

IV.— Administration of Medicines. Weights and Measures.
v.— Wounds, Sprains, Bruises, Abrasions, and Abscesses.
VI -Diseases of the Respiratory System and Influenza.
VIL-DisEASES of the Digestive, Urinary, Nervous, and Lymphatic

Systems.
VIII.— Miscellaneous Diseases.
IX.— Diseases of the Skin and Eye.
X. — Diseases qf the Feet.

XI. --Diseases of Bone and Detection of Lameness.
XII. — Age by the Teeth.
XIII.— Tropical Diseases.
XIV.— Medicines, Their Actions and Uses. ^

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

Frontispiece. — Attendance at operation.
Plate I. — Points of the horse.
II. — The horse in slings.
III. — Skeleton of the horse.
IV. — Muscles and tendons of the horse.

V. — Respiratory apparatus.
VI. — Digestive apparatus.
VII.— Circulatory apparatus.
VIII. — Section of the eye.
IX. — Section of the hoof and pastern.

X. — Fig. 1, Curb. Fig. 2, Bursal enlargement. Fig. 3, Sprain of the flexor
tendons (bowed tendons). Fig. 4, Line firing. Fig. 5, Capped hock.
XI.— Fig. 1, Fistulous withers. Fig. 2, Poll evil.
XII. — Characteristic symptoms of spasmodic colic.
XIII. — Lymphangitis.
XIV. — Purpura hemorrhagica.
XV.— Farcy.
XVI.— Tetanus.
XVII.— Grease.
XVIII.— Fig. 1, Sidebone. Fig. 2, Ringbone. Fig. 3, Bone spavin. Fig. 4, Splint.

XIX. — Longitudinal section and cross sections of lower incisor.
XlXa. — Surra: characteristic swellings.
XX. — Surra parasite.
XXI. — Chronic epizootic lymphangitis (tropical).

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THE ARMY HORSE IN ACCIDENT AND DISEASE.

CHAPTER I.

CONFORMATION AND POINTS— DEFECTS AND BLEMISHES.

CONFORMATION AND POINTS.
(Plate I.)

The forehead should be broad and not bulging; the eyes full, clear,
and prominent, with a mild expression, and not showing any of the
white; the muzzle not too large, as a coarse, large muzzle indicates
ill breeding; the nostrils large and open; the face straight; and the
lower jaw with ample width between the two sides, for the develop-
ment and play of the larynx (Adam's apple) and windpipe, and, in
addition, to allow the head to be nicely bent on the neck.

The ears should be of medium size, set well on the head and held
erect.

The parotid and submaxillary regions should be free from large
glands and without any loose skin at the lower part of the throat.

The neck should be of moderate length, clean and not too narrow
at a point just in rear of the throat; a short, thick neck does not allow
of free movement from side to side, and a long, slim neck is apt to be
too pliable. A neck with concave upper border, known as "ewe
neck" is unsightly. The jugular channel or furrow should be free
from enlargements. The point of the shoulder should be well devel-
oped. The point of the elbow should not be turned in, as the horse
in that case is apt to turn his toes out; the opposite conformation
results in the condition called "pigeontoed."

The forearm should be long and muscular; the knee broad, and
when looked at from the front, much wider than the limb above and
below, but tapering off backward to a comparatively thin edge. A
bending of the knee backward is called a "calf knee," and is very ob-
jectionable. The opposite condition isJcnown as "knee sprung."

The cannon should be of uniform size; if smaller just below the
knee than elsewhere (a condition called "tied in"), weakness is to be
expected.

10 THE ARMY HORSE IN ACCIDENT AND DISEASE.

The fetlock joint should be of good size and clean; the pasterns of
moderate length, and forming an angle of between 45 and 50 degrees
with the ground or floor.

The foot should be of moderate size; a flat foot or one too narrow
at the heels is objectionable.

The relative proportions of the shoulders and the exact shape de-
sirable vary considerably in cavalry and artillery horses. Thus, when
speed and activity are essential, as in the cavalry horse, the shoulder
should be oblique (sloping), as this shape gives elasticity to the gait
of the horse. For the artillery horse, working in harness, a more up-
right shoulder bears the pressure of the collar more evenly, and when
the collar is at right angle to the traces the horse exerts his strength
to the greatest advantage. The front line of the shoulder must be
clearly marked; an irregular surface or excessive muscular develop-
ment in the region marked A (Plate I) prevents a = lose fit of the
collar.

The withers should not be thin and high, as this conformation will
allow the saddle to slip too far forward and the pommel will rest upon
the withers. The bars of the saddle will be forced against the shoulder
blades, causing irritation and inflammation, and preventing free mo-
tion of the shoulders; the constraint causes stumbling. On the other
hand, the withers should not be low or thick, as the saddle is then
apt to pinch them.

The breast and chest should be of moderate width and have con-
siderable depth; the narrow chest indicates weakness, and the wide,
heavy chest is suitable for heavy-draft horses only.

The capacity of the lungs is marked by the size of the chest at the
girth, but the stamina will depend upon the length of the back ribs.
The barrel should not be broad back of the cinch, as it would cause
the cinch to slip forward and chafe the body just back of the point
of the elbow. The opposite conformation would allow the saddle and
cinch to sUp backward. The back should be short, with muscles well
developed, and the upper lines of the back bending down a little be-
hind the withers and then swelling out very gently to the junction of
the loins, which can hardly be too broad and muscular.

The last rib should be placed close to the point of the hip, as this
is an indication of strength, and the horse is more easily kept in good
condition than one having the opposite conformation.

A slightly arched loin is essential to the power of carrying weight;
the concave or "sway-back" is therefore a sign of weakness; the
much arched or ' ' roach back ' ' is almost sure to give uneasy action from
its want of elasticity.

The hips should be broad, smooth, and muscular.

The croup shouW be well rounded, should slope slightly downward
and be of moderate length; both the straight, horizontal croup and

DEFECTS AND BLEMISHES. 11

the drooping croup are unsightly; when the croup droops and also
becomes narrow below the tail, the conformation is known as "goose
rump " and is a sign of weakness.

The dock should be large and muscular; the tail carried firmly and
well away from the quarters.

The quarter (thigh and buttock) and gaskin should be broad.
The muscles of the two quarters should come close together, leaving
no hollow below the anus; the widely separated conformation is an
indication of a want of constitution.

The hock should be of good size, but clean and flat, and with a
good clean point standing clear of the joint. The two hocks should
stand well apart, but not enough to give the horse the appearance
of being "bow-legged." "Cow-hocked," so called, is when the
hocks stand close together and the hind feet wide apart, with the toes
turned out.

If the hocks stand in, it will be noticed that the stifles stand out,
and the reverse. "Straight hock" and "crooked hock" are terms
used to express the shape of the hind leg as seen from the side; both
shapes are objectionable. "Sickle hock" describes the curve which
results from a crooked bock, a short cannon, and a sloping pastern.

The cannon should be short, not tied in below the hock, and the line
from the point of the hock to the back part of the fetlock should be
straight.

The fetlock when bent forward is an indication of weakness known
as "cocked ankle." The hind fetlocks, pasterns, and feet should
correspond to those of the fore extremity, but the pasterns are usually
more upright.

DEFECTS AND BLEMISHES.

Defects and blemishes are those results of injuries (more or less
severe) which show on the outside of the body. They are regarded
as external diseases, and may be classed as follows:

1 . Diseases of bones.

2. Diseases of synovial membranes.

3. Diseases of muscles, tendons, ligaments, and skin.

4. Diseases of the foot.

1 . Diseases of hones.

Bone spavin. — Location : Lower and inner part of the hock joint.

Splints. — Location: Usually appearing on the inner side of the
upper third of the front cannon ; occasionally found on the outer side
of the upper third of the hind cannon.

Sidebones (ossification of lateral cartilages). — Location: Sides of
the foot just above the coronet.

Ringbone. — Ix)cation: Between coronet and fetlock joint.

12 THE ARMY HORSE IN ACCIDENT AND DISEASE.

2. Diseases of synovial meTinbranes.

Bog spavin. — Location: Front part of hock joint.

Thorough-'pin. — Location: Upper and back part of hock joint.

Wind puffs (windgalls) . — Location: On the sides of the tendons
just above the fetlock joints.

Other bursal enlargements (distended synovial sacs or pouches)
may be found located on various parts of the legs, but no special
name has been given to them.

3. Diseases of the muscles, tendons, ligaments, and sTcin.

Poll mZ.-^Location : In the region of the poll.

Fistulous withers. — Location: In the region of the withers.

Sweeny (atrophy or wasting of the muscles). — Location: Usually
in the shoulder or the hip.

Brolcen knees. — Location: Front part of the kneejoint.

Capped elbow. — Location : Point of the elbow.

Capped ^oc^.— Location : Point of the hock.

Curb. — Location: Lower and back part of the hock.

Sprung Jcnees. — Location : Ejiees.

Cocked ankles. — Location: Fetlock joints.

Bowed tendons. — Location: Flexor tendons below the knee and
hock.

Breakdown. — Location: Sprain of the suspensory ligament.

Saddle galls. — Location: On the saddle bed.

Cinch galls. — Location: On the parts coming in contact with the
cinch.

Collar galls. — Location: On the parts coming in contact with the
collar.

J).. Diseases of the foot.

Thrush. — Location: Frog.

Canker. — Location : Frog and sole.

Chronic laminitis. — Location : Sensitive laminae.

Com. — Location: Between the wall and bar.

False quarter and quarter crack. — Location: Quarters of the hoof.

Quittor. — Location : Top of the coronet.

Contracted heels. — Location: Heels.

Toe cracks. \ j^^ation: At the toe of the hoof.
Seedy toe. ) /

CHAPTER II.

STABLE MANAGEMENT OF THE SICK AND INJURED.

CARE OF THE SICK.

The sick horsiB should, if practicable, be immediately removed to a
large, clean, light and well-ventilated box stall, free from drafts and
located as far as possible from other horses. Clean bedding should
be provided, and the stall kept free from manure and moisture. If
such a stall can not be provided a double stall, with the kicking bar
removed and ropes or bars placed across the front of it, will answer
the purpose.

If the patient is suffering from a febrile disease (fever) during the
cold season of the year, paulins or horse covers can be hung up in such
a nianner as to serve as a protection from drafts, care being taken to
allow sufficient air to enter this improvised box stall. Such patients
must be clothed according to the season of the year, the blanket
drawn well forward on the neck and fastened in front, the legs, after
hand-rubbing, bandaged with red flannels. The bandages should be
changed several times daily, and the legs thoroughly rubbed to stimu-
late circulation.

Horses with diseases of the nervous system require to be kept
absolutely quiet, and must be removed as far as possible from all
noise. It is preferable that only one man be allowed to attend to
their wants, as a change of attendants would very likely cause excite-
ment and thus increase the severity of the disease. Animals suffering
from debilitating diseases should be tempted with and fed any food
that is rich in nourishment and easily digested. Salt should fre-
quently be added. The food, etc., should be given only in such
quantities as the animal will readily eat, and any portion left over
should be at once removed, as food constantly placed before a sick
animal will have a tendency to deprive it of all appetite. Food that
is wet, such as bran mashes or steamed oats, will soon sour in warm
weather and will get cold or may freeze during the winter; if eaten
in these conditions it may cause diarrhea, colic, etc. Feed boxes,
water buckets, and all parts of the stall must be kept clean and free

13

14 THE ARMY HORSE IN ACCIDENT AND DISEASE.

from odor. The hay should be clean and bright, and only the best
given to the sick animal. Pure water should be provided, and placed
in such a position as to enable the animal to reach it without difficulty;
a sick horse will frequently rinse the lips and mouth with water if
given the opportunity, even when not thirsty. The water should be
changed as often as necessary during the day to insure a pure and
f resb supply at all times.

A horse suffering from colic requires sufficient space, well bedded,
to prevent injuring himself by rolling during a spasm of pain. A
man should be constantly in attendance, as there is danger that the
animal may become cast and be unable to get up without assistance.

Undigested matter being the exciting cause in almost all cases of
colicj food should be withheld for about twelve hours after all pain
has disappeared, and then given only in small quantities during the
next twenty-four hours, after which the ordinary ration may be re-
sumed. A few swallows of pure water may be given at short intervals,
but special care must be taken when the water is very cold.

The pulse is the beating of the arteries, usually felt at the jaw (the
submaxillary artery), and is an important guide in determining the
physical condition of the animal; the normal pulsations are about 40
per minute. The count is best taken by placing the fore or middle
finger transversely on the artery. The slightest excitement, when
the horse is sick, will cause an alteration in the pulse; therefore the
animal should be approached very quietly. A strong and full pulse
is an indication of health.

In the first stages of fever the pulse is full and bounding, after-
wards becoming small and weak. A very slow pulse denotes disease
or injury of the brain or spinal cord. An imperceptible pulse indi-
cates the approach of death.

At rest the healthy horse breathes from 13 to 15 times per minute.
Difficult or rapid breathing is a prominent symptom of disease of the
respiratory organs ; it may also be observed in some cases of flatulent
colic. Abdominal breathing is the respiratory movement performed
with the ribs fixed as much as possible, owing to pain or mechanical
obstruction in the chest, and is a symptom of pleurisy and hydro-
thorax (water in the chest).

Irregular breathing is that condition where there is a want of
harmonious correspondence between the inspiratory and expiratory
movements, and is observed in the disease commonly known as
"broken wind" or "heaves." The inspiratory movement in this
affection is performed quickly and with jerky effort, while the expi-
ratory movement is performed slowly and with a double action,
more particularly of the abdominal muscles. Irregular breathing
often becomes spasmodic or convulsive during the progress of the
disease. The condition and color of the visible mucous membranes

STABLE MANAGEMENT OF SICK AND INJURED. 15

should be closely observed ; as will be learned in detail later, they are
an important guide in determining the physical condition of the
animal.

The normal temperature of the horse in the internal part which
is most easily accessible, the rectum, may be estimated at from 99°
to 101° F. In ver}'^ young animals the temperature is commonly
about 101°, but in very old ones it has been known to be as low as
96° F. The temperature of the external parts of the body becomes
lower according to their distance from the heart, and liable to much
vr.riation from the state of the surrounding atmosphere. Fever is
an elevation of temperature.

The production of animal heat is due to certain chemical and vital
changes which are continually taking place in the body ; these changes
consist in the absorption of oxygen by the capillaries in the lungs, and
the combination of that oxygen with the carbon and hydrogen derived
(first) from the disintegration of animal tissues and (second) from cer-
tain elements of the food which have not been converted into tissue.

This combination with oxygen, or oxidation, not only takes place
in the blood, which may be looked upon as a fluid tissue, but in the
tissue cells also, in all parts of the body, the animal heat being main-
tained by the natural changes which are essential to a healthy
condition.

As previously stated, oxygen is absorbed from the air by the capil-
laries of the lungs in respiration (breathing). Expired air is found
to have lost about 10 per cent of the oxygen contained in pure air,
and to have accumulated a like aniount of a combination of carbon
and oxygen, called carbonic acid gas. If we imagine the animal
breathing and rebreathing the same air, it can be seen that the oxygen,
so necessary for the purification of the blood, would soon diminish
to a dangerous degree. Hence, we realize the importance of a large
supply of air to draw on and the necessity of good ventilation. At
each inspiration the horse draws about 250 cubic inches of air into
the lungs, and he therefore requires about 2 cubic feet per minute,
or 120 per hour. It is customary, in building ordinary stables, to
allow 1,600 cubic feet of air space (over twelve hours' supply) for
each animal, and to provide means of admitting fresh air without
causing drafts. In infirmary stables the allowance is increased to
1,900 cubic feet.

Without good air the blood is imperfectly purified, the vitality of
the animal is lessened, he is more susceptible to disease, and will suc-
cumb more easily when attacked; consequently horses should never
be kept in the vicinity of a marsh, the air from which contains an
excess of carbonic acid gas and a diminished supply of the necessary
oxygen.

16 THE ARMY HOBSE IN ACCIDENT AND DISEASE.

^CARE OF THE INJURED,

■P

If the horse is seriously injured and stands with difficulty, he should
be placed in slings (Plate II) to partially support the weight of the
body. The slings must be properly adjusted, fitting closely behind
the elbows in such a manner as to support the weight of the body on
the chest and not on the abdomen. This position is maintained by
the use of the breast piece and breeching, which prevent the shifting
of the sling. A single stall, having a level floor, free from bedding,
is more suitable than one allowing more motion to the animal.

If the horse is but slightly injured, there is no necessity of placing
him in slings. An ordinary stall with a level floor is all that is re-
quired. After the injury has been dressed he should be allowed to
stand without being disturbed. If very lame, and movement is
painful, the more quiet he is kept the more quickly will recovery
take place. Absolute rest and perfect quietude are two very essential
things, and when secured they will hasten the process of recovery with-
out inflicting unnecessary pain upon the animal. In some surgical
cases it is necessary to restrain the animal so that he can not injure
himself by rubbing or biting the affected parts. This can be accom-
plished by tying up the head or by the application of side lines.
Bandages may be applied to the legs of animals for different purposes :
First, to give support to the blood vessels and synovial bursae; sec-
ond, to dry and warm the legs; third, to support packs used in apply-
ing hot and cold lotions; and fourth, when conditions are favorable,
to check haemorrhages.

WATER SUPPLY.

However harmless impure water may have been to animals in a wild
state, the more we subject them to an artificial existence the more
we remove them from the immunity they may have possessed against
common causes of disease and the greater liability is there for the
development of diseases which originally may never have existed.
In other words, the domesticated animal should always have pure
water; when the vitality is further reduced by sickness the necessity
of absolute purity is even more imperative.

CHAPTER III.

ANATOMY.

Anatomy is a description of the structures that make up the body.

THE SKELETON.

(Plate III.)'

The skeleton is the framework for the support of the softer struc
tures, and is composed of 216 bones (exclusive of the teeth) of various
sizes and forms.

Flat bones, such as the skull, ribs, and scapula, are found covering
vital organs ; long bones are found principally in the extremities, for
the support of the body.

The spinal column is composed of bones of very irregular shape,
which are divided into five groups according to their location, and are
known as vertehrsp. Commencing at the back of the head, the first
seven are called tlie cervical vertebrae, or bones of the neck; of these
the first is called atlas, the second axis; the next eighteen are called
the dorsal vertebras, forming the main part of the back; the next six,
the lumbar vertebrae, form the loins; the croup or sacrum is. com-
posed of five bones, which in the adult animal are united together as
one bone; and following this are found the coccygeal or tail bones,
numbering from thirteen to twenty. All vertebrae have irregular
projections of varying length, called spinous processes; these are
named, according to location, dorsal, cervical, etc. ; the third to sixth
dorsal spinous processes (often called dorsal spines) are very long
and form the withers.

The ribs are eighteen on each side, attached above to the dorsal
vertebrae. The first eight (true or fixed ribs) are attached below, by
cartilage, to the sternum or breastbone; the remaining ten (false or
floating ribs) are attached by cartilage to one another and indirectly
to the sternum ; they form the walls of the chest and serve as a pro-
tection for the heart, lungs, and large blood vessels.

17

18

THE AKMY HORSE IN ACCIDENT AND DISEASE.

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ANATOMY. 19

The skull, containing cavities (or chambers), is composed of
irregularly shaped flat bones, the most important of which is the
cranium, or brainpan, occupied by the brain and communicating
with the bony canal (containing the spinal cord), which passes
through the center of the cervical, dorsal, lumbar, sacral, and some-
times the first two or three coccygeal vertebrae. The orbital cavities
(containing the eyes) communicate with the brain by narrow pas-
sages, through one of wliich the optic nerve passes.

On each side, below the eye, are two closed cavities known as the
superior (upper) and inferior (lower) maxillary sinuses; in the lower
third of the skull are found the nasal chambers extending from the
nostrils backward to the pharynx, arid separated by a thin partition
of bone and cartilage, called the septum nasi; the floor of these
chambers forms the roof of the mouth. From the orbital cavities
the skull gradually becomes narrower and terminates a short distance
below the nostrils in the premaxilla, which contains the six upper
incisor teeth; these six, with the corresponding teeth in the lower
jaw, form the anterior (front) boundary of the mouth, which extends
back to the pharynx. On the upper portion of the back of the mouth
cavity are found six molar or grinder teeth on each side ; that portion
of the jaw between them and the incisors is called the interdental
spa^e. Situated on each side near the incisor teeth in this space are
found, in the male, and rarely in the female, the tushes or canine
teeth.

The inferior maxilla or lower jaw is composed of two segments
firmly united in front and spreading backward somewhat in the form
of a letter V. Each branch, at the end, turns upward and is united
to the skull proper in a movable joint. The branches of the jaw
include- a space appropriately called the maxillary space. Located
in the united or front part of this bone are the inferior incisors and
canine teeth, and, in the branches, the inferior molars, which corre-
spond to those of the upper jaw. The space between the molars
and incisors is the same as that in the upper jaw.

The front leg is composed of the following bones, named in order
from above downward: Scapula, shoulder blade; humerus, bone of
the arm; radius, bone of the forearm, and ulna, bone of the elbow
(radius and ulna are united in one bone) ; carpus, knee bones (seven
small bones) ; large metacarpal, cannon bone ; two small metacarpals,
splint bones (the three metacarpal bones are joined together, forming
the metacarpus); two sesamoids, pulley bones; os suffraginis, upper
pastern bone; os corona, lower pastern bone; os pedis, coffin bone,
and OS navicularis, shuttle bone. The scapula is extended by means
of a thin plate of gristle, called the " caHilage of prolongation," which
offers additional attachment for the muscles of the body.

20 THE ARMY HORSE IN ACCIDENT AND DISEASE.

The pelvis is composed of two segments. In each segment are
three united, irregularly shaped, flat bones, namely, ilium, ischium,
and pubis (haunch bones). The ischium and pubis bones are also
united in pairs, forming the floor of the pelvic cavity occupied by
the bladder and rectum. The two ilium bones or branches are
triangular in shape. The outer angle in each case is the point of
the hip. The two inner angles are close to each other, and together
form the point of the croup. Just below this point each branch is
attached to the sacrum by ligaments. That portion of the ilium
extending back to the hip joint is called the "shaft."

The hind leg is composed of the following bones: Femur, thigh
bone ; tihia, leg bone ; fibula, accessory leg bone ; patella, stifle bone ;
tarsus, hock (made up of six small bones; named calcaneum, astrag-
alus, cuneiform raagnum, medium and parvum, and cuboid) ; large
metatarsal, cannon bone; two STnall metatarsals, sphnt bones. Below
the cannon, the bones have the same name as in the fore leg.

JOINTS.

A joint is a movable union between two or more bones. Covering
the adjacent surfaces in the joint is a thin and very smooth layer
of a jjeculiar kind of cartilage called articular cartilage. A lubricating
fluid, synovia, joint oil, is required to reduce the amount of friction;
this fluid is secreted or formed by the synovial membrane and the
latter is confined and protected by the capsular ligament which com-
pletely surrounds the joint. Outside of the capsular ligament are
binding hgaments holding the bones in position.

The joints of the fore leg are as follows: Shoulder joint, formed by
the lower end of the scapula and the head of the humerus; elhow
joint, by the radius, ulna, and humerus; knee-joint, by the radius,
seven small bones (carpals), and the upper end of the metacarpals;
fetlock joint, by the large cannon, upper pastern bone, and the two
sesamoids; pastern joint, by the upper and lower pastern bones;
coffin joint, by the lower pastern, cofRn bone, and shuttle bone.

The following joints make up the articulation of the hind leg:
Hip joint, formed by the socket of the pelvis and the head of the
femur ; stifle joint, by the lower end of the femur, head of the tibia,
and the patella ; hock joint, by the lower end of the tibia, six small
bones (tarsals), and the upper ends of the metatarsals. The fet-
lock, pastern, and cofiin joints correspond to those of the fore limb.

LIGAMENTS.

Ligaments are, generally speaking, strong bands of white fibrous
inelastic tissue. Their principal use is to firmly bind joints together,
thereby preventing vibration and diminishing friction.

ANATOMY. 21

The suspensory ligament should be carefully studied on account
of the numerous accidents to which it is liable. It is a long, strong
hand of fibrous tissue originating in the back part of the lower bones
of the knee and in the upper part of the cannon bone; it occupies
tlio space between the splint bones and passes down immediately
l)ehind the cannon bone, lying between it and the tendon (sinew)
of the jlexor pedis perforans: it bifurcates (divides into two) oppo-
site the lower third of the cannon bone and becomes attached to
the sesamoids, whence the parts pass forward and downward, joining
the tendon of the extensor pedis just above the pastern joint. It
is thin and comparatively weak near the knee, but as it approaches
the fetlock joint it almost equals the back tendons in substance, and
its size and wiriness to the touch may be taken as some test of the
power of any particular leg to resist a breakdown.

The suspensory ligament of the hind leg corresponds in every
particular to that of the fore leg.

The calcaneo-cuboid ligament stretches from the posterior (back)
border of the calcaneum to the posterior part of the cuboid, ending
on the head of the external (outer) splint bone. A sprain of this
ligament is known as a ^'curh."

Capsidar ligaments, as we have seen, are pouch-shaped, are found
around joints, and are intended to protect the lubricating apparatus
inside.

Some ligaments are made up almost entirely of yellow tissue,
which is elastic. The ligamentum nuchse, neck ligament, is an impor-
tant example. It occupies the space in front of the dorsal spines,
above the cervical vertebra?, and is attached to the top of the skull.
In this position it separates the neck muscles of the right side from
those of the left. The object of elasticity in this ligament is to
permit of great freedom in the motion of the head, although sup-
porting its great weight in proper position.

MUSCLES AND TENDONS.

(Plate IV.)

The muscles are divided into voluntary and involuntary mus-
cles; the former being under the direct control of the will, as, for
example, the muscles of the neck, legs, tail, etc. ; and the latter acting
independently of the animal's will, as, for example, the heart, intes-
tinal muscles, etc.

The muscles form about one-half of the entire weight of the body.
With regard to their form they are divided into long, wide, and
short. Long muscles are generally found in the limbs; wide mus-
cles are stretched beneath the skin or around the great cavities of
the trunk, and short muscles are found chiefly around the irregularly
shaped bones.

22 THE ARMY HORSE IN ACCIDENT AND DISEASE.

Tendons are whitej round or flattened cords affixed to the ex-
tremities of long muscles, attaching them to other structures, but
themselves neither stretching nor contracting. -^

All leg muscles are long muscles. Extends are those that have
the power of straightening the \\mh',jlexors, of bending the limb.

The extensor 'pedis is the principal extensor of the fore leg; it
originates at the lower extremity of the humerus, and its fleshy por-
tion continues to the lower third of the radius; at this point it be-
comes tendinous, and, passing down over the knee, continues along
the front of the leg and becomes attached to the upper and front
part of the os pedis. Action, to extend the leg.

The extensor suffraginis has its origin from the external head and
outer border of the radius and from the side of the ulna ; it is inserted
(attached) to the upper and front part of the os suffraginis. Action,
to extend the foot.

The extensor metacarpi magnus has its origin from the lower and
external surface of the humerus, passes down the front of the radius
and kneejoint, and is attached to the upper end of the large meta-
carpal bone. Action, to extend the metacarpus.

The jlexor hracliii has its origin from the lower end of the scapula,
near the shoulder joint, and passes down in front of that joint and
the humerus and becomes attached to the upper front part of the
radius. Action, to flex the elbow joint and extend the shoulder.

The- jlexor pedis perforatus originates from the inner and lower part
of the humerus; it passes down the back part of the leg, becoming
tendinous just above the carpus; behind the pastern it bifurcates,
forming a ring for the passage of the tendon of the perforans and
becomes attached to the sides of the os coronas. Action, to bend or
flex the knee, fetlock, and pastern.

The jlexor pedis perjorans originates with the perforatus ; its fleshy
portion passes down and is attached to the back part of the radius;
its tendinous portion, beginning at the knee, passes down the leg
between the cannon bone and the tendon of the perforatus, over the
back of the fetlock, through the arch formed by the division of the
tendon of the perforatus, and is attached to the under surface of the
OS pedis. Action, to flex the knee and all joints below.

The extensor pedis of the hind leg originates from the lower and
front part of the femur; its fleshy portion extends downward along
the front surface of the tibia to the hock, where it becomes tendinous;
passing thence down the front of the leg it is attached in the same
manner as the extensor pedis of the front leg. Action, to extend the
leg and flex the hock.

The peroneus has its origin from the e^temai hgament of the stifle
and from the outer part of the fibula, and is attached to the tendon

ANATOMY. 28

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of the extensor pedis a short distance below the hock. Action, to
assist the extensor pedis.

The tendon of the peroneus is cut in the operation for string halt.

The jlexor metatarsi is divided into two portions — a muscular and
a tendinous. The tendinous part is a strong pearl-white cord, situ-
ated between the muscular portion and the extensor pedis. It com-
mences at the lower extremity of the femur, and terminates in two
branches — a large one inserted in front of the upper extremity of the
cannon bone and a small one deviating outward to reach the front
surface of the cuboid bone. The fleshy portion originates on the
front face of the tibia and is ins^ted by two tendons, one in the head
of the large metatarsal bone, the other in the small cuneiform on the
inner side of the hock. Action, to flex the hock.

The jlexor 'pedis perforatus of the hind leg originates at the back
and lower part of the femur. Its fleshy portion extends about
halfway down the tibia, then becomes tendinous, and passes over
the point of the hock, continues down the back of the leg, and is
attached in the same manner as the perforatus of the front leg.
Action, to extend the hock and to flex the fetlock and pastern.

The gastrocneinius extemus has a double origin at the lower and
back part of the femur and is attached to the point of the hock. At
the back part of the leg the tendon of this muscle becomes closely
associated with the tendon of the flexor pedis perforatus, the two
forming the tendon of Achilles, or hamstring.

The flexor pedis perforans of the hind leg originates at the upper
and back portion of the tibia. Above the hock it becomes tendinous
and passing down over the inner and back side of the hock is at-
tached to the OS pedis in the same maimer as the perforans of the
front limb. Action, to extend the hock and to flex the joints below.

Wide muscles are attached to other structures by broad bands of
strong white tissue instead of by tendons.

The panniculus camosus (fly shaker) is a wide flat muscle situated
on the inner surface of the skin and covering most of the neck, sides
of the chest, and belly. Action, to shake the skin.

The principal muscles of the back, loins, and haunches are the
longissimus dorsi, gluteus extemus, gluteus maximus, and gluteus
intemus.

The longissimus dorsi is situated on the upper part of the back and
loins, and is the largest and most powerful muscle in the body,
occup3nng the space on either side of the dorsal and lumbar spines.
Is broad and fleshy at its origin in the loins and becomes narrower as
it proceeds forward. It is attached to the front part of the pelvis
(ilium), first two bones of the sacrum, all of the lumbar and dorsal
vertebrae, the external surface of the last fifteen or sixteen ribs, and
to the last three or four cervical vertebrae. Action: It is brought

ANATOMY. 25

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powerful!}^ into play in kicking or rearing; it elevates the hind or fore
quarters, according as the fore or hind limbs are on the ground.
Acting on one side only, it bends the back and loins laterally.

Gluteus extemus is a V-shaped muscle situated on the upper
and outer part of the haunch. It originates on the front part
of the ilium and at the second and third sacral spines. Inser-
tion, to the upper and outer part of the femur. Action, to draw
the thigh outward.

Gluteus maximus is a very large muscle, originating in the lumbar
region; it is attached to the ilium and sacrum and is inserted en
the upper and outer portion of the femur. Action, to extend the
femur on the pelvis, and when the posterior limbs are fixed, to
assist in rearing.

Gluteus intemus is situated underneath the gluteus maximus
and above the hip joint. It originates from the shaft (lower
angle) of the ilium and is inserted by a tendon to the upper part
of the femur. Action, to draw the leg outward and rotate it
inward.

THE RESPIRATORY SYSTEM.

(Plate V.)

The organs of respiration are the nostrils, nasal chambers,
'pharynx, larynx, trachea, bronchi, bronchial tubes, and air cells.
AH of these organs, except the air cells, are lined with a soft tissue
called mucous membrane; where organs open to the external surface
the mucous membrane and the skin are continuous. The nostrils
are two oblong openings (right and left) situated in the front part
of the muzzle. The nasal chambers extend from the nostrils to the
pharynx and are separated from each other by the cartilaginous
septum nasi; each chamber is divided by the turbimded bone into
three passages, all lined with a delicate rose-colored mucous
membrane, called the Schneiderian membrane, which is continuous
with the skin of the nostrils.

The pharynx is a muscular, membranous cavity, common to
the digestive and respiratory canals, somewhat cylindrical in form,
and extending back to the larynx and the esophagus.

The larynx (commonly known as "Adam's apple") is a complex
musculo-cartilaginous box, situated in the back part of the maxillary
space, and at the front part of the trachea or windpipe. It gives pas-
sage to air and at the same time is the organ of voice. The front
extremity opens into the pharynx and the posterior into the trachea;
the front opening is guarded by a valve called the epiglottis or " pot-
lid," which closes mechanically in the act of swallowing and thus
prevents the passage of food or water into the trachea and lungs.

ANATOMY. 27

The trachea, or windpipe, is a cylindrical, flexible tube con-
sisting of a series of incomplete cartilaginous rings, numbering
from forty to fifty, according to the length of the neck. It succeeds
the larynx, runs down the neck, enters the thorax or chest, and
terminates at the base of the heart where it branches into the right
and left bronchi, which enter the lungs and subdivide into branches
termed bronchial tubes. These, becoming gradually smaller as they
divide, finally tenninate in air cells. The entire ramification, when
isolated, has the appearance of a tree, the trachea being the trunk, the
bronchi and bronchial tubes the branches, and the air cells the
leaves. These structures are accompanied throughout by arteries,
veins, and nerves.

The thorax, or chest, is formed by the ribs, sternum, the bodies of
the dorsal vertebrae, the muscles between the ribs (intercostal), and
the diaphragm. It contains the lungs, heart, large blood vessels, the
trachea, esophagus, and a nmnber of nerves. The thorax is lined by
two serous membranes, the right and left pleura, each pleura lining
one-half the thorax and enveloping the structures contained therein.
A serous membrane is a thin glistening structure atid lines a closed
cavity.

The lungs, the essential organs of respiration, are light, spongy
Gleans of a conical shape, situated in the thoracic cavity. (Healthy
lungs float in water.)

The diaphragm or midriff is the muscular partition which separates
the thorax from the abdominal cavity or belly.

DIGESTIVE ORGANS.

(Plate VI.)

The digestive organs consist of the mouth, pharynx, esophagus,
stomach, intestines, and anus, all lined with mucous membrane.
Together they form the alimentary canal through which the ahmen-
tary matter (food) is subjected to the special actions which adapt it
to the purpose of nutrition.

The mouth is an iriegular cavity, containing the organs of taste
and the instruments of mastication (chewing or grinding). It is
situated between the jaws, its long diameter following that of the
head, and is pierced by two openings— the anterior, for the introduc-
tion of food, and the posterior, through which the food passes into
the pharynx. It is bounded in front by the lips and laterally by the
cheeks ; the roof is formed by the hard palate; the floor is occupied
by the tongue, while the rear boundary is the soft palate. Opening
into the mouth are ducts leading from the salivary glands: the
parotid, submaxillary, and sublingual glands. The mucous mem-
brane covers the whole free surface of the mouth and its accessories

28 THE ARMY HORSE IN ACCIDENT AND DISEASE.

except the teeth. The lips are the organs of touch as well as of j»(-
Jiension (picking up). The soft palate is a curtain suspended between
the mouth and the pharynx, attached above to the palatini arch (the
back j)art of th<^ hard palate); the lower border is free antl rests on
the floor of the pharynx. Owing to the great size of this curtain,
the horse is unable to breathe through his mouth.

The tongue is a movable muscular organ, situated on the floor of
the mouth between the branches of the lower jaw. It is the special
organ of taste and at the same time assists in mastication.

The pharynx has been previously described.

The esophagus, or gullet, is a muscular tube connecting the })harynx
to tlie stomach.

The stomach is a ])ear-shaped organ situated in the abdominal
cavity, close to the cHaphragm. Its internal, or mucous, coat is
divided into right and left portions, the left is the cuticular portion
and is continuous with the mucous membrane of the esophagus,
which it resembles in structure antl appearance, being of a pale white
color. The right jiortion, the mUous, or true digestive coat, is rethUsh
in color, soft, v^ry vascular (filled with blood vessels) and velvety
looking; it c<mtains the peptic glands which secrete gastric juice.

The capacity of the stomach of the horse (from 3 to 3^ gallons) is
small in proi)ortion to his size.

The intestines are divided into laige and small. The small intes-
tines are continuous with the sti)mach, rather more than an inch in
diameter and about 72 feet in length. The large intestines, measur-
ing about 22 feet in length, extend from the termination of the small
intestines to the anus, and may be regarded as consisting of four ])arts,
the Ccccuni, great colon, floating colon, and the rectum.

Tiie membranous lining of the intestines is covered ^itli small pro-
jections called villi, which absorb the nourishing })arts of the food.
The villi are more numerous in the small intesines than in the large.

The intestines are supported throughout their entire length by
strong bands of fibrous tissue (the mesentery) extending from the
backbone. The mesentery is a part of the peritoneum.

The anus is the posterior opening of the alimentary canal and lies
below the root of the tail. It forms a round projection, which
becomes less prominent with age.

The liver is the largest secreting organ in the body, weighing from
10 to 12 pounds. It is situated immediately behind the diaphragm
and in front of the stomach. The liver secretes a fluid, called bile or
gall, which is emptied directly into the small intestines, as the horse is
not provided with a gall bladder.

The pancreas (sweetbread) is situated behind the stomach and in
front of the kidneys. It is of reddish cream color, and weighs about

ANATOMY. 29

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30 THE ARMY HORSE IN ACCIDENT AND DISEASE.

17 ounces. Its function is to secrete pancreatic fluid, which is poured
into the small intestine.

The spleen is situated on the left side of the stomach. It is pointed
at the lower end and gradually widens as it extends up to the region
of the left kidney. The spleen is of a reddish-gray color and in the
healthy horse weighs from 2 to 4 pounds. In disease, however, it
may reach an enormous size.

The function of the spleen is not positively known, but it is believed
that this organ acts as a storehouse for the supply of blood to the
stomach during digestion and that it effects some change in the
blood, many authorities claiming that it forms the white blood cor-
puscles. (See "Blood.")

The abdominal cavity is a large, somewhat oval cavity, bounded
above by the muscles of the ba»ck, below by the abdominal muscles,
and in front by the diaphragm; behind it is continuous with the
pelvic cavity. The cavity is lined throughout by a serous membrane
called the peritoneum.

PHYSIOLOGY OF DIGESTION.

By physiology is meant a description of the functions or uses of
certain structures. The physiology of digestion describes the func-
tions of parts of the digestive apparatus.

Food, as it passes through the digestive or alimentary canal, is sub-
jected to a series of mechanical and chemical agencies by which it is,
in greater or less part, digested and worked up -to a condition in
which it can be absorbed by the appropriate vessels, and, while this
portion is taken up by the circulation, the effete (worthless) remain-
der passes on and is discharged.

The food is taken into the mouth by the lips {preTiension) , where
it is ground up (mastication), and is mixed with saliva. Saliva,
secreted by the salivary glands in different parts of the head, acts
chemically upon the starchy components (parts) of the food and con
verts them into sugar, which is more readily absorbed. This step is
called insalivation.

The next step, deglutition or swallowing, is mechanically per-
formed by the tongue, pharynx, and esophagus.

When the food reaches the stomach it is subjected to the next
step, maceration, a mechanical rolling, mixing, and soaking with the
gastric juice. During maceration the gastric juice acts chemically
upon other components (nitrogenous parts), rendering them absorb-
able. Food in the condition in which it leaves the stomach is called
chyme.

In the small intestines the villi take up the absorbable parts
already prepared, and the remaining nourishing parts are imme-

ANATOMY. 31

diately subjected to the chemical action of the bile aiul j)niu'reatic
fluid. Chyme, acted upon by these juices, becomes ch/le. Passinoj
through the <ireat length of the small intestines, nearly all of the
nourishing parts of the chyle are absorbed, and the residue (remain-
der) enters the cjecum, which is the water reservoir. (Water re-
mains in the stomach of the horse only a short time and then passes
promi)tly through the small intestines into the csecum.)

The residue, soaked in water, gives up, in its ])assiige through
to the rectum, the small amount of nutritive matter that has not pre-
viously been absorbed. By means of muscular cross ridges in the
floating colon the effete material is mechanically molded into pellets
of dung, which are stored in the rectum, whence they are ejected, at
intervals, through the anus. The ejection is called defecation.

URINARY SYSTEM.

(Plate VI.)

The organs of this system secrete effete material in the form
of a watery fluid, called urine, and expel it from the body (unnation).
They are the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra, all lined with
mucous membrane.

The Tcidneys are two in number, right and left, situated on either
side of the spine, immediately below the lumbar vertebne. Their
action is to secrete the urine from the blood by a process of filtering.
Each kidney has a tube or duct, called the ureter, which carries the
urine to the storage reservoir, the bladder. This muscular organ, by
contraction, discharges the urine, at intervals, through a tube called
the urethra, which extends to the head of the fenis.

The normal amount of urine secreted in tw^enty-four hours and
expelled through the penis varies from 3 to 6 quarts. The color
in health is yellowish.

CIRCULATION.

(I'late vn.)

The organs which convey the blood throughout the body are
the heart, arteries, capillaries, and veins.

The heart is a hollow organ, made up of involuntary muscles, and
inclosed in a serous sac called pericardium; it is situated between the
lungs, in the thoracic cavity, and averages about 6^ pounds in weight.
It is divided into two parts, right and left, separated by a muscular
wall. Each part contains two cavities, one above the other, the
upper called the auricle and the lower the ventricle. The cavities are
connected by openings, which are guarded by valves to prevent a
back flow of the blood.

32 THE ARMY HORSE IN ACCIDENT AND DISEASE.

Arteries are hollow structures or tubes, conveying the blood av/ay
from the heart, and veins are similar structures, bringing it back to
the heart. The walls of the tubes are thicker in arteries than in
veins. Veins have valves; arteries have none. Veins as well as
arteries branch off and diminish in size as they extend from the
heart.

The smallest arteries are connected with the smallest veins by
minute vessels called capillaries, which are to be found in the tissue
throughout the body. They are too small to be seen with the
naked eye.

Blood.

The blood is a fluid which is the medium by which nutritive mate-
rial is conveyed to all tissues of the body. It is an opaque, thickish,
clammy fluid, with a peculiar odor and sickly, suline (salty) taste.
Its color varies in different parts of the same animal, that in the
arteries being a bright red or scarlet, while that in the veins is a dark
purple.

Blood is composed of red blood corpuscles, or cells, and white
blood corpuscles, floating in a watery liquid called serum, which
contains the nutrient material absorbed by digestion, and certain
salts.

The red cells convey the oxygen, and their presence in countless
numbers gives the bright-red color to the fluid. The white cor-
puscles act as a protection to all parts of the body in case of disease
or injury; they assist in the repair of injured tissue and destroy or
check invading germs. Blood cells can be seen only with the aid
of the microscope.

Circuit of the hlood.

The heart, from the action of its involuntary muscles, may be
likened to a force pump. The blood from the veins, venous or
impure blood, entering the right auricle of the heart, is pumped
into the right ventricle and thence through the pulmonary
artery (lung artery) into the lungs.

In the lungs the pulmonary artery branches into small arteries
and then into capillaries which surround the air cells. Here the
blood gives off carbonic acid gas and receives its purifying supply of
oxygen. The purified blood passes from the capillaries into the
small veins, which unite in the pulmonary veins leading back to the
left auricle.

The arterial, pure, or bright-red blood is then pumped into the left
ventricle and thence into the arteries, small arteries, and capillaries.
In these last vessels it gives up the oxygen supply to the tissues and
receives the impure carbonic acid gas, which causes it to change

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34 THE ARMY HORSE IN ACCIDENT AND DISEASE.

color. The dark impure blood is then collected through the small
veins into the larger veins and thence into the right auricle from
which it started. This round or circuit, which is constantly going
on, gives rise to the name circulation.

It has been stated that arteries convey the blood away from
the heart and that veins return it. In supplying the body, arteries
carry pure blood and veins carry impure blood. When, however,
the impure blood is sent to the lungs for purification, it is conveyed
in an artery and the pure blood returns in a vein. These two important
exceptions must be carefully noted.

Arterial ramijication.

The large artery given off from the l^ft ventricle of the heart
is the common aorta, which passes upward and forward for 2 or 3
inches and divides into the anterior aorta and the posterior aorta,
supplying, respectively, the fore and hind portions of the body.

The anterior aorta is very short (1 or 2 inches), passes upward and
forward under the trachea and between the lungs, and divides into
the right and left brachial arteries, each supplying blood to one of the
fore limbs and its neighboring muscles.

The right brachial artery gives off a large branch, called the com-
mon carotid. There is no corresponding branch of the left brachial.
The common carotid is short and immediately divides into two
branches, right and left carotids, which pass up the neck, at first
under the trachea and then on either side; they follow the trachea
to the throat, where they divide into branches, supplying the head.

The brachial arteries continue toward the front part of the thorax,
winding around the first ribs, and divide into branches, supplying the
fore limbs. The main branch of each is here named the humeral
artery.

The humeral artery descends along the inner side of the humeiois,
and just above the elbow joint divides into the anterior and posterior
radial arteries.

The anterior radial descends over the front surface of the elbow
joint, passes down in front of the radius, and approaches the knee
below the extensor pedis muscle, where it divides into numerous
branches, supplying blood to the surrounding tissues. The posterior
radial is a continuation of the humeral artery, passing down the inner
side of the fore leg, inclining back and dividing at the lower end of
the radius into the large and small metacarpal arteries.

The small metacarpal passes outward from the inner and back i)art
of the knee and, running downward, supplies nourishment to the
surrounding tissues. The large metacarpal is a continuation of the
posterior radial. It runs down the back of the knee, in company
with the flexor tendon; above the fetlock it passes between the

ANATOMY. 35

tendon and the suspensory liji^ament, dividing into the external and
internal digital arteries, which supply the foot.

The study of the digital arteries will be taken up later, when the
student has a more extended knowledge of the bones and of the
elastic and sensitive structures of the foot.

We will now return to the posterior aorta. The posterior aorta is
larger and longer than the anterior. It begins at about the level of
the fourth dorsal vertebra, passes upward and backward, and reaches
the left side of the spine just below the sixth or seventh dorsal verte-
bra. It then passes straight back into the abdominal cavity and
terminates in the lumbar region below the last lumbar vertebra.
During its passage to this point it gives off branches to the muscles
of the ribs, to the lungs for their nourishment, to the abdominal
organs, and to the muscles of the loins. Below the last lumbar
vertebra it divides into four branches, the right and left external and
internal iliacs, which supply blood to the hind extremities.

The internal iliacs are short thick trunks which soon break up into
several branches to the muscles of the hind quarters. The external
iliacs, with their continuations, are the main arteries of the hind legs.
Each, as previously stated, begins below the last lumbar vertebra,
curves obliquely outward and downward, giving off branches, and,
near the head of the femur, receives the name of femoral artery.

The femoral artery is the artery of the thigh. Just above the back
of the stifle joint it divides into two branches, the anterior and pos-
terior tibial, the latter supplying the back part of the gaskin and hock
with nourishment, while the former winds forward between the tibia
and fibula to the fore part of the leg, gaining it midway between the
stifle and the hock. At the hock it passes obUquely outward, cross-
ing the joint, and becomes the great metatarsal artery at the upper and
outer part of the metatarsus. The great metatarsal passes under the
small splint bone and gains the back part of the cannon, then, passing
down the leg, it divides just below the fork of the suspensory Hgament
into two branches, the external and internal digitals, which will be
studied later.

The involuntary muscles of the heart receive their blood supply
from two small arteries, right and left coronary, which branch off at
the beginning of the common aorta.

Veins.

Veins are usually found accompanying the arteries of the body and
bearing similar names; there are several important exceptions,
three of which will be here noted, namely, the anterior vena cava,
jugular, and posterior vena cava.

The anterior vena cava is the large, short vein, formed by numerous
branches, returning the blood from the head, the neck, the fore leg.

36 THE AEMY HORSE IN ACCIDENT AND DISEASE.

and part of the chest. It is located in the front pait of tlie thorax,
below the trachea, and between the right and left pleuras, and empties
into the right auricle.

The jugular veins (right and left) are the largest branches of the
anterior vena cava and collect the blood from the head and neighbor-
ing parts. Just below and back of the lower jaw they approach the
carotid arteries and run down the neck in their company. Each
jugular is outside of the corresponding carotid and the two are sepa-
rated by a thin muscle. The jugular veins in their descent follow
grooves at the side of the neck (jugular furrows), and at first are
close to the surface and easily felt; they soon take a deeper course,
running beneath the panniculus carnosus muscle. They enter the
front part of the thorax, where they empty into the anterior vena
cava just in front of the heart.

The posterior vena cava is the main vein returning the blood from
the hind parts and from the abdominal and pelvic organs. It corre-
sponds to the posterior aorta, which, as has been seen, is the main
artery carrying the blood to these parts. This vein is formed at the
front part of the pelvis and runs forward under the lumbar vertebra,
accompanying the posterior aorta, which is at its left. When it
reaches the upper border of the liver it inclines downward and passes
through a notch or fissure of that organ. Thence it passes through
the diaphragm into the thoracic cavity; here it follows a groove on
the upper surface of the right lung and then enters the right auricle
of the heart.

The important veins of the foot will be discussed later.

ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY OF THE LYMPHATIC SYSTEM.

The lymphatic or absorbent system resembles the system of blood
veins with which it is connected. The main part of the system col-
lects surplus lymph (to be described later) and returns it to the blood ;
a smaller part has the same fimction, but, in addition, absorbs and
collects chyle and adds it to the blood.

When the blood in its circuit reaches the capillaries the serum.
oozes through their thin walls into the minute spaces in the surround-
ing tissues and there receives the name of lymph. This colorless
fluid bathes and nourishes the tissues and takes up worn-out material.
The spaces in the tissues assemble into minute, delicate, and trans-
parent vessels (lymphatics), which are remarkable for their knotted
appearance, due to numerous valves. The vessels join and increase
in size, like veins, and through them flows the surplus lymph with
its collected waste material.

The vessels of the right fore extremity, the right side of the head,
neck, and thorax, form tubes uniting in a main trunk, called the
right lymphatic vein, which leads into the anterior vena cava; the

ANATOMY. 87

vcssols from the rciiiaiiKlcr of the hod}' unite in a trunk called the
thoracic duct, which begins in the lumbar region, passes forward
beneath the lumbar and dorsal vertebrae, and empties into the anterijr
vena cava just in front of the heart.

Each of the villi of the intestines contains a minute vessel culled
a lacteal, which absorbs chyle and receives its name from the lacteal
or milky appearance of that fluid. These vesesis of the smaller lym-
phatic system unite and form larger tubes which empty into th(»
receptaculitm chyli (chyle reservoir), which is a part of the thoracic
duct of the larger system.

It will thus be seen that the lymph with its waste material and
the chyle with its nutrient material are mixed and poured into the
impure blood. The lymph and chyle are taken up into the serum
and the waste material is thrown off from the circulating blood by
t he lungs, skin, and kidnej's.

Lymph, therefore, makes a circuit very much as blood does.

To simi)liiy the explanation of the s^'^stem, the lymphatic glands
have not been mentioned.

Glands are organs, the function of which is to separate certain
substances from the blood, which are either to be used in the animal's
system or to be thrown off as waste material.

The lymphatic glands are so placed that the lymphatic vessels
pass through them in their course toward the main trimks. These
glands act as filters and remove an}' infective material from the
Ij^mph and also supply lymph corpuscles, which are identical with
the white corpuscles of the blood.

When the glands are situated near diseased structures, an amount
of infected material lodges in the glands, greater than can be over-
come by the lymph corpuscles, and, in consequence, inflammation
and swelling of the glands result.

ANATOMY OF THE NERVOUS SYSTEM.

A nerve consists of a bundle of tubular fibers, held together by
dense connective tissue; the nerve fibers form a conducting appara-
tus, to convey impulses of sensation and to transmit impulses of
motion.

The nervous system is divided into two minor systems, the cerebro-
spinal, which is to a considerable extent influenced by the will of
the animal, and the sympathetic, which is not directly influenced by
the will.

In the first the center is made up of two portions, the brain and
the spinal cord.

The brain is situated in the cranial cavity; the spinal cord is
elongated and continuous with the brain and is situated in th.e canal
of the vertebral column.

38 THE ARMY HORSE IN ACCIDENT AND DISEASE.

The communicating portion of this system consists of the cerebro-
spinal nerves, which leave the brain and spinal cord in symmetrical
paii's, and are distributed to the voluntary muscles, to the organs of
common sensation, and to those of special sense.

The sympathetic system consists of a double chain of ganglia
(small brains), extending from the head to the coccyx, one chain
along each side of the spine, and the two chains connected by nerve
cords. The ganglia are also connected to branches of the cerebro-
spinal nerves, thus uniting the two systems. The nerves of the sym-
pathetic system are distributed to the involuntary muscles, mucous
membranes, internal organs, and blood vessels,

ANATOMY OF THE EYE.

(Plate Vm.)

The eye is the organ of sight and is situated in the orbital cavity.
It is spherical in shape and is filled with fluid. The front portion,

PLATE Vni.

Section of the eye.
e, Comea; e, eyelids; /, fluid; t, Iris; I, crystalline lens; o, optic nerve; p, pupil; r, retina.

called the comea, is perfectly clear and admits the light to the back
part of the eye, where it strikes the retina, an expansion of the optic
nerve; through this nerve impressions are conveyed to the brain.
The colored portion or iris, situated behind the cornea, acts as a cur-
tain, regulating the amount of light admitted through the central
opening, which is called the pupil. The crystalline lens is a small
transparent body situated immediately behind the pupil; it is thick
in the center and tapers toward the edges. Its function is to draw
the rays of light to a focus on the retina. When the lens is diseased
and no light can pass through, the animal is said to have a cataract.
The eyelids are two movable curtains, superior and inferior, which
protect the eye. The memhrana nictitans, or accessory eyelid (haw),
is situated near the inner angle between the lids and the eyeball.

ANATOMY. 89

Tliis membrane acts like a linger in the removal of foreign bodies
from the eye. The conjunctiva is a continuous mucous membrane
covering the cornea and haw and lining the eyelids.

The fluid between the lens and the cornea (called "aqueous") is
watery, while that between the lens and the retina (called "vitreous")
is thicker and like the white of a raw egg.

The outer covering (seen when the animal shows the white of the
eye) is a fibrous tissue called the sclerotic coat. Between it and the
retina, is a delicate, dark colored tissue containing the blood vessels
and known as the choroid coat.

ANATOMY OF THE SKIN.

The skin consists primarily of two parts: The outer, nonvascular
layer, called the cuticle or epidermis, and the deep vascular layer,
called the corium, dermis, or true skin.

The epidermis is a scaly covering. The true skin or dermis lies
immediately under the epidermis, is much thicker, and contains the
roots of the hair, the sweat glands, and the sebaceous glands.

Sweat glands are simple tubes extending from the deeper layers of
the skin to the surface of the body and pouring out perspiration,
which carries with it certain waste materials from the system. The
evaporation of sweat cools the body and assists in regulating its tem-
perature.

Sebaceous glands secrete an oily fluid. On parts of the skin which
are subjected to much friction these glands pour their oil directly
upon the outer surface, as in the sheath, the back of the pastern
joints, etc. Usually, however, the glands open into the hair follicles
or sacs, and the oily secretion gives gloss to the hair, prevents it
becoming dry and brittle, and keeps the surrounding skin soft and
supple.

ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY OF THE FOOT.

(Plate IX.)

The horse's foot is composed of three parts, viz: The bony frame-
work or skeleton, completed by certain elastic structures of cartilage
and fat; the layer of highl}^ sensitive flesh (quick), which covers the
framework; and the box or case of horn, called the hoof, which
incloses and protects the above-mentioned structures.

Bones of the foot.

The bones of the pastern region and foot form a column extending
downward from the fetlock into the hoof, and, as previously stated,
are named as follows: Os suffraginis (long pastern bone), os coronse
(short pastern bone), os pedis (coffin bone), and os navicularis (shuttle
bone).

40 THE AKMY HOESE IN ACCIDENT AND DISEASE.

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ANATOMY. 41

The OS sujfraginis is about ()iie-thii(l as long as the cannon bone
(the bone extenciing from the knee or hock to the fetlock) and reaches
from the fetlock joint above to the pastern joint below; its superior
extremity shows a shallow cavity on each side, separated in the
middle by a deep groove, and into this surface fits the lower end of
the cannon bone. The inferior extremity is much smaller and nar-
rower than the upper; on each side is a small convex surface, the
two surfaces separated in the middle by a shallow groove. This
extremity meets the upper end of the os coronse and forms the pastern
joint.

The OS coronse follows the direction of the os suffraginis downward
and forward and lies between the pastern and coffin joints, its lower
end being within the hoof.

Its superior surface shows a shallow cavity on each side, with a
ridge between them to fit the lower end of the os suffraginis. The
lower surface of this bone shows a convex part on each side, sepa-
rated by a groove, to fit the upper surface of the coffin bone in the
coffin joint.

The OS pedis is an irregular bone, situated within the hoof and is
similar to it in shape.

The anterior surface is known as the ipaU surface; it shows a num-
ber of small openings, called foramina, for the passage of blood vessels
and nerves, and is roughened to give attachment to the soft parts
{sensitive laminse) covering it. At the top of this surface, in front, is
a ridge called the pyramidal process, to which is attached the extensor
pedis tendon.

The lower surface, called the sole, is half-moon-shaped, concave
and smooth, and is covered by the sensitive sole. The upper surface
helps to form the coffin joint and is called the articular surface; it
shows two shallow cavities, separated by a ridge.

Just back of the articular surface is a small triangular surface to fit
the navicular bone behind.

Just back of the sole is a rough surface, to which is attached the
flexor pedis perforans tendon; it is called the tendinous surface.

On each side of this surface is a groove running forward and termi-
nating in an opening, called the plantar foramen; an artery and a
nerve enter the bone and a vein leaves it through this opening.

On each side of the os pedis, extending backward, is a prolongation,
called the wing. Each wing is divided by a notch and then by a
groove, which runs forward on the outside of the bone ; an artery lies
in the notch and groove.

The OS navicularis is an irregular bone situated behind and below
the OS coronse and bohind the os pedis, articulating with both bones.
Its long axis is perpendicular to the axis of the foot. The extremi-
ties of the bone are attached to the wings of the os pedis ; the inferior

42 THE ABMY HORSE IN ACCIDENT AND DISEASE.

surface is covered with cartilage, which forms a smooth surface for
the movements of the tendon of the flexor pedis perforans muscle.

Elastic structures of the foot.

All of the parts of the foot, except the bones, are more or less elastic
or "springy" and yield when pressure is applied; but certain parts
have a very high degree of elasticity, their special use being to over-
come the effects of concussion or jar when the foot strikes the ground
and to prevent injury, and these parts are referred to as the elastic
structures of the foot. They are the lateral cartilages and plantar
cushion, or fatty frog, as it is sometimes called.

The lateral cartilages are thin plates of cartilage, one attached to
the top of each wing of the os pedis, and extending backward and
upward so far that their upper borders may be felt under the skin
above the coronet at the heels.

The plantar cushion is a very elastic wedge-shaped pad, which fills
up the space between the two lateral cartilages on the sides, the sen-
sitive frog below, and the flexor pedis perforans tendon above.

The point or anterior part of the plantar cushion, extends foi-ward
to the ridge which separates the sole from the tendinous surface of
the OS pedis. The base is covered by the skin above the heels.

Sensitive structures of the foot.

Over the bones and elastic structures of the foot is found a com-
plete coverifig of very sensitive flesh, and from each part of this cover-
ing some part of the hoof is secreted or formed. The divisions of this
layer of flesh are called the sensitive parts or structures of the foot.
They are the coronary hand, sensitive laminse, sensitive sole, sensitive
frog, and the coronary frog hand.

The coronary hand is a thick convex band of tough flesh, about four-
fifths of an inch wide, and extends entir.ely around the top of the hoof
from one bulb of the heel to the other; in front it is attached to the
extensor pedis tendon, and on the sides to ligaments of the coffin joint,
to the lower end of the os coronse, and to the lateral cartilages. The
surface of the coronary band is covered with small pointed projections
or villi. The coronary band secretes or forms the principal part
(middle layer) of the wall of the hoof.

The sensitive laminx (fleshy leaves) cover and are fixmly attached
to the anterior or wall surface of the os pedis and to the lower part of
the outer surface of the lateral cartilages. These delicate leaves of
the flesh dovetail into the homy laminse which they secrete and, with
them, serve to fasten the wall of the hoof to the os pedis and to the
lateral cartilages.

The sensitive sole covers the sole surface of the os pedis, is covered
with villi, and secretes the homy sole.

ANATOMY. 43

The sensitive frog covers the lower face of the plantar cushion, and
from its villi the horny frog is secreted.

The coronary frog band or perioplic ring is a narrow band of flesh
running around just above the coronary band and separated from it
by a faint groove. From the fine villi on the surface of this ring the
delicate fibers grow which form the periople.

The hoof.

The box or case of horn, called the hoof, which incloses and protects
the other structures of the foot, is divided into three parts — wall,
sole, And frog. In a healthy foot these parts are solidly united.

The wall is the part seen when the foot is on the ground ; it extends
from the edge of the hair to the ground and is divided into the toe,
quarters, heels, and hars; it has an internal surface, an external surface,
and an upper and a lower border.

The toe is the front part of the wall. It is steeper in the hind foot
than in the fore. The quarters extend backward from the toe to the
heels. The hed or buttress is that part of the wall where it bends
inward and forward, and the har is the division of the wall running
from the heel to within about 1 inch of the point or apex of the frog.
It lies between the homy sole and the frog.

The external surface of the wall is covered by a thin varnish-like
coat of fine horn, called the periople.

The internal surface of the wall is covered by from 500 to 600 thin
plates or leaves of horn, called the homy laminae. Between the
homy laminae, which run parallel to each other and in a direction
downward and forward, there are fissures into which dovetail the
sensitive laminse, and this union, as previously stated, binds the wall
of the hoof to the os pedis and lateral cartilages.

The upper border of the wall shows a deep groove (coronary groove)
into which fits the coronary band.

The lower border is called the "bearing edge" (or "spread" in the
unshod foot) and is the part to which the shoe is fitted.

The homy sole is a thick plate of horn, somewhat half-moon-shaped,
and has two surfaces and two borders.

The upper surface is convex (round or bulging upward) and is in
union with the sensitive sole from which the homy sole grows. The
lower surface is concave or hollowed out and is covered with scales or
crusts of dead horn, which gradually loosen and fall off.

The outer border of the sole joins the inner part of the lower border
of the wall by means of a ring of soft horn, called the white line. This
mark or line is sometimes called the guide line, as it shows where the
nail shoyld be started in shoeing.

The inner border is a V-shaped notch and is in union with the bars,
except at its narrow part where it joins the frog.

44 THE ABMY HOBSE IN ACCIDENT AND DISEASE.

The horny sole protects the sensitive sole and does not, in a healthy
foot, bear weight, except a very narrow border at the white line, an
eighth or tenth of an inch in width.

The homy frog is the wedge-shaped mass of horn filling up the tri-
angular space between the bars. The lower face shows two prominent
ridges, separated behind by a cavity, called the deft, and joining in
front at the apex or point of the frog; these ridges terminate behind in
the bulbs of the frog. Between the sides of the frog and the bars are
two cavities, caUed the commissures. The upper surface of the horny
frog is the exact reverse of the lower and shows in the middle a ridge
of horn, called the frog stay, which assists in forming a firm union be-
tween the homy and sensitive frog. The homy frog serves to break
the jar or concussion by acting as a cushion or pad; it protects the
sensitive frog and prevents the foot from slipping.

Structure of horn.

The hom of the hoof presents a fibrous appearance and consists
of very fine hom fibers or tubes, similar to hairs, running downward
and forward and held together by a cementing substance. The
hom fibers of wall, sole, and frog all run in the same direction, down-
ward and forward, the only difference being that those of the frog
are much finer and softer and run in wavy Unes, whereas the fibers
of wall and sole are straight.

The hom fibers grow from the small viUi, which cover the surfaces
of the coronary band, sensitive sole, and sensitive frog.

Circulation of hlood through the foot.

Tn previous study of the arteries we have seen that the large
metacarpal of the fore leg and the great metatarsal of the hind leg
each divides just above the fetlock into two branches. These
branches are called the external and internal digital arteries, one on
the inner and one on the outer side of the fetlock joint. They
follow the borders of the flexor tendons downward and terminate
inside of the wings of the os pedis. Each of the internal and external
digital arteries gives off five branches — the perpendicular, transverse,
artery of the frog, pre plantar ungual, and plantar ungual.

The perpendicular artery is given off at right angles about the
middle of the os suffraginis, descends on the side of the pastern,
bends forward and joins with the artery of the same name from the
opposite side and forms the superficial coronary arch. From this
arch branches descend to the coronary band.

The transverse artery conies off under the upper border of the lateral
cartilage, runs .forward, and joins its fellow from the opposite side
between the' extensor pedis tendon and the os coronse. The deep

ANATOMY, 45

coronary arch is the name given to this arrangement of the arteries,
and branches from this arch also supply the coronary band.

The artery of the frog rises behind the pastern joint at the upper
border of the lateral cartilage. It has two branches — a posterior,
which runs back and supplies the bulb of the heel, and an anterior,
which runs forward and downward through the plantar cushion and
supplies the sensitive frog.

The pre plantar ungual artery is given off inside the wing of the os
pedis, passes through the preplantar notch, and runs forward along
the preplantar groove on the side of the bone. It helps supply the
sensitive laminae with blood and sends some small branches into the
bone to join branches from other arteries.

The plantar ungual artery is the terminal or last branch of the
digital artery (is a continuation of that artery) and entere the os
pedis at the plantar foramen.

The two plantar ungual arteries run forward within the bone and
unite to form the circulus arteriosus. From this circle spring ascend-
ing and descending branches. The ascending branches, called the
anterior laminal arteries, leave the bone through the small openings
(foramina) and supply the sensitive laminae in front. The descending
branches, called the inferior communicating arteries, are about fourteen
in number and emerge from the bone by the openings just above its
lower edge ; they unite to form a large trunk, running around the toe
of the OS pedis, called the circumflex artery, and this artery gives off
ascending and descending branches. The ascending branches pass
into the sensitive laminse, and the descending branches, called the
solar arteries, numbering about fourteen, run backward through the
sensitive sole to form a second circle, called the inferior circumflex
artery.

The veins of the foot are arranged in networks, each network or
plexus named from the parts in which it is located. The solar plexus
is found running all through the sensitive sole. The laminal plexus
runs through and under the sensitive laminae. The coronaiy plexus
surrounds the os coronae and upper part of the os pedis, just under
the coronary' band.

The veins of the frog are those found in the plantar cushion and
sensitive frog; the interosseous veins form a network within the os
pedis. The veins of the foot all unite above to form a large tmnk,
called the digital vein, which runs along the digital artery and carries
the blood back toward the heart. The veins of the foot are valveless
below the middle of the pastern, an arrangement which allows the
blood to flow in either direction when pressure is applied and thus
prevents injury.

46 THE ARMY HOKSE IN ACCIDENT AND DISEASE.

Nerves of the foot.

The nerves of the foot supply feeling or the sense of touch to the
parts. The large nerve cord on either side of the limb divides at the
fetlock joint into three branches, called the digital nerves — the
anterior, the posterior, and the middle.

The anterior digital nerve passes downward and forward and sup-
plies the anterior or front part of the foot.

The posterior digital nerve, the largest of the three, passes down
behind the digital artery to supply the structures in the posterior part
of the foot. It gives off a branch which passes through the notch in
the wing of the os pedis (in company with the preplantar ungual
artery) to supply some of the sensitive laminse; it also sends branches
into the os pedis with the plantar ungual artery.

The middle branch is veiy small, is said to always join the anterior
branch, and supplies the sensitive sole and fetlock pad.

The functions of most of the parts of the foot have been mentioned
in passing, but there are some points in connection with the physi-
ology of the foot which need to be explained more in detail.

Expansion and contraction.

When weight comes upon the leg, the Os pedis descends slightly
and causes the sole to descend and flatten. The plantar cushion
and horny frog are compressed between the ground below and the
structures above; this compression causes them to spread out side-
wise, carrying outward the lateral cartilages and bars and the wall
at the quarters. This is called expansion. When weight is removed
from the leg, the plantar cushion becomes thicker and narrower, and
the lateral cartilages and quarters move inward to where they were
before expanding. This is" called contraction. The elastic lateral
cartilage is merely a flexible extension of the wing of the os pedis and
would appear to have been specially designed for expansion and con-
traction at the quarters. It is also to be noted that the bars are a
provision for this same purpose, since expansion and corTtraction
could not take place if the wall formed a solid unbroken ring around
the hoof.

In addition to breaking the j ar when the foot comes to the ground,
the plantar cushion has another important use. It assists in the
circulation of the blood through the veins of the foot. When weight
is placed upon the foot the pressure on the plantar cushion forces the
blood upward through the veins; then, when the foot is lifted and
the pressure is removed from the homy frog and plantar cushion,
the veins of the frog again fill with blood, and this pumping action is.
repeated with each step. Proof of this statement is seen when a
digital vein is cut, by accident or in experiment. If the horse is
walked, a jet of blood spurts out each time he puts the foot to the
ground; but if he is allowed to stand the blood flows in a steady

ANATOMY. 47

stream from the vein. Great injury to the foot results from starting
the horse off suddenly at a fiist gait on a hard road after he lias heen
standing for some time or when he first comes out of the stable. The
circulation (just explained) and the structures of the foot should
have time to gradually adapt themselves to the change from rest to
severe work.

Moisture.

The wall of the healthy hoof, is, by weight, about one-fourth water,
the sole more than one-third, and the frog almost one-half. This
water is supplied by the blood and preserves the horn in a tough and
elastic condition. The hoof, particularly the frog, is capable of
absorbing moisture from the ground. The periople, which covers
the wall, prevents the evaporation of water, and therefore should
never be rasped. As there is no similar covering for the sole and
the frog, the layers of horn on their exposed surfaces dry out and
die. The dead layers are hard and brittle, and gradually fall or flake
off; but, as they preserve the moisture in the layers of live horn
beneath, they should not be removed in preparing the hoof for
shoeing. _

^ Shoeing.

Shewing is a necessaiy evil, but by remembeiing the functioi\s of
the various parts of the foot the damage resulting may be limited to
a comparatively small amount.

The following rules may serve as a guide for the shoeing of healthy
feet:

1. The wall, being the weight bearer, should be rasped perfectly
level or the foot will be thrown out of its true position, causing extra
strain on some of the ligaments.

2. Fit the shoe accurately to the outline of the foot; do not alter
the latter to fit the shoe. Rasping away the exterior of the crust to
fit the shoe not only renders the horn brittle but is so much loss of
bearing surface.

3. The sole should not be touched with the knife; loose flakes
may be removed with a blunt instrument.

4. The bars should not be cut away; they are a part of the wall
and intended to caiTy weight. The shoe should rest on them.

'). The frog should not be cut, but left to attain its full growth.
No frog can perform its functions unless on a level with the ground
surface of the shoe.

6. The shoe should have a true and level bearing and rest well
and firmly on the wall and bars.

A plain light-weight shoe is the best — plain on both ground and
foot surface.

7. High nailing is injurious; do not use any more nails than are
absolutely necessary, as the nails destroy the horn.

CHAPTER IV.

ADMINISTRATION OF MIKICINES— WEIGHTS AND MEASURES.

ADMINISTRATION OF MEDICINES.

Medicines may enter the body through any of the following
designated channels: First, by the mouth; second, by the lungs
and upper air passages; third, by the skin; fourth, under the skin
(hypodermically) ; fifth, by the rectum; and sixth, by intravenous
injection.

By the mouth. — Medicines can be given by the mouth in the form
of powders, balls, and drenches.

By the air passages.— Medicines are administered to the lungs
and upper air passages by inhalations and nasal douches.

By the sTcin. — Care must be taken in applying some medicines
over too large a portion of the body at any one time, as poisoning
and death may follow from too rapid absorption through the skin.
For domestic animals medicines are to be applied to the skin for
local purposes or diseases only.

By the rectum. — Medicines may be given by the rectum when we
can not give or have them retained by the mouth; when we want
local action; to destroy the small worms infesting the large bowels;
to stimulate the natural movement of the intestine and cause an
evacuation; and to nourish the body.

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES.

Solid measure.o-

60 grains (gr.). 1 dram (5).

8 drams 1 oiince (J).

16 ounces 1 pound (lb.).

Liquid measure.

60 minims (min.) 1 fluid dram (f . 5).

8 fluid drams - 1 fluid ounce (f. ^).

16 fluid ounces 1 pint (O.).

32 fluid ounces 1 quart (Oii.).

4 quarts 1 gallon (Ci.)-

«The difference in weight between the apothecaries' ounce (480 grains) and the^
ounce avoirdupois (437.5. grains) is neglected in handling veterinary or bulky medi-
cines.

48

WKIGilTB AND MKASURES. 49

PRESCRIPTIOXS,

In writing? proscriptions, Roman iniincrals are used instead of
Arabic (ordinary figures) and tiie numerals follfiw the symbols,
thus: 5 vii for 7 drams; f 5 xii for 12 fluid drams, etc. S. S. signifies
one half, thus: 5 ii s. s. for 2^ drams.

FIELD EXPEDIENTS.

In garrison, doses must be accurately measured by scales or
graduates, according to the tables of dry or hcjuid measure, but
in the field the following rough expedients may be used:

Dry mcasxrc.

(1 Dunce of lead acetate.

All ordnance spcKui h "unce of zinc sulphate.

( Heapinfj full.) )- <lrams of a powder.

1 1 ounce of a salt.

( >rdnance l in cuj) | of a quart.

Full day's ration of medium-weight oats. 14 cups.

Liquid mrnmn-r.

A drop 1 minim.

A leaspoonful *- ] fluid dram.

A tablespoonful J fluid ounce.

Xhi cup 28 ounces= J of » quart.

V "\

^;

CIUPTER V.

WOUNDS, SPRAINS, BRUISES, ABRASIONS, AND ABSCESSES.

^ WOUNDS AND THEIR TREATMENT,

Wounds (separations of the soft tissues) are classed as: Incised
wouTids, or cuts ; lacerated wounds, or tears ; and punctured wounds, or
holes.

A dressing is a local, periodically repeated treatment, producing
a continued action, and often following the performance of an opera-
tion. It is the application upon the surface of the wound of healing
substances, which, in some cases, are mechanically held in place by
bandages, stitches, etc.

Before applying a dressing the wound should be thoroughly
cleansed and freed from blood, pus, the remains of previous dressing,
and, in a word, of any foreign or other substances capable of becoming
sources of irritation. Tliis is best done with water, but the effect is
frequently greatly improved by combining with it some of the anti-
septics, such as carbolic acid, creolin, bichloride of mercury, etc.

Antiseptics are remedies which prevent putrefaction, or rotting,
and their combinations with water are called solutions.

The solution may be apphed by carefully passing a saturated
ball of oakum over the surface of the wound, or it may be used more
freely in larger ablutions (washings). Crusts or scabs, if present,
may be removed with the scissors or scraped away with the knife,
but the finger nails must never be used for such a purpose, for the
practice is both filthy and dangerous. The wound is to be handled
only when necessary; all needless handling irritates. If the wound
is deep, it should be cleansed by syringing.

The essential condition of cleanliness apphes not only to the wound
but also to the materials used for dressings, and soiled cloths or
bandages and dirty oakum must be rigorously rejected; everything
coming in contact with a wound must be alxsolulcly clean, hands Jis
well as instruments and dressings. Instruments, however, should
never be immersed in the bicldoride solution, wliicli rapidly c«)rrodcs
metal.
50

WOUNDS, .-^PRAINS, BRri.-^F.<. ABRASIONS. AND ABSCESSES. 51

111 the treat inen( of all wounds (•Iraiiliiics:^ is nf more impor-
tance than medicHtion, but the two in combination, when thoroughly
uiid intelligently carried out. will leave no room for the propagation
and ravages of those germs that cause the formation of pus and
retard the heahng process. The farrier, or the man who is to care
for the injured animal, should have his hands thoroughly clean, and
should procure in a clean can or bucket a solution of creolin or other
antiseptic, and several clean pieces of cotton, gauze, or oakum.
Sponges are cleaned with difhculty and should not be used.

If hemorrhage (l^leeding) is profuse the first step is to arrest the
flow of blood by ligatiug (tying) the blood vessel or vessels with a
piece of silk, or if none is at hand, with a clean piece of string; if
the blood vessels can not be tied, a thick pad made of cotton or of
several layers of gauze or clean cloth, folded so as to cover the wound,
and held firmly in place by one or more cotton bandages, \s'ill check
the flow of blood. This arrangement, called a comprfsfi, should be
left on until the hemorrhage ceases, and the wound treated as de-
scribed later.

In applying dressings (except compresses) unnecessary pressure
should be avoided, especially on the soft tissues.

Incised urmnds. — If the injury is one that can be sutured (sewed)
a needle and silk should be immersed in a solution of creolin — creolin
1 part, water 50 parts: the hair around the wound should either be
shaved or be clipped with a pair of shears, and the wound thoroughly
cleansed by washing it \s-ith cotton saturated with the creolin solu-
tion; all dirt and hair must be removed, all ragged edges, if any,
cut away, and the edges of the wound placed in contact with each
other if possible and held in place by the aid of sutures, care being
taken to allow free drainage; the wound should then be "wiped dry
with a fresh piece of cotton or gauze, and over the surface should be
dusted some iodoform or acetanilid. If the location will permit,
the wound should be covered with a pad of gauze or absorbent cotton,
and a cotton bandage wrapped around the parts to hold the pad in
place. The wound should be dressed once or twice a day until the
formation of pus ceases; when the wound is dr\', only the powder
should be used.

LaceraUd wounds. — If the wound is a large one, with the skin and
tissues so badly torn and lacerated as not to admit of the use of
sutures, the torn and ragged edges (especially if the lower part of
the wound hangs down) should be removed with the knife or scissors
and the wound dressed as above directed. When the wound begins
to granulate (fill with new tissue) care should be taken that the
granulations are not allowed to grow^ out higher than the skin, caus-
ing the condition known as yroudffsh.

52 THE ai:mv iioiisi: ix accident and disease.

Tlu" i rraf MK'iil of |)i'ou<l flcsli consi.st^ in i\w icinoxal of I he mi-
houltliy tissue by the use of tlu' knife or \>\ the jip|>li(ation of a red-
hot iron; burnt alum or salicylic a<'i(l dusted upon the surface of the
wound will also destroy the unhealthy granules.

Punctured vjounds.- — Punctured wounds (except those around
joints) should be ex])lored with a probe to ascertain if any foreign
bodies are in tlu^ channel; if so, they should b(> renioveil, and if neces-
sary a dependent opening ho made to allow ]x>rfect drainage. The
parts should then be syringed out thoroughly with a solution of
creolin, 1 to 50; oarbolie acid, 1 to 20 or 30; or bichloride of mercury,
1 to 1,000, and the outside opening sprinkled with iodoform. This
treatment should be applied twice daily.

For a few days the wound shoidd be swabbed with tincture of
iodine or packed with strips of gauze saturated with this drug in
order to destroy infection, check the formation of pus, and promote
the growth of healthy tissue.

Wounds of the lips, nostrils, and eyelids heal very rapidly; if of
several days' standing, they should have their edges scraped and then
be sutured, and iodoform or acetanilid dusted over the surface twice
daily.

An excellent antiseptic solution for the treatment of wounds
during fly time is made by dissolving 8 ounces of gum camphor in 3
ounces of carbolic acid. Apply with a clean swal) several times daily.
One ounce of creolin to H ounces of olive oil is a good substitute.

Punctured grounds around joiids.

Open joint is a wound situated on a joint and extending through
the capsular ligament, allowing the joint oil to escape.

Treatment. — Remove the hair and thoroughly clean the parts
around the wound with a solution of bichloride of mercury, 1 to 1,000;
unless a foreign body is known to be hxlged in it, do not probe or
explore, as the introduction of any instrument, even if thoroughly
clean, will be the means of setting up considerable inflammation.
Apply a blister of biniodide of mercury 1 part, cosmoline 4 parts, for
the purpose of closing the opening, limiting motion, and relieving
pain. Use the slings if the wound is very painful. If the wound
is so large that a blister will not close it, the treatment shouhl be
as prescribed for an open wound.

A punctured tendon sheath is treated like a punctured joint.

CAUSE AND TREATMENT OF SPRAINS.

Sprains affect muscles, tendons, and ligaments. The fibers of
which they are -composed are severely stretched, sometimes torn in
serious cases, causing inflammation and subsequent contraction, and,
in case of muscles, atroph}- or sweeny (wasting away).

PLATE X.

Fig. 1 , Curb. Fig. 2, Bursal enlargement. Fig. 3, Sprain of the flexor tendons
(bowed tendons). Fig. 4, Line firing. Fig. 5, Capped hock.

WOUNDS. SPRAINS, BRUISES. ABRASIONS. AND ARSCESSES. 53

Strains of the rawnies.

Muscle strains occur in various parts of the trunk and limbs;
thus, a horse may strain the neck muscles, as a result of falling
on the head; the muscles of the dorsal region may be strained
by the hind feet slipping backward. Wlien a muscle is strained
the injury is succeeded by pain, swelling, heat, and loss of function.

An inflamed muscle can no hmger contract; hence in some strains
the sympU)ms resemble those of paralysis.

S-prains of the suspeiisory ligament andjlexor tendons.

(" Breakdown'' and " Bowed tendons.")

The fibrous structures situated behind the cannon bone, both in
the front and hind legs, are often the scat of lacerations or sprains
resulting from violent efforts or sudden jerks. The injury is easily
recognized by the changed appearance of the parts, which become
more or le«s swollen; the swelling usually extending from the knee
down to the fetlock and occasionally ev*en farther. Tt is always
characterized by heat and is variously sensitive, ranging from a mere
tenderness to a degree of soreness wliich shrinks from the lightest
touch. The degree of lameness corresponds to the severity of the
injurj'. Sprain of the flexor tendon is shown in Plate X, figure 3.

Sjyrains ofli/famentft.

The calcaneo-cuboid ligament, situated at the back part of the
hock and uniting the calcaneum, the cuboid, and the external splint
bones, is frequently sprained. This condition is known as a "curb''
(Plate X, Fig. 1).

The various ligaments entering into the formation of joints are
subject to sprains and injuries. This condition is indicated by
lameness, accompanied by pain, heat, and swelling.

The capsular ligament when sprained very often becomes weak-
ened, resulting in distention of the synovial sac (Plate X, Fig. 2).
Bursal enlargements receive different names, according to their
location. Bog spavin is a characteristic bursal enlargement. It is
found on the front and inner side of the hock joint and varies in size
with the amount of distention of the capsular ligament. The trouble
is usually caused by slipping, hard and fast work, irregular exercise,
and high feeding. Draft animals, pulling heavy loads over rough or
slippery ground, are particularly subject to this injury, which is also
more commonly seen in young than in mature animals. The swell-
ing can be readily detected; under pressure it fluctuates; heat may
or may not be present; lameness rarely results unless the injury be
accompanied by complications, such as hone spavin or bony deposits.

54 THE ARMY flORSE IN ACCIDENT AND DISEASE.

Til sprain of tlic stifle joint, tho ligaments holding it in position are
severely stretched, in sonic cases spraine<l or ruptured, and even dis-
location of the i)atella may occur. In this trouble the patella is forced
outward and thus makes the joint immovable, the leg being extended
backward and the foot resting on the toe. If the animal is forced to
move, he drags the leg, being unable to bring it forward in the natural
manner on account of the dislocation. The bone is returned to ])lace
in the following manner: A rope having been placed about the pas-
tern, the leg is steadily drawn forward by one or more assistants,
while the operator stretches the patella forward and inward. When
the bone regains its proper position, the animal has proper control
of his leg. Reduce the inflammation promptly and blister as ex-
plained below, in case the patella persists in slipping out again, a
rope should be fastened to the pastern and attached to the collar
about the horse's neck; the rope should be drawn'tight enough to
])revent the horse extending his leg to the rear, but allowing him to
stand upon it; keej) the rope on until the blister has worked.

General treaUitent of spi^ains. — Perfect rest is absolutely necessary
and must never be overlooked in the treatment of all sprains; there-
fore the injured animal sliould be at once removed to a level stall
where it can remain until complete recovery has taken place. Hot or
cold applications should be applied to the injured parts. These appli-
cations should be in the form of fomentations (bathing), or bandages
saturated with water. Flannel bandages must not be allowed to dry
while in contact with the injured parts, as flannel applied wet, slirinks
in drying, and will not only retard the reparative process, but cause
unnecessary pain. Cold water is often materially assisted in ac-
complishing the desired results by the addition of acetate of lead or
sulphate of zinc, witch-hazel, or nitrate of potash. A convenient
solution is made as follows: Acetate of lead and sulphate of zinc, each
1 ounce; water, 1 quart; or, 1 pint of witch-hazel, 1 ounce of acetate
of lead, and water enough to make 1 quart. If pain is very severe
the following may be used: Tincture opium, 4 ounces; acetate of
lead, 2 ounces; water to make 1 quart; this application is of more
benefit when applied warm. All applications should be used several
times daily.

If, after the inflammation is reduced, the parts remain large and
swollen, benefit will result from the application of tincture of iodine,
well rubbed in, twice a day. If this treatment fails to restore the
parts to their normal condition in a reasonable length of time, a
blister should be applied. It is made as follows: Cantharides (pow-
dered) 1 part, cosmoline 4 to 5 parts; or, cantharides (powdered) 1
part, biniodide mercury 1 part, cosmoline 4 to 6 parts.

Before applying either the blister or the iodine the hair should be
clipped from the parts to which the medicine is to be applied. To

WOUNDS, SPRAINS, BrUTSES, AIIHASIOXS, AND ABSCESSES. 55

obtain the Ixvst results from the hhster it should l)e well rubbed in
for at least fil'teen niiiuites. 'J'he animal nuist be tied in such a
manner that he can not reach the blisteretl part with his mouth; (he
blister should be left on for a period of twenty-four to forty-eight
hours; it must then be removed by washing with warm water and
castile soap. After the blister has been removed the animal may be
untied. The parts should be kept clean, free from scabs, and soft
from the use of cosmoline, olive oil, or glycerin.

Kest is necessary throughout the treatment, and even to test his
soiuidness the animal should not be moved more than is necessary.

If the disease does not yield to blisters, the parts must be fired.
For this operation, two kinds of instruments* are used: The thermo-
cautery, which generates its own heat, and the more common form,
the iron heated in the fire. Two methods of firing are in general use:
Line Jinng, for diseases of the tendons, ligaments, etc. (Plate X,
Fig. 4), and pundvreji/ing, for diseases of the bone (Chapter XI).

BRXTISES.

In the cavalry horse the most frequent l)ruises are saddle and
cinch galls, and bruises of the withers.

Certain horses suffer more than others, on account of the presence
of old sores, scars, or scabs, or because of peculiarities in conformation.

The principal defects in conformation (previously noted) are:
Abnormally high or abnormally low and thick withers; the keel-
shaped breast, accompanied by fiat ribs and light flanks, and the
broad or bulging barrel.

Old horses sometimes have the muscles in the saddle bed atrophied,
and are therefore more liable to contract saddle galls.

All horses, whatever their conformation, are subject to saddle and
cinch galls, produced mechanically by three causes: First, unequal
distribution of weight; second, faults in saddling and cinching;
third, poor riding.

After a long ride, the blood vessels imder the saddle and cinch are

compressed and almcxst empty. If it is suspected that saddle or

.cinch galls may have been formed, it is advisable to leave the saddle

on for a half hour to an hour after dismounting; the cinch should be

loosened very slightly.

If pressure be suddenly and completely removed, blood is vigor-
ously forced into the paralyzed vessels, and may rupture their walls.
On the other hand, if the saddle is allowed to remain some time in
position, circulation is gradually restored without injury.

Treatment. — As soon as a swelling is noticed, application of cold in
the form of pads kept saturated with cold water and massage in the
form of gentle stroking with the fingers will aid in the absorption of
the fluids causing the swelling.

56 THE AKMY HORSE IN ACCIDENT AND DISEASE.

Injuries to the witliers require different treatment cold applica-
tions without pressiu-e and without massage, on account of the danger
of the fluids burrowing.

A solution made of the following is a very good application for
bruises: Sugar of lead 2 ounces, laudanum 4 ounces, water to make
1 quart. To be applied several times daily. Or a j)oidtico ma<le (>{
flaxseed meal, to which has been added an antise])tic, sucli as creolin,
carbolic acid, etc.

Bruises caused by kicks or running against an obstacle shoidd be
treated by applications of water, and if painful, an anodyne (pain
reducing) liniment. The following makes a good anodyne: Witch-
hazel 2 parts, tincture opium 1 part, tincture aconite \ part, water 2
parts. Apply locally with the hand.

Artillery horses are subject to the same injuries, produced b}'^ the
saddle and cinch, as are cavalry horses, and, in addition, may be
bruised about the neck and shoulders by the collar. If the collar has
not broken or chafed the skin (see 'Abrasions") treat the bruises a^i
previously directed.

The white lotion, composed of 1 ounce each of sugar of lead and
sulphate of zinc, water 1 quart, is a most excellent remedy for bruises
and aJso for abrasions.

Bruises of the sole and heel.

These are quite frequent, and should be treated by hot or cold
applications, accomplished by holding the foot in a tub or pail of
water, or by incasing the foot in a hot flaxseed-meal poultice. If pus
forms, the underrun horn must be removed and the parts kept clean
and covered.

Capped elhow — shoe hoil.

This is a bruise at the point of the elbow, and is caused by the horse
lying on the heels of his shoe; to prevent further injury, place a large
roll around the pastern at night, and apply tincture of iodine twice
daily, until the swelling is removed. In case of great swelling and
heat, apply hot and cold water, or the white lotion, imtil the heat
disappears; then proceed as above.

Capped hock.

(Plate X, Fig. 5.)

Capped hock is a swelling, more or less soft, found on t he point of
the hock, and usually caused by kicking in the stall, or by bruising
the parts during transportation by rail or sea. Tincture of iodine is
a very good remedy for this injury.

Only in extreme cases is it advisable to use the knife in the treat-
ment of shoe boils and capped hock. As soon as the parts are opened

PLATE XI.

Fig. 1 , Fistulous withers. Fig. 2, Poll evil.

WOUNDS, SPRAINS, BRUISES, ABRASIONS, AND ABSCESSES. 57

pus rapidl}' furnis, and the inllamiiiatioii (infe(;tion by germs) may
extend to the inner structures, causing a condition that will not
rea(hly yield to treatment.

Sitfast.

Sitfasts are patches of dry, dead skin, and may involve the deeper
tissues; they are caused by continuous pressure of the saddle, cinch,
or collar, and may be situated on the side of the body, back, side of
withers, shoulder, or neck.

Treatment. — With the knife remove all dead and bruised tissue,
stimulate the sore at the sides by the use of lunar caustic, and treat
as a common wound. When there is no more formation of pus, and
the parts are perfectly dry, do not apply liquids, but use iodoform
until well.

Fistulous withers.

(Plate XI. Fig. 1.)

Fistulous withers is an abscess (gathering) having a more or less
chronic discharge of pus from one or more openings situated in the
immediate vicinity of the withers; it may involve only the soft struc-
tures, or the bones may also be affected; it is caused by a bruise, and
generally, in the army, by a bruise from an ill-fitting saddle.

Treatment. — Treat as explained under "Abscesses." If, after a
reasonable length of time, results are not satisfactory, a surgical opera-
tion is necessary.

Poll eml.

ablate XI, Fig. 2.)

Poll evil is the result of a bruise on the poll. It is similar to fistulous
withers, and should receive the same treatment.

ABRASIONS.

An abrasion, or chafe, is an inflammation of the skin, resulting
from friction. Parts of the equipment frequently wear away the
hair and leave the skin raw and tender.

Treatment. — One ounce of tannic acid in a pint of witchhazel is
especially valuable for collar chafes; zinc oxide as a dusting powder is
efl"ective, and the white lotion is always beneficial. In emergencies,
bathe the parts with cold water to which a little salt has been added.

Rope burn.

Rope burn is an abrasion, usually at the back of the pastern, and
caused by the animal becoming entangled in the halter shank, picket
line, or lariat. The injury may be simply a chafe of the superficial

58 THE ARMY HORSE TN ACCIDENT AND DTSEASE.

layer of the skin or it may involve the deeper structures. In the latter
case it is of a serious nature and requires careful attention.

Treatment. — If possible, give the animal complete rest. Clip the
hair from the injured parts, at the same time removing any torn skin;
wash with some good antiseptic, such as solution of creolin or carbolic
acid, and apply a <lusting powder, such as zinc oxide or iodoform, the
former preferably. Apply a pad of clean cotton and secure with a
cotton bandage; change the dressing daily. Should the parts be slow
in healing, an occasional dressing of tincture of iodine is beneficial, and
good results are often obtained by alternating this with a dressing of
olive oil 3 parts and creolin 2 parts.. Should proud flesh appear, the
three sulphates (iron, copper, and zinc) may be used, or powdered
copper sulphate alone. Use until the granules disappear. When the
wound begins to heal nicely, it is better to dispense with the pad and
bandage.

ABSCESSES.

An abscess is an unnatural collection, in the tissues, of fluids,
such as pus or serum. It is the result of inflammation caused by
an injury or by the infection of pus germs. The swelling usually
softens at some point, unless it be filled with serum, in which case it
is soft and fluctuates at all points, and lies directly beneath the skin.

Soft, puffy swellings in the neighborhood of joints and t^'ndtms
should not be mistaken for abscesses, as they are usually bursal
enlargements, filled with synovia, and recpiiring different treatment.
(See "General treatment of sprains.")

Treatment. — A pus abscess, if slow in development, should be
poulticed until it softens at some part where it can be opened by
cutting through the skin; then insert a blunt instrument through
the wall into the p\is cavity, thus avoiding any danger of injury
to blood vessels or other structures. When freely opened, the
cavity should be flushed out twice daily with some antiseptic solution,
care being exercised to prevent the external wound from healing
before the formation of the pus has ceased. In ever}^ case provision
must be made ff»r free drainage at the lowest point.

A serous abscess (one in which we find the yellowish, watery,
and often bloody serum) is treated as follows: Clip the hair away
and wash the skin with an antisej)tic; with an instrument that has
been thoroughly disinfected make a small opening; after all fluid
has escaped appl}' a blister of biniodi<le of mercury, 1 to 6, over the
outside of the area occupied by the original swelling. If it fills again,
repeat the treatment.

Soft, puffy swellings on the abdominal wall must be carefully
examined. They may be the results of rupture, in which case open-
ing would be fatal.

CHAPTER VI.

DISEASES OF THE RESPIRATORY SYSTEM AND INFLUENZA.

ACUTE NASAL CATARRH.

Acute nasal catarrh (simple cold in the head) is usually caused
by standing in a draft, and may be detected by the discharge from
the nostrils. It is usually accompanied by a cough, loss of appetite,
and elevation of temperature (fever). The discharge is at first of
the consistency of water, but may in severe cases become much
thicker, and form dry crusts on the edges of the nostrils.

Treatment. — The mild form does not require treatment; it ends
rapidly in a cure. In severe cases, the animal should have complete
rest ; fumigation (steaming) from a hot solution of creohn or carbolic
acid (1 ounce to \ pail of hot water) constitutes an excellent local
treatment. Give bran mashes, and administer twice daily, ^ ounce
of saltpeter, or 2 drams of chloride of ammonia, until the animal has
recovered; the chloride of ammonia is best administered on the
tongue. If the cough is frequent and the horse has difficulty in
swallowing, the following liniment should be apphed to the throat:
Solution of ammonia 1 part, oil of turpentine 1 part, olive oil 2 parts.
Apply twice daily.

CHRONIC NASAL CATARRH.

Chronic nasal catarrh is usually an unfavorable termination of
simple catarrh ; or it may result from injury and chronic inflammation
of the nasal cavities; from tumors, parasites, abscesses, etc., in the
nasal cavities; from diseases of the teeth; from chronic diseases of
the respiratory (breathing) apparatus in general; and from chronic
constitutional diseases.

Symptoms. — The discharge is quite thick and becomes glued to
the sides of the nostrils; its color varies from a dirty white to a
yellowish gray; it frequently has a fetid (foul) odor; the quantity
varies; the discharge is usually from one nostril, but both may be
affected ; in cases of long standing small idcers (sores) may occasionally
be seen in the nostrils; they are superficial (on the surface), are de-
fined by sharp e<lges that are not thickened, and heal without leaving

59

60 THE AKMY HORSE IN ACCIDENT AND DISEASE.

a scar. (The ulcer of glanders, which will be studied later, has edges
shaped like saw teeth, and when healed leaves a jagged scar.)

Treatment. — Is usually local and as follows: Fumigation with hot
water, to which antiseptics have been added (2 ounces of creolin or
2 ounces of carbolic acid to a half bucketful of water) ; the steaming
to continue at least one-half hour twice daily. If no definite cause
of the discharge can be found, good results may be obtained by admin-
istering 2 drams of powdered copper sulphate or the same amount of
iron sulphate, in the food or in a ball, once daily. In most cases,
when the discharge is from one nostril only, an operation is necessary
to effect a cure.

As the symptoms of this disease are so similar to glanders, the
animal should be isolated, and the utensils, such as buckets, forks,
brooms, currycombs, blankets, etc., should not be used about other
horses, until by the use of mallein (see Glanders) the disease has
been definitely determined.

PHARYNGITIS AND LARYNGITIS — SORE THROAT.

Sore throat is an inflammation of the lining mem.brane imme-
diately in the rear of the mouth and is caused by irritating medicines,
by bodies bruising the tissues, by sudden changes in the temperature,
and by infection.

Symptoms. — Diminution of the appetite, cough, stiffness of the
head, soreness when pressure is applied to the throat, a considerable
amount of mucus and saliva in the mouth, escaping in long, trans-
parent threads, and usually a profuse thick discharge from the nose.
Swallowing of liquids is painful; they are ejected through the nose,
and are often of a greenish color and contain quantities of food.
Temperature may range from normal to 106° F., with diflicultyin
breathing.

Treatment. — The sick animal should be separated from the healthy
ones and placed in a comfortable box stall, free from drafts, but
well ventilated, and should be given green food or very fine hay,
steamed oats, bran, or gruel; fresh water should be left within reach.
Four drams of either ammonium chloride or potassium nitrate
should be added to the drinking water.

The lips and nostrils should be kept perfectly clean and the mouth
washed frequently with fresh water. Cold compresses should be
used if the parts are hot, tender, and painful. In a mild case, use
the ammonia liniment as in acute nasal catarrh. If an abscess is
likely to form, poultices of linseed meal may be applied, and the
abscess, when ready, should be opened, but never with a knife. Cut
through the skin only and then insert a blunt instrument, or tlie fin-
ger, and allow the })us to escape.

DISEASES OF RESPIRATORY SYSTEM AND INFIJTENZA. 61

If the animal breathes with great difficulty, manifested by making
a loud, wheezing sound, an opening should be made in his windpipe
and the edges of the opening held apart by inserting a suture in each
side, tying the silk ends up over the neck; or a tube may be inserted
in the opening. This operation is called tracheotomy.

The sore-throat yatient should never he drenched. If the horse
should cough while taking medicine in this manner, the liquid might
enter the lungs and cause pneumonia.

Fever may be combatted by cold-water injections into the rectum,
1 to 2 gallons at a time.

STRANGLES, COMMONLY CALLED "DISTEMPER."

Strangles is an acute, infectious disease, and usually attacks young
horses.

Symptoms. — The disease begins with a high fever, ranging from
104° to 106°; a discharge from the nose, at first watery, rapidly
becoming thicker, and later assuming a whitish-gray or greenish-
yellow color. The glands below the lower jaw become swollen, hot,
and painful, and occasionally there is soreness of the throat; loss of
ap})etite, depression, great muscular 'weakness, and, occasionally,
swelling of the hind legs follow. Sometimes a swelling may be
found on some portion of the windpipe or other part of the body.

Treatment. — Separate the sick animal from the healthy ones and
place him in a well- ventilated stall, free from drafts; clean the nos-
trils frequently; clothe the body according to the season of the year;
apply hot i)oultices to the abscess several times daily, and, as soon
as pus is formed, open and wash twice daily.

Give easily digested food, gredfi fodder, roots, or slops made of
bran or steamed oats, and to his drinking water add \ ounce of salt-
peter; do not drench, as the throat in many cases is sore.

PNEUMONIA.

Pneumonia is an inflammation of the lung structure, and usually
runs a course of from seven to ten days.

Among the externaf causes of the disease are to be })artioular]y
mentioned excessive exertion and cold; also carelessness in giving
a drench, particularly if the animal has a sore throat. This dis-
ease frequently follows acute nasal catarrh, sore throat or strangles,
and may accompany influenza.

Symptoms. — The first symptom is an intense fever accompanied
by a chill; the patient shows great fatigue and muscular weakness;
temperature ranges from 103° to 107°, the apj)etite is diminished,
at times almost wanting; the patient is constipated; breathing is
rapid and diflicult; the nostrils are much dilated, and expired air is

62 THE AUMY HOKSIO )N ACCIDENT AND DISEASE.

warmer than usual; the ears and legs are cold. There is frequently
a rusty red or rusty yellow discharge from the nose. The animal
remains standing constantly, with the fore legs spread, or it may lie
down for a short time only; a cough may or may not be present.

Treatment. — Great care should be given to the diet; in order to
keep up his strength, give any food that the animal will eat — steamed
oats, carrots, or green grass if possible, gruel, etc. Place him in a
well-ventilated box stall free from drafts, and clothe the body and
legs according to the season of the year; warm blankets wrapped
around the chest if the weather is not too hot will be of advantage.
In warm weather, if flies are troublesome, a thin sheet made of guimy
sacks should be placed upon the animal. Quinine sulphate 1 dram,
gentian root 2 drams, makes a good tonic. It should be repeated
three times daily.

Cold injections into the rectum will reduce the fever.

Alcohol, 4 to 5 ounces, well diluted, should be given as a drench,
twice daily, and potassium nitrate, ^ ounce, should be added to the
drinking water.

In the first stage of pneumonia (called congestion of the lungs),
caused. by overexertion of the animal when he is in a weakened con-
dition, the disease may be often broken up by the use of stimulants.

HEAVES.

Heaves is a chronic disease of the lungs, manifested in a ({uick
inspiration and a double expiration.

Symptoms. — Cough of a chronic nature ; discharge from the nostrils
after exertion ; characteristic breathing, as described above, which is
aggravated by damp, muggy weajther, and by dusty, coarse, and bulky
fodder, such as clover hay or dirty oats. Climate has a marked influ-
ence; in high, dry altitudes this trouble is unknown.

Treatment. — Always water before feeding, and feed more grain and
less hay. The food must be clean, should be moistened before feeding,
and the bowels should be kept loosened by frequent bran mashes.
Never exercise a horse with heaves just after feeding; if he must
accompany the organization, feed him earlier than the others.

INFLUENZA (PINK EYE).

Influenza is a contagious disease. It affects first the respiratory
tract, but also involves the nerve centers, circulatory system, the
lining membranes of the intestines, and the eyes.

Symptoms. — The first symptoms are loss of appetite, depression
and weakness; the tempernture lises rn|)idly to 105" or 107'^ in severe
cases; the animal holds his head low and has a stupid look; he staggers
when walking, and the visible nmcous membranos are of a yellowish
tinge.

DISEASES OF RESPIRATORY SYSTEM AND INFLUENZA. 63

Wlien the dit^ostive organs are alTccted, colics (gripes) occur fre-
quently. In the beginning, constipation is the rule and the dung is
coated with a whitisli-yellow, mucus layer; later diarrhea occurs and
the dung is doughy, soft, or liquid. The eyelids are sometimes
swollen shut and are hot and sensitive to the touch. The legs and
sheath arc sometimes swollen and the lower portion of the belly may
be siiuihuly aliected.

Trcatnifiit. - Isohite sick animals for their own comfort and the
safety of healtliy subjects, as influenza is usually a serious disease.
Give quinine sulphate 1 dram, gentian 2 drams, in a ball, three times
daily ; add | ounce saltpeter to the drinking water twice daily. The
fever may be reduced by rectal injections of cold water.

Intestinal troubles may be relieved by the administration of bicar-
bonate of soda in dnim doses tliree times daily ; if pain is very severe,
2 drams of fluid extract of cannabis indica may be given. Bathe the
eyes, if swollen, with warm water.. Good nursing and laxative food
are essential, cold water being kept where the animal can help himself.

CHAPTER VII.

DISEASES OF THE DIGESTIVE, URINARY, NERVOUS, AND LYMPHATIC

SYSTEMS.

Diseases of the Digestive System.

spasmodic colic gripes.

(I'late XII. •)

Spasmodic colic is a painful contraction of the intestines. The
usual seat of the trouble is the small intestines, and it is usually
caused hy indij^estible or chilled food or drink, and frequently by
sudden chillinfii; of the body.

Symptoms. — The sufTerint^ is very viblent but of short duration;
the spasms appear suddenly and disappear with the same rapidity.
The horse paws, stamps, looks around at his flanks, lies down and
rolls, and if the })ain is very severe, sweats profusely. Durinj:: the
attack a few pellets of dunojmay be passed, and attempts to })ass
urine are fretpiently made. This latter symptom has misled many
persons to the impression that the disease was located in the "urinary
oro;an3."

Treatment. — Place the animal in a laro;e, well-bedded stall and
jrive the followini^^: Cannabis indica 2 to 4 drains, aromatic spirits
ammonia 1 ounce, water to make 1 pint. Or, fluid extract bella-
donna 2 drams, nitrous ether 2 ounces, water to make 1 pint. Either
one of these prescriptions can be j!;iven at one dose and repeated in
three-(iuarters of an hour. If the animal is not relieved in one hour,
^ive a j)urjz;ative of aloes (physic ball).

Warm-water injections, per rectum, are often of advantage.

n-ATULENT COLIC.

Flatulent colic is generally due to the animal having eaten im-
proper foods, such as musty oats, sour bran, green corn, etc., which
interfere with the process of digestion and give off much gas. It is
sometimes caused merely by a sudden change of diet from oats to
corn. Tiiis trouble is also frequently observed in horses that have
the habit of wind sucking.
64

PLATE XII.

Characteristic symptoms of spasmodic colic.

DIGESTIVE, UKIXAHY, NEKVOIJS, AND LYMPHATIC SYSTEMS. 65

Symptoins. — The rapid swelling of tlio belly constitutes the charac-
teristic symptom. The abdomen is distended, the pain is not so
severe as in spasmodic colic, but more constant. With the increase
of swellinji; the breathing becomes more difficult, anxiety and rest-
lessness are shown, walkinj^ is painful, and the animal staj:i:gers, lies
down and rolls, but only for a short time.

Treatment. — Place the horse in a large, roomy stall, and give the
following drench: Sulphuric ether 2 ounces, aromatic spirits of
ammonia 1 ounce, fluid extract belladonna 2 drams, water to niukc
1 pint. Repeat in one hour if necessary. vShould the animal not
be relieved after the second dose, administer a purgative, (^old-
water injections into the rectum are sometimes of advantage. Jf
the abdomen continues to distend with gas, the trocar and canula
must be used. This is an instrument for puncturing the intestine,
but should be used only by one who understands the operation.
The instrument, as well as the seat of the operation, should be thor-
oughly disinfected.

ENTERITIS — INFLAMMATION OF THE BOWELS.

Cause. — This disease is sometimes due to the action of cold :
sudden chilling when the body is in a perspiring condition, the
swallowing of very cold water, of frozen or frost-covered fodder,
etc. It is sometimes a complication of the colics and is frequently
seen as a result of impaction or twisting of the bowels.

iSywpiom^.— The mucous membrane of the nose, mouth, and eyes
is congested and reddened, the mouth is hot and dry. Respiration
is increased, pulse is hard and rapid, temperatun^ is elevated, 103°
to 105° F. Colicky pains are continuous; the horse walks about
the stall, paws, lies down carefully, rolls, and tAes to balance himself
on Ivis hack. As a rule the bowels are constipated, but when this
disease is due to irritating foods or medicines purgation and flatu-
lency may be present.

The small, hard pulse; high temperature; aged and anxious ap[)ear-
ance of the face; continuous pain, which is increased by pressure
upon the abdomen; position of the horse when down, and coklness
of the ears and legs, will enable anyone to diagnose a case of enteritis.
When mortification (death) of tlie bowels sets in, all pain ceases and
the animal will stand quietly, sometimes for several hours. Toward
the last he sighs, breathes hard, staggers and pitches about, and
dies in a state of delirium.

It is a very serious disease and in the majority of cases proves
fatal. Death may take place in six hours, or not until after several
days.

66 THE ARMY HORSE IN ACCIDENT AND DISEASE.

Treatment. — To control the pain give large doses of powdered
opiuju, laudanum, or cannabis indica.

The following prescription is recommended: Opium, powdered, 2
drams; calomel, | dram. Make into a ball; give at once, and repeat
in one or two hours if necessary. Blankets wnmg out in hot water
and applied to the abdomen are sometimes of benefit, but to obtain
good results they must be kept hot for several hours.

CHRONIC INDIQESTION.

Chronic indigestion is a chronic catarrh of the stomach and bowels,
the causes of which are: Irregularity in feeding and watering; feeding
when the animal is in an exhausted condition ; imperfect mastication
and incomplete salivation of food due to irregularities of the grinding
surfaces of the molar teeth; and food of a poor quality, deficient in
nutriment.

The presence of worms is a frequent cause of this disease,

Sym/ptoms. — Appetite diminished or capricious and depraved, fre-
quent gaping, constipation; periodic colics are frequently observed,
the coat is rough and staring, and the skin is tightly adherent to the
body, the condition known as "hidebound." The animal has an
unthrifty appearance generally.

Treatment. — Give small quantities of good, nutritious, and well-
salted food three times daily.

The water should be pure and given regularly.

Regular exercise and good grooming will hasten recovery, by
stimulating the skin as well as other parts of the body.

If the appetite is diminished, give as a tonic: Gentian 2 ounces, iron
sulphate 1 ounce, nux vomica 1^ ounces, nitrate potash 1^ ounces.
Mix. Make twelve powders. Give one powder twice a day.

Bicarbonate of' soda is a very useful medicine to counteract the
acidity (sourness) of the stomach. Dose, 1 dram, twice a day; the
doses may be continued for several days.

If intestinal worms are the exciting cause, they must be removed,
and until this has been accomplished the animal will retain its un-
thrifty condition although it may brighten up temporarily.

The following prescription is recommended: Spirits turpentine 2
ounces, oil linseed 4 ounces. Give before feeding and repeat once a
day for four days; then follow up with 1 pint of linseed oil.

DIARRHEA.

This term is applied to all cases of simple purging in which the
feces (dung) are loose, liquid, and frequently discharged.

Diarrhea may bo a spontaneous effort to discharge from the mtes-
tines something which is obnoxious to them or to the system gen-

niOKSTIVF., t'ltlXARY, NKRVOI'S, AND lArMPITATTC SYSTETMS. ()7

(•rally. I( is causod hy various agencies, such as iu(li<^cst il)lc food,
sudden chanfj:c of diet — -particularly from a dry to a jnoist one —
jnedicinal substances, worms, derangement of the liver, or large
drafts of water when the anima! is heated. Some animals are ])ar-
ticularly predisposed to diarrhea from tiivial causes. Narrow-loined,
flat-sided, and loosely coupled hor.ses — that is to say, horses in which
the distance between the point of the hi]) and last rib is long — and
those of a nervous temperament are apt to purge without apj)areiit
cause. These are called washy horses. They are hard to keep in
condition and require the best of food.

Symptoms. — Purging, the fecal matter l)eing semifluid, of a dirt} -
brown color, without offensive odor, or day-colored and fetid. Tf tho
condition continues long the animal loses flesh and the ap})etit(> is
wanting.

Treatment.— When the purging arises from the presence of some
offending matter in the intestinal canal (sand, worms, imdigested
food, etc.) its expulsion jinist be aided by a moderate dose of linseed
oil (1 1 ])ints).

If the purging arises from no apparent cause, or if the bowels do not
regain their normal condition after the action of the oil has su))si(h'd,
it will be necessary to give astringents (binding medicines), such as
tannic acid, 1 to 2 drams. The following prescription jnay also be
used: Gum camphor 1 ounce, opium, powdered, 1 ounce. Mix.
Make eight powders and give one powtler every three or four hoiu's,
according to the severity of the case. Great cai'e niust be exercised,
as evil results may follow if the bowels are checked too soon.

Diseases of the Urinary System.

acute nephritis inflammation of the kidneys.

Causes. — It is at times produced by the action of cold; it also
happens frequently in the course of infectious (catching) diseases.
The kitlnej's become irritated by the presence of waste materials of
the food, such as mold, rust, etc., or by the passage of certain medi-
cines, such as turpentine, cantharides, etc. Inflammation and partial
or total clogging of the organ results. Cantharides will reach the
kidneys after absorption from a large blistered surface.

Symjdoms. — The most important and often the only manifesta-
tions of nephritis (in the course of infectious diseases, for instance)
are furnished by the urine. Its quantity is diminished; it is thick-
ened; of abnormal color; occasionally it is the color of blood. Mic-
turition (pissing) is painful; the urine often runs off drop by drop
only, notwithstanding the violent efforts made by the patient. In
serious cases the urinary secretion may be completely suppressed.

68 THE ARMY HORSE IN ACCIDENT AND DISEASE.

The lumbar rcj^ion is very sensitive to tlie pressure of the hand.
At the beginnin<ij of the disease we often have renal or kidney colics.
The back is arched, the gait stiff and staggering, rising is painfid; the
animal remains almost constantly standing. The appetite may be
lost. The temperature is elevated; in some cases it may range very
high.

TreatTToent. — Remove the cause if possible; avoid all irritating
food or medicines, and give absolute rest. Try to induce sweating
by energetic nd)bings upon the surface of the whole body; also by
warm blankets, and wet, tepid compresses applied upon the loins.
Give the following physic: Aloes 6 drams, calomel 1 dram, ginger 1
dram. Make into a ball and give at one dose. It has a most favor-
able action, because the purging draws a large quantity of water from
the system.

If there is a total suppression of urine, ^ ounce of fluid extract
digitalis, well rubbed in on each side of the loins over the kidne3^s,
will have a beneficial effect by stimulating the kidneys without caus-
ing irritation. This application should not be used more than once.

DIABETES INSIPIDUS— SIMPLE DIABETES (pISSINg).

A disease characterized by great thirst, excessive urination, and
great languor and emaciation.

In the majority of cases it is caused by poor and tainted food. In
some ca.ses it seems to ])e due to a constitutional cause.

Symptoms. — Excessive urination, from 6 to 12 gallons every twenty-
four hours; great thirst, the animal sometimes drinking from 20 to
25 gallons of water in twenty-four liours; depraved ap])etite; urine
of a very pale color, sometimes as clear as water; the skin is harsh
and the coat is unhealthy looking.

Treatment. — Give good, clean, and nutritious food. Administer
iodine in l-dram doses three times a day and diminish (juantity as
thethii-st is lessened and the urine is diminished.

RETENTION OF TIIK UKINE.

An inability, total or partial, to expel by natural effort the urine
contained in the bladder. It is caused by spasm of the neck of the
bladder, and is often a complication of colic.

SymptoTTis. — Frequent and ineffectual attempts to urinate; if
standing the animal will stretch himself out, strain violently, and
groan with pam, discharging but a few drops of urine, or none at all;
by examination per rectum the bladder is felt to be greatly distended,
antl this is the diagnostic or distinguishing symptom.

Treatnoent. — -Pass the catheter antl draw off the urine. If retention
of the urine is due to an accumulation of dirt in the penis, washing
will remove the cause.

DHJEgJTlVE, XIRINARV, NKRVOHS, AND LYMPHATIC SYSTEMS. 69
DlwSEASES OK THE NeRVOUS SySTEM.
CONGESTION OF THE BRAIN "BLIND ST AGGERS."

This disease is caused by an accumulation of blood in the vessels
of the brain, due to some obstacle to its return to the veins.

Causes.— Disease of the heart; excessive exertion; the influence
of extreme heat; sudden and ^reat excitement; artificial stimulants;
any mechanical obstruction whidi prevents the return of blood
through tiie veins to the heart, such as a small ill-fittint^ collar;
tumors or abscesses pressing on the vein in its coui-sc; extreme fat;
compression of the vascular structures (arterial capillaries) by an
abnormal tension of ^&s in the stomach and intestines; over-feeding
after a prolonged abstinence or when the exercise is insufficient; and
foods difficult of digestion. Fat horses or those with short, thick
necks are especially liable to attacks of this malady.

Symptoms.— Congestion of the brain usually appears suddenly and
is of short duration.

The animal may stop very suddenly and shake his head, or stand
quietly braced on his legs, then stagger, make a plunge and fall ; the
eyes are staring, breathing hurried and snoring, nostrils widely
dilated; this may be folio v/ed by coma (insensibility), violent con-
vulsive movement, and death.

Generally, however, the animal gains relief in a short time, but he
may remain weak ami giddy for several days. If it is due to organic
change in the heart or disease of the blood vessels in the brain the
symptoms may be of slow develqpment, manifested by drowsiness,
diminished or impaired vision, difficulty in voluntary movements,
diminished sensibility of the skin, loss of consciousness, delirium, and
death.

Treatment. — Prompt removal of all mechanical obstruction to the
circulation. If it is due to venous obstruction by too ti^t a collar,
the loosening of the collar will give immediate relief. If due to tu-
m<jrs or abscesses, a surgical operation becomes necessary. To re-
lieve the animal, if he becomes partially or totally unconscious, cold
water should be dashed on the head, and if this does not afford relief,
recourse must be had to bleeding to lessen arterial tension. If symp-
toms of paralysis remain after two or three days, an active physic
should be given, followed, after twenty-four hours, by iodide of
I)Otassium given in 2-drani doses three times daily. Place the animal
in a cool, dark, well-ventilated stable, keep him perfectly quiet, and
ijive coolin^r diet.

70 THE ARMY HORSK IN ACCIDENT A.ND DlSt:Ai<E.

SUNSTROKE AXD HKATSTKOKE.

These are cerebral troubles: Sunstroke is ])iocluce(l 1)V the rays of
the sun fallin^^ directly upon the cranium. Heatstroke is caused l)y
the overheating; of the whole body or by excessive exertion.

Symptoms. — vSunstroke is manifested suddenly; the animal stops,
drops his head, begins to stagger, the breathing is marked by great
snoring, the pidse is very slow and irregular, cold sweats break out in
})atches on the surface of the body, and the animal often dies without
recoveiing consciousness.

In heatstroke the animal usually retpiires urging for some time pre-
vious to the appearance of any other symptom, (rcncnally ])ers])i-
ration is checked; he becomes weak in his gait; th(^ breatliing grows
hurried or panting; the eyes watery and bloodshot ; nostiils dilated
and highly reddened to a dark purple color; the judse is lapid and
weak; the heart bounding, frequently followed by unconsciousness
and death. Temperature reaches 107° to 112° F. If recovery takes
])lace convalesence extends over a long period of time, (hiring which
locomotion shows lack of full control.

Treatment. — The treatment consists in the application of cold in
the form of ice or cold water on the head, cold injections per rectum,
and the administration of stimulants, such as 2 ounces ai'omatic sj)irits
of ammonia or 4 ounces of alcohol in 8 ounces of water; r(^])eat in one
hour if necessary. Place the animal in a cool and sluuly ])lace, and
bathe the whole body with cold water until the tem])eriiture is lowered.

Diseases of the Lymphatic System.

Acute inflammation of the lymph gland usually occurs m connection
with some inflammatory process in the region from which th(^ lymph
is gathered.

The lymph glands between the branches of the lower jaw almost
invariably become affected in strangles, nasal catajih (acute or
chronic), diseased or ulcerated teeth. Infected wounds of any ])art
of the body may cause inflammation of the neighboiiug lympliatlcs.

Symptoms. — The glands swell and become painful to the touch, the
connective tissue surrounding them becomes involveil, suppuration
(formation of pus) usually takes place, and one or moie abscesses
form. If the inflammation is of a milder type the swelling may dis-
appear and the gland will assume its normal condition without sup-
puration. The temperature will be elevated. Sometimes the glands
will remain hard and considerably swollen for some length of time.
In man these swollen glands are known as kernels.

Treatment. — Komentations with hot water will relieve the soreness,
unless an ab-scess is forming. If such is known to bo the case a poul-
tice of bran or flaxseed meal should be applied, and as soon as fluctua-

PLATE XIII.

^^-''i/'^'

liymphangitis.

DIGESTIVE^ UKINARY, NERVOUS, AND LYMPHATIC SYSTEMS. 71

tion can be felt a free opening must be made and the abscess washed
with a solution of bichloride mercury 1-1000, or creolin 1-50. If the
gland does not suppurate, the enlargement may be reduced by tinc-
ture of iodine applied twice daily.

LYMPHANGITIS.

(Plate xm.)

Inflammation of the lymphatic structures, usually affecting the
hind leg, very seldom the fore leg. This disease is very sudden in its
attack, exceedingly painful, accompanied by a high temperature and
great general disturbance.

Causes. — It usually attacks well-fed animals, especially after one
or two days' rest, and in such cases may be due to an excess of nu-
tritious elements in the blood. It may also result from an infected
wound.

Symptoms. — ^The first symptom noticed will be lameness in one leg
and swelling on the inside of the thigh. The swelling gradually siu--
rounds the whole limb, continuing downward until it reaches the
foot. The limb is excessively tender to the touch and is held up.
The breathing is increased, pulse hard and quick (80 to 100), and the
temperature may reach 106°. The bowels early become constipated
and the urine scanty and high colored. Occasionally the lymphatic
glands in the groin undergo suppuration, blood poisoning may super-
vene and prove fatal.

Treatment. — Fomentations with warm water, to be continued for
one hour and ref>eated several times daily. Give a physic composed
of 6 to 8 drams of aloes, 1 dram ginger, and water to make a ball.
Give at once. After the physic has operated give jounce doses of
nitrate of potash twice daily. After the pain diminishes, moderate
exercise and hand rubbing will be of benefit. If the glands sup-
purate, open, and wash them out with an antiseptic. The irrigations
must be continued until the gland is well.

If caused by a wound, similar treatment should be pursued,
together with thorough disLnfe<?tion of the wound. If, after one
week, the swelling still remains, give potassium iodide, 2 drams,
twie« daily until it is reduced.

CHAPTER Vin.

MISCELLANEOUS DISEASES.

»

PURPURA HEMORRHAGICA PURPURA— PETECHIAL FEVER.

(Plate XIV.)

This is an acute, infectious disease, the cause of which is as yet
Httle known. Sometimes it is primary; in other instances it follows
other infectious diseases, strangles, phaiyngitis, contagious pneu-
monia, influenza, etc.

Symptoms. — Petechial fever is generally manifested by the appear-
ance upon the mucous membranes of numerous dark-red petechise
(reddish sp«ts) ; sometimes they are insignificant as a flea bite, then
again they may attain the size of a pea or an acorn; they often
become joined and form spots or bands of variable length. In
serious cases the nasal mucous membrane becomes affected by
gangrene (death of the affected spot) or covered over with ulcera-
tions. The discharge is bloody and of bad aspect, breathing is very
laborious, and the expired air has a fetid odor. The general condi-
tion sometimes becomes very rapidly aggravated; then, in the
majority of cases, the disease ends in death.

Corresponding with the appearance of the reddish spots, or a few
days later, swellings appear beneath the skin; this symptom, which
is the most prominent, is often the first symptom noticed. The
swellings will range in size from a ten-cent piece to a silver dollar;
they are usually upon dependent regions, such as the head, extremi-
ties, abdomen, sheath, and chest. * These swellings are not hot, and
only slightly sensitive; they gradually extend until they grow
together, and we have in a few hours the swelling up of the legs and
belly, or the head, to an enormous size; they have always a charac-
teristic constricted border, which looks as if it had been tied with a
cord. The swelling stands out abruptly at this border, often as much
as an inch.

The swelling in the legs will cause stiffness. The head may b&
swollen to such a size that it resembles the head of a hippopotamus
rather than that' of a horse; the caliber of the nostril may be so less-
ened as to cause the horse to breathe with difficulty. The pulse, if
72

PLATE XIV.

Purpura hemorrhagica.

MISCELLANEOUS DISEASES. 73

altered at all, is a little weaker than usual, the appetite remains
normal as a rule, although at times the animal will have difficulty in
mastication. The temperature at first is normal, but in a few days
it may have reached 102°, 103°, or 104°.

Over the surface of the skin covering the swollen parts we find a
sli^t serous sweating, which, when it dries, gives the appearance of
an eruption of some cutaiieous (skin) disease. If this is excessive we
may see irritated spots, followed by suppuration. This suppuration
may become excessive from the great distention and loss of vitality
of the skin.

During the course of this disease colics may sometimes occur;
later the pulse may beat 60 to 80 times per minute; the dung is
ordinarily coated.

High temperatures indicate complications.

The mortality is about 50 per cent.

Treatment. — Place the patient in a clean, well-ventilated, roomy
box stall, ahd tie the head up high; in case the head is already swollen,
remove the halter at once and use a head sling. If necessary to blanket
never use the surcingle. Give soft food, clean hay, and green fodder,
if possible, and plenty of fresh pure water to drink.

When the legs and parts of the body are covered by the dried
sertun the surface must be softened by the application of cosmoline
or olive oD, to which may be added a small amount of creolin (1 to 50)
or of carbolic acid (1 to 25).

If sloughing has taken place, the sores must receive sui^cal atten-
tion; dead tissue must be removed and antiseptics applied.

If the animal has great difficulty in breathing, we must r^ort to the
use of the tracheotomy tube.

Try to sustain the strength of the animal and give tonics to increase
the appetite: Tincture of chloride of iron 1 to 2 ounces in a pint of
water, or iron sulphate 2 drams, quinine 1 dram; either dose three
times daily.

Spirits of turpentine^ 3 ounces, in 6 ounces of linseed oil, given
twice daily, will have a beneficial effect by stimulating the heart and
kidneys. Sponge the head, where swollen, with either ice-cold or
very warm water; repeat this several times daily.

AZOTURIA.

Azoturia is the result of the confinement of a strong, vigorous horse
for several days in a badly ventilated, damp stable, where he receives
full rations and no exercise, followed by sudden exposure to a lower
temperature. It is not a disease of the kidneys, as is commonly
supposed.

74 THE ARMY HORSE IN ACCIDENT AND DISEASE.

Symptoms. — These consist of troubles of locomotion (movement),
which appear during exercise and generally within a quarter to half
an hour after starting.

The disease begins very suddenly, in an unusual degree of restless-
ness, with profuse perspiration; these symptoms are speedily suc-
ceeded by a desire to lie down, by great sluggishness, by loss of mov-
ing power in the hind limbs, and by violent spasms of the large
muscles of the loins, thighs, and hind quarters. The affected muscles
are swollen and very hard, and later may atrophy, especially those
located above the stifle. If the animal is down, he makes an effort to
stand, but, from the total loss of power in the hind limbs, is unable
to rise.

The "ore limbs and shoulder muscles may be similarly affected, but
in this case the disease is less severe. *

The pulse usually becomes rapid ; the temperature rarely increases,
even in the grave form; the appetite is seldom diminished, and, as a
rule, the animal will drink large quantities of water.

The urine is coffee-colored and is generally retained in the bladder.

Treatment. — As soon as the first symptoms are noticed, halt at
once. Keep the animal on his feet ; unsaddle or unharness and blanket
promptly: then move him as gently as possible to the nearest shelter,
where he must have complete rest. If possible, heat some common
salt or some oats; place in a sack and spread over the loins (under the
blanket), to relieve the pain. Feed only good hay or laxative food
and avoid oats and corn. Encourage the horse to drink as much
water as possible, as this will assist the kidneys in carrying the
poisonous material out of the blood. When the urine clears, the
animal may be gradually returned to work.

If it has been possible to reach the stables, place the horse in a
roomy stall; if there is then danger of his lying down, use the sus-
pending slings, provided he is able to partially support his weight on
his hind legs; then give 2 ounces of sweet spirits of niter and 2 to 4
drams of fluid extract of cannabis indica in a pint of water. In a
half hour administer a physic ball.

If the animal has dropped on the road and is unable to rise he must
be taken to the stable by the use of a stone boat or other extempor-
ized means; plenty of bedding must then be supplied and the patient
frequently turned from side to side; apply ^ ounce of fluid extract
of digitalis to the loins and rub in well, to stimulate the action of the
kidneys. If the patient has retention of urine, the bladder must be
emptied several times daily; this can be accomplished by passing
the hand into the rectum and applying moderate pressure upon the
bladder, or by the introduction of the catheter.

This disease occurs in the army only through carelessness. When
the horse is left resting for twenty-four to forty-eight hours or longer

PLATE XV.

Farcy,

MISCELLANEOUS DISEASES, 75

the food ration should be diminished, and the animal must be given a
little exercise in the open air every day to keep him accustomed to
the outside temperature.

GLANDERS AND FARCY.

Glanders is a contagious constitutional disease of the horse and
mule, and may be communicated to man. The disease is due to a
germ called " bacillus mallei," and affects the Schneiderian membrane
and internal organs.

When the disease is located in the lymphatic glands situated on the
external parts of the body it is called farcy. (Plate XV.)

Glanders and farcy are one and the same disease.

It may be acute or chronic. In acute glanders the bacilli enter the
blootl and the disease spreads throughout the system.

Chronic glanders.

The beginning of chronic glanders is often hidden from view and
passes unobserved.

The first visible symptom is generally a discharge from one or both
nostrils of a yellowish green matter of bad aspect; quite frequently
it is tinged with blood.

Then pimples and ulcers are observed upon the Schneiderian mem-
brane. The pimples are of short duration; they are soon transformed
into ulcere more or less deep, with sawtooth-shaped, thickened edges;
these may heal, but will always leave a scar.

The enlargement' of the Ijnmphatic glands situated in the space
between the lower jaw is another important symptom. In the be-
ginning the gland is a little sensitive, slightly doughy, and adheres to
the base of the tongue or to the lower maxillae; in some subjects it
adheres to the skin. In exceptional cases the enlargement of the
gland is absent.

The general health of the animal suffers as the affection progresses;
emaciation appears; the hair becomes dull and bristly.

There is frequently difficulty in breathing, and the patient becomes
rapidly fatigued.

Farcy.

m

(Plato XV.)

Farcy is more rare in the chronic than in the acute form of the dis-
ease; its favorite regions are the inner side of the extremities, shoul-
ders, neck, chest, and abdomen.

The pimples and tumors vary from the size of a pea to that of a
walnut, or larger; they suppurate and discharge a yellow, sticky
liquid of bad aspect. They rarely heal, and if they do a jagged scar
remains.

76 THE ARMY HORSE IN ACCIDENT AND DISEASE.

Acute glanders.

Symptoms.-^ Acute glanders is rare in the horse (10 per cent), except
in transit and in tropical climates. It is, on the contrary, the ordi-
nary form in the mule. Sometimes it is primary; in other instances
it follows the chronic form, where the vitality of the animal has been
lessened by other acute affections.

The disease produces an ulcesrous destruction of the respiratory
mucous membrane, and also involves the skin, lungs, and other
organs.

It begins with a chill, followed by intense fever, which reaches 107°
F. A sticky, yellowish, irritating, bloody nasal discharge appears.
The nasal mucous membrane is overrun with pimples and ulcers,
which rapidly join one another; they may perforate the septum nasi.
The respiration is rattling, wheezing, and moaning, due to contrac-
tion of the larynx ; to these symptoms are often added those of farcy.
We may find diarrhea. The patient is extremely weak and emacia-
tion progresses rapidly.

In general, acute glanders runs a rapid course; its usual termina-
tion is death. This ordinarily takes place within from three to four-
teen days.

In the horse there is no disease of which an exact diagnosis is so
important as that of glanders.

In order to correctly diagnose obscure cases (those with no out-
ward symptoms) we must resort to the use of mallein. This is a
liquid, the injection of which will cause a reaction (rise in tempera-
ture) in glandered horses apparently enjoying the best of health.

Treatment. — This disease is not only contagious to horses, mules,
and men, but is incurable in all alike; therefore, the first step, when
a suspicious case presents itself, is to isolate the animal, and as soon
as it is proved that glanders exists, the animal should be killed at
once and the carcass burned. Everything in the way of partitions,
mangers, feed boxes, buckets, and all stable utensils must be burned,
and the stalls and surroundings thoroughly disinfected. Chloride
of lime, 8 ounces in 1 gallon of water, makes a good and efficient
disinfectant. With this solution all parts of the stable in which the
affected animal stood must be thoroughly washed.

TETANUS LOCKJAW.

(Plate XVI.)

Tetanus is an infectious disease, the specific cause of which is
a bacillus or germ which, in most localities, is found in abundance
in the superficial layer of the earth in gardens, around buildings,
stables, etc.

The disease, when present, always follows a wound, more espe-
cially one produced by a nail puncture.

PLATE XVI.

Tetanus.

MISCELLANEOUS DISEASES. 77

The germ will not develop in the presence of oxygen; conse-
quently, all punctured wounds of the foot should be freely opened
to admit of the introduction of air, as well as to allow of thorough
cleansing with an antiseptic. This preventive treatment is generally
successful.

In warm countries, especially in tropical climates, cases of tetanus
are much more frequent than in cold regions.

Symptoms. — Tetanic spasms (spasmodic or continuous contrac-
tions of the muscles) appear, as a rule, in the muscles of the neck
and head; thence they extend to the shoulders, trunk, and extremi-
ties; or the stiflFness may start in the region of the injured organ or
member.

Contraction of the cheek muscles; the inferior maxillary is then
no longer able to execute the slightest movement, and the prehension
and mastication of food becomes difficult or quite impossible. This
inability to open the jaws has given to the disease the name of
lockjaw.

Contraction of the great posterior muscles of the eye causes a
retraction of this organ within the orbit, and a protrusion of the haw
upon the eyeball.

The animal is very stiff, holds his head in an extended position
as if suffering from a sore throat; the tail is elevated and the ears
drawn closer together; the nostrils are much dilated; the legs stand
apart; the eyes indicate excitement and anxiety, the mucous mem-
branes are reddened ; some muscular groups, principally the muscles
of the cheeks and of the back of the neck, are hard and distinctly
outlined, as if carved; the muscles of the jaws, neck and shoulders,
back, lumbar region, croup and tail are as hard as wood.

The tail and ears may be moved by the hand, but they imme-
diately return to their former position.

There is profuse sweating when the animal is disturbed or when
he is in a spasm; respiration is accelerated and laborious. When the
patient is approached for an examination, his excitement increases
instantly; the lower jaw is pressed hard against the upper, and can
not be separated from it, even by the most violent efforts of the
examiner; on parting the lips a fetid Uquid runs out of the mouth,
which is more or less filled with particles of food ; if the head is lifted
the whole haw obscures the greater part of the eyeball.

Backing is extremely difficult or even impossible; turning is also
very laborious; the trunk, neck, and shoulders can not be flexed,
the extremities are as stiff as stilts.

The course of tetanus is variable, according to the individual.
It commonly develops rapidly, and death takes place in two or
three days. In some cases death occurs more slowly, within four to
eight days on an average. In others, again, where the spasm is

78 THE ARMY HORSE IN ACCIDENT AND DISEASE.

moderate and of little extent, the disease may continue for several
weeks.

Recovery before the third week is rare; about this time the spasm
begins to decline, the appetite returns, respiration becomes calmer,
and the movements more free; very often recovery takes place only
at the end of live or six weeks; there may be a continuance of the
stiffness of movement and tension of the muscles of the back for a
long period of time.

Treatment. — A systematic course of food and the freedom of the
patient from all kinds of excitement are the two essentials in the
treatment.

It is advisable to place the patient in a dark stall, so situated as to
be isolated and free from all noises, and with only one man in attend-
ance; strangers entering the stall of a patient affected mth only a
mild attack may cause such excitement that the animal is thrown
into a violent spasm and dies in a short time.

Give the patient gruel, mealy drinks, liquid food, and, if he can
eat it, green fodder.

Medicinal agents are of secondary importance in the treatment
of lockjaw. Large doses (2 to 8 ounces) of bromide of potassium
should be given in the liquid food, twice daily. The administration
of medicines by the mouth is not practicable; not only because
of the locked jaws, but because it causes excitement.

The infected wound requires special care. It should be well opened
up, disinfected, foreign bodies extracted, etc.

Some authorities recommend the use of the suspending sling.

In the horse the mortality from this disease is from 80 to 85 per
cent.

In localities where tetanus is common, a preventive serum,
called ^'antitetanic," is injected into the blood, whenever the horse
receives a punctured or suspicious wound.

DISEASES OF THE TEETH.

On account of the character of its food the horse has been supplied
with molar teeth, with roughened grinding surfaces. The lower
jaw is narrower than the upper jaw, and the table (grinding) surfaces
are sloping. The distance from the gum to the grinding surface is
greater on the outside surface of the upper molars and the reverse
in the lower molars.

On account of this conformation a sharp ridge of points is liable
to develop on the outside of the upper molars and may occur on the
inside of the lower ones. These points are sometimes so sharp
that they lacerate the cheeks and tongue during mastication. A
horse thus affected will frequently bolt his food before thoroughly

MISCELLANEOUS DISEASES. 79

masticating it, thereby causing chronic indigestion. He will also
flinch when reined, causing great annoyance to his rider or driver.

Such irregularities can be easily detected by an examination
of the animal's mouth with the hand; when found, the sharp edges
must be removed by the use of a float.

Decayed teeth.

All teeth are apt to decay, such decay being generally due to
an injury.

A decayed tooth will be found in one of the following conditions:
Split, broken, or shorter than the surrounding ones, and having a
fetid odor. The opposing tooth in the opposite jaw is often found
to be elongated.

Symptoms of irregularities in teeth. — Quidding of the food, holding
the head to one side while masticating food or drinking water,
slobbering, chronic catarrh, fetid breath, swelling of the maxilla
in the neighborhood of the teeth, general unthrifty appearance, etc.

Treatment. — A diseased tooth must be extracted, and an elongated
one must be shortened to correspond with its fellows.

SPASM OF THE DLAPHRAGM THUMPS.

Caused by severe exertion.

Symptoms. — In the region of the lower part of the left flank, near
the border of the false ribs, will be observed shocks which, at times,
shake the whole body; they are usually accompanied by a short,
jerking expiration, and by a dull, thimaping sound which is heard
at a distance of several paces. The trouble may be followed by
inflammation of the lungs or by founder.

Treatment. — Absolute quiet and fresh air free from draughts.

Give the following: Aromatic spirits ammonia 2 ounces, water 1
pint. Or, sweet spirits of niter 2 ounces, fld. ext. belladonna 2
drams, water to make 1 pint. Either mixture may be repeated in
one hour if necessary.

If inflanmiation of the lungs or founder follows, treat accordingly.

CHAPTER IX.

DISEASES OF THE SKIN AND EYF

ERYTHEMA.

Erythema is a slightly inflamed condition of tlie skin, unattended
by any eruption. The parts are slightly swollen, hot, tender, or
itchy, and dry, and if the skin is white there is redness.

Erythema may arise from a variety of causes, as chilling or partial
freezing, heat and burning, chapping, urine, and medicine.

Treatment. — ^Apply the following several times daily: Sulphate of
zinc 1 ounce, acetate of lead 1 ounce, water 1 quart. Or, use the
following ointment twice daily: Oxide of zinc 1 ounce, cosmoline 6
ounces.

GREASE.

(Plate XVII.)

Grease is a chronic inflammation of thiB skin of the back part of
the fetlock and pastern. It is usually caused by lack of cleanliness,
but may result from overfeeding without exercise.

The skin is at first red, swollen, painful, and hot. It is soon cov-
ered by vesicles (blisters) which burst and discharge a tliin, yellowish
liquid, which is at first without odor. The hairs are matted together
erect, or fall out in large quantities.

Grease produces, in the course of time, serious alterations in the
pastern or fetlock. The excreted liquid becomes decomposed ami
softens the epidermis. A kind of sticky, doughy exudate is formed,
which is of bad aspect, of fetid odor, and very irritating.

The back part of the pastern and fetlock becomes the seat of
granulating wounds, the granulations ranging in size from that of a
pea to a large grape (the so-called grapy stage).

Treatmevi. — In the first stage cleanliness and the appHcation of

the ordinary drying powder or antiseptic ointments are sufficient.

In cases where proud flesh exists, the granulations must be removed

with the knife and burned with red-hot iron or lunar caustic and then

80

PLATE XVn.

Grease.

DISEASES OF THE SKIN AND EYE. 81

treated as a fresh wound. Applications of iodine and glycerin in
equal parts, or of the three sulphates, may be beneficial.

SCRATCHES.

Scratches is allied to grease and results from similar causes; it is
not so severe, but if neglected may terminate in that disease. It is
usually of a dry nature, with shallow cracks in the skin, and often
discharging a thin liquid, which does not irritate the skin. The dis-
ease is iQcated in the back part of the pastern joint.

Treatment. — Cleanse thoroughly with castile soap and water, dry,
and apply : Sulphate of zinc 1 ounce, acetate of lead 1 ounce, water 1
quart. Or, oxide of zinc 1 part, lanolin 10 parts. Or, tincture of
iodine may be resorted to. Good results are obtained by a dressing
of equal parts of zinc oxide and acetanilid, kept in place by a piece of
gauze or cotton and a bandage.

SCABIES MA NGE .

This is a contagious skin disease produced by parasites and can be
transmitted to man.

There are three parasites that cause mange; two varieties burrow
into the deeper layers of the skin, the first being found about the
head and neck (though it may spread over the surface of the body),
the second at the roots of the mane and tail; the third species does
not burrow into the skin and is found on the extremities.

Symptoms. — ^This disease is characterized by great itching associ-
ated with the formation of pustules (pimples). As the disease
developes, large surfaces become destitute of hair and are covered
by powdery crusts of variable thickness. At a later period the skin
becomes thickened, wrinkled, and fissured, assuming the appearance
of the skin of the rhinoceros.

Treatment. — The first essential is the separation and isolation of
the unhealthy from the well animals. Wash the affected parts
thoroughly with warm water, soap, and a scrubbing brush, and
apply the following: Acetanilid 10 parts, creolin 5 parts, cosmoline
20 parts. Melt the cosmoline and mix with the other ingredients
while cooling. This ointment should be applied twice a day and the
parts thoroughly washed every other day. Continue the treat-
ment until the skin becomes healthy.

SIMPLE INJURIES TO THE EYELIDS.

Inflammation of the mucous membrane lining the eyelids may be
caused by bruises or the presence of a foreign body, such as sand,
chaff, etc. If the eyelids should become torn, they must be sutured ;

82 THE ABMY HOBSE IN ACCIDENT AND DISEASE.

the utmost care is necessary as the needle may punctm^e the eyeball
and blindness will follow.

Treatment. — Keep the parts clean with a satiu*ated solution of
boracic acid, and dust with iodoform.

SIMPLE OPHTHALMIA CONJUNCTI V ITIS.

Inflammation of the outer parts of the eyeball, and of the exposed
vascular, sensitive mucous membrane {conjunctiva) which covers
the ball, the eyelids, and the haw.

The causes of external ophthalmia are mainly those which act
locally — blows with whips, clubs, and twigs; the presence of foreign
bodies, such as chaff, dust, sand, anmionia arising from the excre-
ment, etc.

Symptoms. — Watering of the eye, swollen lids, redness of the
mucous membrane exposed by the separation of the lids, and a
bluish opacity of the cornea, which normally is clear and transparent.
The eyeUds may be kept closed, the eyeball retracted, and the haw
protruded over one-third or one-half of the ball. If the aflFection
has resulted from a wound of the cornea, a white speck or fleecy
cloud is formed, and often blood vessels begin to extend from the
adjacent vascular covering of the eye to the white spot, and that
portion of the cornea is rendered permanently opaque.

Treatment. — Place the horse in a dark stall and bathe the outside
of the eye with tepid water; a few drops of the following lotion
should be dropped inside the eyelids: Zinc sulphate 20 grains, boracic
acid 1 dram, fluid extract of belladonna 1 dram, water 4 ounces.
Cover the eye with a clean, dark cloth on the inside of which a piece
of absorbent cotton has been sewed ; keep the cotton saturated with
the same lotion. This treatment should be applied and continued
twice daily imtil the parts assume their normal condition. In case
of wound or ulcer on the cornea, make use of a quill, through which
blow iodoform into the eye daily.

RECUKBENT OPHTHALMIA MOONBLINDNESS.

This affection, sometimes called periodic ophthalmia, is an inflam-
mation of the interior of the eye; it is intimately related to certain
soils and climates, and to certain animal systems, in which it shows
a strong tendency to recur again and again, usually ending in blind-
ness from cataract or other serious injury. Continuous exposm-e to
bright sunlight is frequently an exciting cause.

Symptoms vary according to the severity of the attack. In
some cases there is marked fever. The local symptoms are in the
main those of simple ophthalmia; opacity advances from the margin
over a part or the whole of the cornea. An attack lasts from ten

DISEASES OF THE SKIN AND EYE. 83

to fifteen days. The attacks may follow each other at intervals of
a month, more or less, but they show no particular relation to any
particular phase of the moon. From five to seven attacks usually
result in blindness, and then the other eye is liable to be attacked until
it also is ruined.

Treaiment. — Is largely the same as that for simple ophthalmia.
During recovery a course of tonics is often very beneficial and acts
in assisting to ward off another attack. Such a tonic is the follow-
ing: Sulphate iron 1 ounce, gentian 1^ ounces, nux vomica 1^ ounces.
Make into twelve powders and give one powder, in feed, twice a day.

If opacity of the cornea remains, benefit may be obtained from
the use of silver nitrate, 4 grains to 1 ounc^ of water, a few drops
dropped into the eye twice daily. A saturated solution of iodide
of potassium may be used in the same manner.

CATARACT.

Cataract is usually the result of repeated attacks of recurrent
ophthalmia. It is an opacity, not of the cornea, but of the crystalline
lens. No treatment will restore it to its normal condition.

CHAPTER X.

DISEASES OF THE FEET.

Removing pressure means trimming the bearing surfaces of the foot
in such a way that the shoe can not cause pressure upon diseased
structures.

CORNS.

A com is the result of bruising the sensitive sole or sensitive laminsB
of the quarters or bars and appears as a reddish spot in the angle
formed by the wall and bar, usually on the inside of the front feet,
seldom, if ever, in the hind feet.

Causes. — A rapid gait on hard roads; lowering one quarter more
than .the other; shoes so fitted that they press on the sole at the heel,
and shoes left on so long that the wail overgrows the heels of the
shoe and causes the shoe to press on the sole ; long feet, which remove
the frog too far from the ground, thus preventing the proper expan-
sion of the foot.

Treatment. — First remove the cause by taking off the shoe ; shorten
the toe, lower the quarter that is too high, or correct any faults that
may have existed in the preparation of the foot. Remove all pressure
from the affected spot and'reshoe.

In case of severe inflammation and probable suppuration, poultice
or soak the foot until the horn softens and pus appears ; open freely,
disinfect, remove all horn that is underrun by pus and then pack with
the "three sulphates" until suppuration ceases. Plug the corn with
oakum or tar and shoe with a bar shoe, removing all pressure from the
affected quarter. (The special function of the bar shoe is to produce
frog pressure.) The t^iree-quarter shoe may also be used. This shoe
will prevent pressure on the diseased spot, but it has a tendency to
give a rocking motion to the foot in action.

THRUSH.

Thrush is a diseased condition of the frog, characterized by a dark-
colored discharge of offensive odor.

Causes. — Uncle'anliness ; horses standing in stalls saturated with
urine, or in wet earth filled with decomposing vegetable matter.
84

DISEASES OF THE FEET. 85

Symptoms. — At first there is simply an increased moisture in the
cleft of the frog, accompanied by an offensive smell. After a time the
discharge is more profuse, then watery and highly offensive, changing
gradually to a thick, putrid matter, which rapidly destroys the horn
of the frog.

Treatment. — Remove the cause; keep stalls clean and dry. Pare
away all lose portions of the horn, so as to expose the diseased parts;
clean thoroughly by washing with warm water; dry with oakum and
pack with powdered alum, calomel, or copper sulphate; if the dress-
ing will not remain in place use a leather boot.

CANKER.

Canker is a disease of the frog and sole, marked by an offensive-
smelling, cheesy discharge, by a softening and breaking down of the
horny frog and sole, and a spongy enlargement of the sensitive frog
and sole. When this disease follows an injury which has exposed
the soft structures of the foot, it soon causes a separation of the soft
and homy portions, presenting a very imhealthy appearance and dis-
charging a thin, watery fluid.

Causes, — Canker is generally believed to be caused by a vegetable
parasite, the development of which is assisted by filthy stables or low,
wet ground.

Treatment. — That part of the frog or sole that has been underrun
must be removed with the knife and the canker exposed; the un-
healthy growth is then touched with a red-hot iron, burning it off
level with the surrounding healthy structures, care being exercised
not to injure the sensitive portions of the foot. Next, wash clean,
then dry and apply the following powder: Equal parts of sulphate of
zinc, sulphate of iron, and sulphate of copper. Place over this a pad
of oakum, and over all a leather boot. This dressing must be changed
once a day (twice a day in bad cases) ; treatment is continued until
a healthy growth of horn covers the whole foot. The horse can now
be shod. Pack the foot with oakum and tar and cover with a leather
sole, which is held in place by the shoe.

If it is desirable to change dressings on the shod foot, a more con-
venient appliance to keep them in place is made in the following man-
ner: Cut a piece of sheet zinc to cover about two-thirds of the sole
and frog, the outer edge of the piece fitting under the shoe; cut
another piece to cover the remaining third and wide enough to lap
over the first piece, the lap to run parallel to the cleft of the frog;
then cut a strip about 1 inch wide to act as a keeper; the ends of this
strip are pressed under the shoe, the strip passing across the foot from
quarter to quarter.

86 THE ARMY HORSE IN ACCIDENT AND DISEASE.

QUITTOR.

A quittor is a ruimiiio: sore, situated on the coronet of the foot,
with one or more tubes (sinuses) leadinjj in a downward direction
and dischargLiiE: pus.

Causes.— Pricks in shoeing; punctures of the coronet, sole or frog;
bruises or suppuiating corns.

Syraptomx. — A swelhng on the coronet, presenting a pecuharly
unhealthy appearance, and in the center of which aie one or more
sinuses communicating witli the diseased structures inside of the
foot. In nearly all cases the horse is verA" lame.

Treatment. — Find out, if possible, what has caused the quittor.
If it is the result of a nail prick or a festered com. open it up on
the underside of the foot, allow the pus to run out, and then treat
as described under "Puncture." If no nail prick or com can be
found, treat the quittor from above, by injecting into the sinuses
one of the following solutions: Carbolic acid, 1 to 20; croohji, I
to 25; bichloride of mercury, 1 to .500. This treatment should be
continued for several days, at the end of which period, if the ])arts
do not appear in a healthier condition, inject into the tubes 1 diam
of bicldoride of mercury well shaken up in 1 ounce of water. This
will cause a separation of the diseased walls of tiie tube from the
healthy parts of the foot. Poultices of flaxseed meal assist this
separation. Keep the parts clean and wash out with carbolic acid or
creolin as at first. If the sore iloes not heal un<ler this treatment
a surgical operation vnM be necessary'.

QUARTER CRACKS AND TOE CRACKS.

A toe or quarter crack (often called a sand crack) is a split in the
horn of the wall; the position of the crack determines the name
applied to it. Horses with tliin, weak quarters are pre<lisposed to
quarter crack.

Causes. — Excessive dryness of the hoof; alternate changing from
damp to dry; heavy shoes; large nails, and nails set too far back
toward the heels.

Symptoms. — The crack generally starts at the coronary band and
gradually extentls downward to the lower border of the wall. The
most common form of quarter crack is a deep fissure extending
through the wall an<l causing a pinching of the sensitive structures.
When, however, the crack is not deep there is seldom any lameness.

Treatment. — The first step is to remove the shoe and soften the
hom by poultices or by standing in warm or cold water for a few
days, then cut away the hard overlapping edges of the fissure and
thin the wall on each side so that there will be no friction between
the edges of the crack. As the wall grows down from the coronet

DISEASES OF THE FEET. 87

the upper end of the crack must be carefully observed to see that
the new horn grows down strong and smooth. In time the crack
will disappear at the lower edge of the wall. If the sensitive laminse
have been exposed by this operation, the parts should .be washed
with a solution of creolin, 1 to 50, and the wound should be dusted
with" acetanilid and covered with a pad of oakum held in place by
a boot or bandage. In a few days a thin layer of horn will be thrown
out, covering the sensitive laminse. The horse can then generally
be put to work.

After a quarter crack has been trimmed out, the horse should be
shod with a bar shoe, the wall underneath the quarter crack being
cut away so that it will not come in contact with the shoe.

In a case of toe crack the operation is the same. In shoeing, the
wall is cut away at the toe to prevent pressure.

PUNCTURE OF THE SOLE AND FKOCi PRICKS IN SHOEING.

A puncture of the sole or fiog is usually caused by a horse stepping
on a nail, a piece of broken glass, or other sharp object. If the wound
enters the soft structures of the foot, it results in lameness and the
formation of pus.

Pricks in shoeing are of two kinds: First, when the nail is driven
into the soft structures, and, second, when it is driven too close,
causing a bulging of the inner layer of horn, which is forced in upon
the sensitive laminae. In the first case the horse goes lame imme-
diately; in the second case lameness may not appear for several days
or weeks.

To detect a punctured wound of the foot remove the shoe, exam-
ining each nail as it is withdraAvn for traces of moisture. Then
test with the pinchers. When the sore spot is pressed, the horse
will flinch.

Treatmerd. — Open the wound and let out any pus that may have
formed; wash out with a solution of creolin, 1 to 25, or of carbolic
acid, 1 to 20. Unless the pus has a good outlet, it will burrow into
the surrounding tissues and quittor or canker may follow. More-
over, there is always danger of tetanus in all cases of punctured
wounds, especially in the feet. The germ of this disease is present
in nearly all soils and is very liable to be carried into the wound
upon the nail or other object. After the wound has been opened
up and washed out, the foot should be placed in a hot flaxseed poul-
tice, a fresh one being applied three or four times a day, and the
parts washed out after each poultice, as in the first instance. The
treatment should be continued until inflammation is reduced and
the formation of pus has ceased. The hole can then be plugged
with oakum and tar, the shoe reset, and the horse put to work.

88 THE ARMY HORSE IN ACCIDENT AND DISEASE.

LAMINITIS OR FOUNDER.

Laminitis is an infiammation of the sensitive laminsB (generally of
the front feet) and may involve the adjoining structures. There are
three forms of the disease— acute, subacute, and chronic.

The exudation of blood is greatest at the toe, the foot being more
vascular at that point. The pain of acute laminitis is very persistent
and agonizing, because the swollen and sensitive portions of the
foot are surrounded by the hard and unyielding hoof and the en-
gorged blood vessels are not permitted free exudation and swelling,
the normal means by which congested blood vessels are reheved.

Causes. — The most common are concussion, overexertion, ex-
haustion, rapid changes of temperature, the eating of various improper
foods, such as musty grain, hay, etc., and the drinking of cold water
when the animal is overheated.

Symptoms. — In acute laminitis of both front feet the animal is
excessively lame, moves with great difficulty, especially when starting,
and appears as if the entire body were in a state of cramp ; he stands
with the hind legs drawn under the belly and the fore feet advanced ,
in order to relieve them of as much weight as possible. Occasionally
he may be seen to sway backward, elevating the toes and throwing
the weight for a moment upon the heels of the front feet, and then
resuming the original position. If compelled to move, he raises
the feet laboriously, not -because the muscles of locomotion are
inflamed, as is sometimes supposed, but because, if all four feet' are
not on the ground at the same time to bear the weight of the body,
his suffering is increased. He will often groan with pain and sweat
will break out over the body. To diagnose a case quickly, the best
method is to push the horse backward, when, if affected, he will
elevate the toes and throw his weight upon the heels.

The pulse in acute laminitis is full, strong, and rapid and will
maintain these characteristics even after general debility has become
manifest. In some instances the animal will lie down upon his side,
with the legs stretched out, for hours at a time, evidently feeling
great relief in this position; in other cases, particularly during the
early period of the disease, he will stand persistently. The t-em-
perature ranges from 102° to 104°.

Treatment. — Remove the shoes from the affected feet; stand the
horse in hot water for several hours each day, or, what is equally
good and perhaps safer, apply hot flaxseed poultices, changing
them every hour as they become cold. After two or three days
of this treatment change to cold water, which can be applied either
in the form of a footbath or by standing the animal in a running
stream for five' or six hours at a time. As ^oon as the pain has
diminished, moderate exercise is beneficial; this may be gradually

DISEASES OF THE FEET. 89

increased until the animal shows no further sign of trouble. If, after
five or six days, pronounced symptoms of recovery are not apparent,
apply a stiff blister of cantharides around the coronet, repeating the
blister if necessary. In addition to the local treatment, nitrate of
potash (saltpeter), in doses of 2 to 4 ounces, may be given three
times a day. If the horse is constipated, give 1 quart of raw lin-
seed oil. The subacute and chronic forms may be relieved by soften-
ing the foot as in "Dry feet," by occasional blistering and by intelli-
gent shoeing.

SEEDY TOE.

Seedy toe is a mealy condition of the inner wall of the hoof, the
white line, and sometimes the sole. It is most frequently seen in
the front feet.

Causes.— Undue pressure, clips on shoes, or the result of laminitis.

Treatment. — Pare the wall of the cavity until healthy horn is
reached and pack with tar and oakum. , Stimulate healthy growth
of horn by the application of a cantharides blister at the coronet.
Omit the cUp in reshoeing.

CONTRACTED FEET.

Contracted feet is an unnatural shrinking or narrowing of the feet
at the heels. Most often seen in the front feet.

Causes. — Lack of exercise; lack of moisture; thrush; shoes with
bearing web inclining inward at the heels. The practice of using the
knife to "open the heels" usually produces this trouble.

Treatment. — Ascertain the cause and remove it if possible. The
remedy is to secure normal pressure on the frog, bars, and heels. If
the feet are extremely dry and hard they may be softened by standing
the animal in moist clay or in water. If the character of the ground
will permit let the horse go barefoot; if not, shoe with the tip, prefer-
ably; otherwise, with the°barshoe.

DRY FEET.

Soften the hoofs by thorough soaking in water and then apply
cosmoline or linseed oil to prevent the water from evaporating. This
should be done daily for a week or two. A thick paste of ground flax-
seed and wafer, packed into the Cavity of the foot between the
branches of the shoe, or a packing of moist clay, will keep the foot soft.

COFFIN-JOINT LAMENESS.

Sprain of the coffin joint results from slipping, stepping upon a
rolling stone, stepping into a hole, etc.

Symptoms. — Shortened gait; lameness and pointing of diseased
foot; heat over the region of the coffin joint; tenderness on pressure.

90 THE ABMY HOBSE IN ACCIDENT AND DISEASE.

Treatment. — Remove the shoe and give the animal complete rest;
poultice the foot with flaxseed meal or stand the foot in a tub of cold
water ; if relief is not obtained in a week, apply a blister of biniodide
of mercury, 1 to 5, around the coronet and heels, rubbing it in well
over the region of the heels.

Sprain of the coffin joint, unless carefully nursed, may terminate
in chronic navicular disease, in which the coffin-joint structures and the
coffin bone itself become ulcerated. This disease is incurable.

If, after navicular disease has developed, it be necessary to keep
the horse in the service, the heel of the diseased foot should be elevated
by the use of a shoe with calks or with thick heels. The foot should
be kept soft with footbaths and poultices and a blister applied when
lameness is especially marked. Whenever possible keep the shoe off
during treatment.

PLATE XVIII.

Fig. 1, Sidebone. Fig. 2, Ringbone. Fig. 3, Bone spavin. Fig. 4, Splint.

CHAPTER XI.

DISEASES OF BONE AND DETECTION OF LAMENESS.

SIDEBONES.

(Plate XVIII, fig. 1.)

Sidebone is an ossification (turning into bone) of the lateral carti-
lage. Horses ynth flat feet and weak quarters are predisposed to
this disease.

Symptoms. — A hard, unyielding condition of the lateral cartilage,
with or without lameness.

Treatment. — If the horse is lame the first step is to remove the shoe
and level the foot; then let the horse stand in a tub of cold water
for several hours a day, or apply, around the coronet, sv/abs kept wet
with cold water. As soon as the fever has disappeared clip off the
hair over the sidebones and blister with this ointment : Biniodide of
mercury 1 part, cosmoline 5 parts; mix thoroughly and rub in for ten
minutes. Tie up the horse's head so that he can not reach the blis-
tered part with his lips, and keep him in this position for twenty-four
to forty-eight hours. Then wash off the blister, using warm water and
castile soap. The washing must be repeated every day until all the
scabs formed by the blister have been removed. During this time keep
the horse standing quietly in a clean and level stall. If after ten
days he has not improved, firing, followed by a long period of rest,
may prove beneficial.

RINGBONE.

(Plate XVIII, fig. 2)

Ringbone is a bony enlargement, more or less prominent, situated
upon either the os suffraginis or os coronae, and it may also involve
the articular cartilages.

Causes. — Blows, sprains, jumping, fast work on hard roads, and
faulty conformation.

SympUmis. — Lameness is usually the first symptom, and diagnosis
is assisted by palpation (feeling) and comparison of the two legs.
The enlargement is hard, painless on pressure, and the skin covering
is movable.

Treatment. — The foot must be pared perfectly level and a blister
applied to the enlargement and repeated in two weeks if necessary.

91

92 THE ABMY HOBSE IN ACCIDENT AND DISEASE.

Perfect rest and quietude for four to six weeks are essential, or no
beneficial results can be expected.

If the rest and blisters fail to remove the lameness firing may
sometime be resorted to. Puncture firing in two or three rows is
often very effective. After firing the seat of the injury should be
bhstered with biniodide of mercury, 1 to 5, and the animal kept
quiet in a single stall for at least one month.

BONE SPAVIN.

(Plate XVIII, fig. 3.)

Bone spavin is a disease involving the bones in the hock joint and
is usually manifested in a bony enlargement, situated at the inner
and lower part of the tarsus.

Causes. — ^Weakness, faulty conformation, severe strains, hard and
rapid work, etc.

Symptoms. — The appearance of this disease is usually accompanied
by lameness, which in the early stages of the disease is noticed only
when the animal is first moved after a rest, and then the toe is gen-
erally placed upon the ground first. When standing, the animal
often rests the diseased leg on the toe.

The "spavin test" is sometimes useful in diagnosing spavin lame-
ness. It consists in keeping the hock joint flexed for one or two
minutes and then trotting the horse. If a spavin exists lameness is
very marked. -

Treatment. — The treatment of bone spavin is the same as that
prescribed for ringbone.

SPLINTS.

(Plate XVIII, fig. 4.)

Splints are bony enlai^ments, usually situated between the inner
splint bone and the cannon hone, at their upper third. They occa-
sionally occur on the outside of the hind leg.

Causes. — Faulty action or faulty conformation causing unequal
distribution of pressure in the knee maj'^ throw an excessive load on
the inner small metacarpal and cause rupture of the tissue affixing
the small to the large metacarpal. The irritation produces growth
of bone.

Sympttmis. — Soreness may or may not be present ; when the splint
is painful the horse is lame.

Tr€atm£nt. — If there is lameness give the animal absolute rest and
apply a blister composed as follows: Biniodide of mercury 1 dram,
cosmoline 5 drams. Repeat in ten days if necessary.

DETECTION OF LAMENESS.

Severe lameness is readily recognized, even when the animal is at
rest. Distinct symptoms,- such as pointing or frequent raising of the

DISEASES OF BONE AND DETECTION OF LAMENESS. 93

affected limb, are noticed, the animal's instinct leading him to place
the affected part in a position to relieve the pain.

In making an examination for lameness, the animal, having free
use of his head, should be led at a slow trot toward and from the
observer. Too short a hold on the halter shank will prevent free
play of all the muscles concerned in locomotion.

If lame in one fore leg, the right one for instance, the head will
nod (drop) more or less when he steps on the left fore leg, while the
head jerks up at the moment the right leg (the lame one) is placed
upon the ground. Hence, the head of the lame animal always nods
when the sound leg is planted.

Should there be lameness in both fore legs the action is stilty (stiff) ;
the natural, elastic stride is wanting; the steps are shortened, and
the feet kept close to the ground. Almost invariably the hind legs
are picked up higher than normally; the shoulders appear stiff and
the head is carried rather high, while the lumbar region is arched.

Lameness behind is detected by trotting the horse from the ob-
server, the croup being the essential part to be watched, since it
drops with the sound leg and rises with the lame one.

If lame in both hind legs, the stride is shortened and awkward;
the fore legs are kept back of the vertical line, and are apt to be
raised higher than usual, while the head is lowered. Bacldng is diffi-
cult; it is almost impossible to keep the animal at a trot when he
is lame in more than one leg.

Horses lame in both fore or both hind legs show a waddling gait
behind, often mistaken for lameness originating in the lumbar region.
This peculiar motion is simpl}'^ due to the fact that the hind legs are
unduly advanced under the body for their own rehef or that of the
front legs. Close attention is to be paid to the animal's action as
he turns while being trotted to and from the observer, as at this
moment — that is, while he turns — any hitch becomes visible ; as, for
instance, spavin or stringhalt lameness.

Alwa}^ place the lame leg in its natural position and inspect the
various parts of the leg both with the hand and eye, comparing them
alwaj-'s with the sound leg to find anatomical changes.

In all cases examine the foot thoroughly and carefully, removing
the shoe if necessary. Heat, pain, and swelling are 'always guides
in the diagnosis of lameness.

All lameness is divided into two classes: Swinging-leg lameness,
which is shown by a shortened stride and more or less dragging of
the leg; and supporting-leg lameness, which shows itself when the
leg supports the wreight of the body. The former is shown in dis-
eased condition of the muscles. The latter is shown in disease of
bone, tendons, ligaments, and the hoof.

CHAPTER XII.

AGE BT TBGE TEETH.

By their growth, changes, form, and wear, the teeth of the horse
furnish a very rehable guide to determine the animal's age. In the
adult animal they number from 36 in the female to 40 in the male,
and are classed according to their location, form, and function, as
incisors, canines, and molars.

The incisors, or cutters, occupy the front part of the mouth. They
are 12 in number, 6 in the upper jaw and 6 in the lower. In each
jaw there are 2 central, 2 lateral, and 2 comer incisors.

The canines, or tushes, occupy the front part of the interdental
space. The tushes are usually absent in the mare, or, if present,
are very small. They are 4 in number, 2 in each jaw.

The molars, or grinders, occupy the back part of the mouth. They
are 24 in number, 6 on each side of each jaw. Naming from front to
rear they are designated first, second, third, etc. Quite frequently
supplementary molars, called "wolf teeth," are present. If so, they
appear directly in front of the first molar, in the upper jaw, and very
rarely in the lower jaw.

Like other animals, the horse is provided with two sets of teeth,
temporary and permanent. The temporary, or milk teeth, are those
of the first growth or dentition. They are 24 in number, 12 incisors
and the first, second, and third molars. They are all up and in wear
when the colt is about 11 months old. Each of them is ultimately
shed and replaced by a permanent tooth. The first shedding takes
place at 2^ and the last is completed at 4^ years of age. The first
permanent tooth to show itself, however, is the fourth molar, which
appears at about the age of 1 year.

The permanent incisor differs in appearance from the temporary
one by being larger, longer, darker, or more yellowish in color, and
by having a well-marked groove down the anterior or front face of
the crown. It does not have the constricted neck which is charac-
teristic of the milk tooth.

The thtee principal tooth substances are called dentine, enamel,

and cement. The dentine" composes the main body of the tooth. It

is protected by a covering of enamel, which is very white in color and

is the hardest of all animal substances. The cement is a yellowish

94

AGE BY THE TEETH. 95

colored bony material. It also forms a protective covering for the
tooth, being spread in a thin layer over the surface of the enamel.
This cement gives the permanent tooth the color which distinguishes
it from the milk tooth. By the time the animal is 7 or 8 years of
age, this substance, through constant rubbing by the lips and washing
with saliva, has been worn from the enamel, and the teeth conse-
quently appear much whiter than they did when the animal was
but 5 or 6.

The grinding surface of the tooth is called the iahle. In the new
unworn tooth this is irregular and is covered with enamel. The infuvr
dihulum is the infolding of the enamel on the table of the tooth.
This forms in the incisors a cavity, the bottom of which is filled with
cement to a depth which varies in different animals. The unfilled
portion of this cavity forms what is called the cwp. The cups are
deeper in the upper incisors than they are in the lower ones. They
soon become stained by the food juices so that they appear very
black in color. Ordinarily after a lower incisor has been in wear
for three years its table surface has been worn down to the cement
filling and the blackened cup cavity has disappeared. It is often
difficult for the inexperienced observer to determine when the cup
has actually disappeared. He expects to see the table surface per-
fectly level and of uniform color, whereas the enamel being so much
harder than either the dentine or the cement, stands in relief on the
table surface, and envelops a very shallow and sometimes slightly
stained depression (of oement) for several years after the black cup
cavity is considered to have disapf)eared. The enamel of the infim-
dibulum persists in the lowers usually until the animal is about 15
and in the uppers until he is about 18 years of age. Standing in
relief on the table surface as it does, this enamel is frequently termed
* ' the enamel island. ' '

In the center of the tooth, and extending almost its entire length,
is the pulp cavity, a channel, which in life is filled with a fleshy tissue
or pulp through the medium of which the tooth derives its nourish-
ment. As the tooth is worn off with age the outer extremity of the
sensitive pulp, which would otherwise become exposed, is changed
into a yellowish colored ivory-like substance that completely fills
and closes the cavity. Hence, when the tooth has worn down to
the pulp cavity, the latter appears on the table surface (just in
front of the remains of the cup) as a yellowish colored mark called
the dental star. This usually makes its appearance when the animal
is 8 years old, although in very hard teeth it is often not apparent
until about 11.

Depending upon the hardness of the dentine and the character of
the food, the teeth wear away at the rate of about one-twelfth of an
inch per year. As an incisor is not of uniform shape or size from its

96 THE ARMY HORSE IN ACCIDENT AND DISEASE.

crown to its root, it is at once apparent that wear will continually
change the form of its table surface.

In the young mouth the tables of the incisors are elongatetl from
side to side, while in the old mouth they are elongated from front to
rear. The intermediate forms through which they successively pass
are oval, round, and triangular. Roughly speaking, the incisors are
oval from 7 till 9 (centrals at 7, laterals at 8, and comers at 9), round
from 10 till 13, triangular from 14 till 17, and elongated from front
to rear at 18 or 19.

In the young animal, while the teeth are still unworn to any extent,
the upper and lower incisors meet in such a way that they appear
as an evenly rounded arch. This arch, however, gradually changes
as the teeth wear away, until in age it has become very angular or
pointed.

In examining the mouth of the horse to determine his age, three
features of the incisor teeth are studied: First, the angle at which
the uppers and lowers meet; second, the character and color of their
crown faces, and, third, the shape and appearance of the tables.

To obtain the best view of the mouth, grasp the upper lip firmly
with the right hand, and place the left in the interdental space from
the right side, using the thumb to depress the lower lip, and the
back of the hand to press the tongue upward and backward. In
this way the right hand serves as a twitch to hold the horse, while
the left one uncovers the lower incisors.

As has already been stated, the temporary teeth are all up and in
wear at about the age of 1 1 months. Between the ages of 1 and 2
the incisors remain the same in their arrangement, but begin to show
the effects of wear.

At 2 the mouth presents veiy much the same appearance as it does
at 5, the difference being that the incisors are temporai'y in the fonner
and permanent in the latter, and that the 2-year-old has but Jive
molars on the side of each jaw, while the 5-year-old has all six. This
is the only case in which the molars might render assistance in the
determination of the age. At about the age of 2^ years the tem-
porary centrals are pushed out by permanent ones. The uppers are
usually shed a few weeks before the lowers. After these teeth make
their appearance, and until they are up and in wear, the horse is
rising, that is approaching, 3.

At 3 the colt has two permanent incisors (the centrals) and four
teniporaiy ones (the laterals and corners) in each jaw. The centrals
are up and in wear ; that is, they are on a level w^th the temporary
teeth. The permanent centrals are seen to be darker or more yel-
lowish in color than their neighbors, and to have a well-marked
groove down their front face. Another important observation to
jnake is the appearance of the cups. In either the temporary or the

AGE BY THE TEETH. 97

permanent full mouth the centrals, having been in wear for the long-
est period of time, show the shallowest cups, while in the 3-year-olcl
mouth the new centrals, having been in wear for the shortest period
of time, show the largest, deepest, and blackest ones. The colt is
said to be 3 years past when the permanent centrals show wear on
both their front and rear borders. At about the age of 3^ years the
temporaiy laterals are shed, and until their permanent successora
are up and in wear the colt is rising 4.

At 4 the colt has four permanent incisors (the centrals and later-
als) and two temporary ones (the corners) in each jaw. The laterals
are worn on both their front and rear borders, and the cups of the
lower centrals, having been in wear for one year and being about one-
third gone, show smaller than the cups of the laterals. At this age
the contrast between the large permanent incisors and the small
temporary corners is very striking. The colt is about 4^ years old
when the corners begin to shed. At about this time the mouth of
the male begins to show the tushes. After the temporary comers
have all been shed, and until the four permanent comers are in con-
tact, the colt is rising 5.

At 5 the mouth is full. All the incisors are now permanent, and
in each jaw they have all reached the same level. The front borders
of the comers are in wear but the rear borders are not yet up. The
cups of the centrals, having been in wear for two years, are about
two-thirds gone, while those of the laterals, having been in wear for
one year, are about one-third gone. Usually the rear borders of the
comers come up and inHlie wear while the animal is between 5 and
6 years old, but sometimes they do not come up as they should, and
such a condition constitutes what is known as a shell mouth. This
condition may cause an 8-year-old animal to be mistaken for a 6-
year-old.

At 6 the cup cavities are worn entirely out of the centrals, two-
thirds out of the laterals, and one-third out of the corners. At 6
past, a notch begins to foxni. on the outer border of the upper corners.

At 7 the cups are gone from the centrals and the laterals, and the
notch which began forming at 6 past on the-upper comers is now well
marked. The enamel is now beginning to lose its cement covering,
with the result that the teeth are showing whiter than they did when
the animal was 6. The tables of the centrals are becoming oval in
form.

At 8 the blackened cups have usually disappeared from all of the
lower incisors, although in some cases those of the comers persist for
a year or two longer. The notch in the upper comers is hardly as
prominent at this age as it was at 7 because, on accoimt <5f wear, the
angle of meeting is now beginning to change, and the upper corners in

98 THE ARMY HOBSE IN ACCIDENT AND DISEASE.

consequence are finding a greater grinding surface on the lower ones.
In some cases the dental star may now be detected between the
enamel island and the front border of the tooth in the central in-
cisors. It appears in the form of a yellowish transverse line.

After the age of 6 wear alone, by changing the form and appear-
ance of the table surfaces and the angle at which the uppers and
lowers meet, furnishes the indications of age ; and as the wear varies
with the hardness of the teeth and the character of the food, it is at
once apparent that no two cases will be exactly the same. Hence,
after the animal is 8 years old the age indications have become un-
reliable. From now on with the passing of each year they become
less and less reliable. After the twelfth year there is but little prob-
ability of judging the age accurately.

On an average it is found that the cups of the upper incisors are
worn out in the centrals at the age of 10.

At 15 in most cases the enamel island has disappeared from the
lowers, and the dental star has become distinct and round in the
center of the tables. The enamel island persists in the uppers usually
until the animal is about 18.

After 20 the horse is considered to have reached the limit of his
life. The characters then presented by the teeth are those of extreme
age. The table surfaces are elongated from front to rear. Some-
times the crowns are very long and extend almost in prolongation of
the jaws. Sometimes they are Very short and are worn down to a
level with the gums. The crowns now appear to converge toward
the median line, whereas in youth they appeared straight or slightly
divergent.

Many deceptions may be practiced or many conditions may exist
which render the determination of the age very difficult. Some dis-
honest dealers and breeders resort to pulling the milk teeth a few
months before they would fall, thereby hastening the appearance of
the permanent ones and giving the mouth an older appearance.
Sometimes the notches in the upper comers are rasped away to make
the 7-year-old mouth look younger. " Bishoping" is another form
of deception that is sometimes practiced. This is done to make an
old mouth appear young. New cups are drilled in the old teeth, and
these cups are then stained black by some artificial means. This
practice, however, should never deceive the close observer because
the ring of enamel, which is always present around the natural cup,
can not be reproduced in the bishoped mouth. Moreover the teeth
will show by the angle at which they meet and by the form of their
table surfaces that the mouth is too old for cups to be present.

Horses with parrot or overshot mouths, and horses in the habit of
cribbing, subject their teeth to unnatural wear, which renders the
determination of their age very difficult.

PLATE XIX

Longitudinal Section of left central lower incisor and cross sections
of same tooth showing table surfaces as they appear at the ages of 3
5. 7, 9. 15, 20 and 25 years.

C Cement D Dentine E Enamel

1 Infundibulum K Cup P Pulp Cavity

S Star

PLATE XlXn.

Surra: Characteristic swellings.

PLATE XX.

Surra parasite

CHAPTER Xm.

TKOPICAL DISEASES.

SURRA.

This disease is caused by the Trypanosoma Evansi, an organism
which is a low form of animal life and is found in the blood of affected
animals. It attacks and destroys the red blood cells, causing rapid
loss of flesh and, sooner or later, death. It is claimed by some au-
thorities that the disease originates from the use of water and grass
from low lands.

Symptoms. — Variable temperature, ranging from normal to 102°
and even to 106° F. ; dullness; lack of vigor; sometimes swelling of
the submaxillary lymph glands; thin, watery discharge from the
nostrils; swelHng of the sheath and legs, more frequently the hind
ones (Plate XlXa), and swelling along the belly; these swellings pit
on pressure. The mucous membrane of the eye, especially of the
haw, shows dark-red spots (petechial spots) ; the urine is highly col-
ored and is usually passed in large quantities; the bowels are con-
stipated in the early stage and profuse diarrhea occurs later. In
chronic cases paralysis of the hind extremities takes place, the ani-
mal sta^ering when moved. The paralysis may later become com-
plete and the horse will be unable to rise. In the acute type of the
disease the animal dies in twelve or fifteen days, while in the chronic
case he may linger for one or two months. The diagnosis is com-
plete only when a microscopic examination of the blood discloses the
parasite (Plate XX). As a rule, the parasite is seen only when the
temperature is considerably elevated.

Surra is always fatal, and as the danger to other animals is great
on account of its highly ctmtagious nature, all animals that have
been proved to have the parasite in the blood should be removed at
once from contact with healthy stock and destroyed. The carcasses
should be saturated with oil and burned. Measures to prevent the
spread of the disease should always be enforced. When in a district
infested with surra the temperature of horses should be taken regu-
larly every two or three days. Any animal showing, without a

100 THE ARMY HORSE IN ACCIDENT AND DISEASE.

known cause, a temperature of 102° F. should be isolated, and there-
after blood examinations should be made and temperatures taken
daily. As flies are known to be carriers of the surra parasite, great
care should be exercised to remove and avoid any breeding places
for these pests. If stables could be screened in would be a great
advantage in surra outbreaks.

EPIZOOTIC OR ULCERATIVE LYMPHANGITIS.

This peculiar tropical disease closely resembles glanders of the
farcy form, so much so that the two might be easily confused by a
person uninformed on tropical diseases. In observing epizootic lym-
phangitis the high fever and sudden loss of flesh and vigor are not
seen as in tropical glanders.

The disease in the early stage responds to treatment, but often
requires months to effect a cure. It is caused by a fungus, called
cryptococcus, and is contagious.

Symptoms. — Small bunches or nodules, the size of a half dollar,
may appear upon the skin of any part of the body; there may be
one or many. They often appear in chains along the course of the
lymphatics (1, Plate XXI); they may spread around an infected
area into an irregular patch (2, Plate XXI), apparently not following
the lymphatics; again, the disease may start with a hard, painful
swelling in the region of the chest or shoulder, or between the fore-
legs, the swelling later softening in spots and forming the small
abscesses.

Ordinarily, the nodules soon soften and break upon the surface;
if not, they should be opened; in either case they end in the typical
ulcers of the disease. The small bunches or abscesses, when opened,
contain a white, creamy pus; they do not respond readily to ordinary
healing methods and persist after the most heroic measures have
been adopted. In cases of long standing the ulcerations may extend
over the greater part of the body, the limbs especially being covered
with sores; there is usually great enlargement and thickening of the
legs and the patient becomes badly emaciated (poor in flesh). In
the ordinary case, however, the animal does not lose flesh and
does not carry any marked fever.

Treatment. — The treatment consists in opening the ulcers freely
with a knife or cautery point heated to white heat, or, better still,
if they are not too numerous, in dissecting them out entirely with-
out opening the abscess wall.

The dressings must be of a caustic nature, so as to destroy the
cause of the disease; for instance, alcohol 4 ounces, sahcylic acid
1 ounce, bichloride of mercury 2 dramsS; alternate this with a dress-
ing made of equal parts of olive oil and creolin, or one made of
tincture of iodine 2 ounces and tincture of iron 2 ounces. Apply

a
p,

a

TROPICAL DISEASES. 101

any of these dressings once daily and then use a dusting powder
made of equal parts of iodoform and tannic; acid.

Care should be exercised to isolate the diseased animals and to
thoroughly disinfect combs, brushes, blankets, halters, and sucli
articles as may have come in contact with the diseased parts; for
this purpose use a 1 to 20 solution of creolin or of carbolic acid.

DHOBIE ITCH.

This is a very troublesome skin disease peculiar to the Tropics.
It is contagious and caused by a fungus.

SympUmis. — Itching, the animal rubbing against the posts and
sides of the stall; small eruptions of the skin, which spread rapidly
and discharge a thin, watery secretion, crusts forming over the sores;
the hair falls out and the skin becomes thickened on account of the
irritation. Often the skin of a large part of the surface of the body
becomes infected with these sores, and ordinary healing washes
have no beneficial action. The treatment, like that of epizootic
lymphangitis, should be prompt and energetic, and, since both dis-
eases are caused by a fungus, should be similar in nature. One of the
most valuable remedies is made of equal parts of olive oil and creolin.
which should be applied once daily after thoroughly washing the sores
and removing the scabs. A mixture of alcohol 6 ounces and sali-
cylic acid 1 ounce is of value and is applied daily. In the absence
of alcohol, sulphuric ether may be substituted. Tincture of iodine
often eflFects a cure. If the case is persistent, cauterize the parts
with pure carbolic acid and then apply alcohol after the acid has
been on one minute. After cauterizing use the olive oil and creolin
dressing daily.

On account of its contagious nature, all animals suffering from
this disease should be isolated, and brushes, combs, blankets, etc.,
should be thoroughly disinfected with creolin or carbolic acid
solution.

The common diseases of temperate countries assume a more
aggravated form in the Tropics. Infectious diseases are more fatal
and infected wounds heal more slowly. This is due to the lower
vitality of the animal and to the hot and moist climate, which favors
germ growth. Pneumonia is almost always fatal in the Philippines.
Canker and thrush are found in the most aggravated type. Peri-
odic ophthalmia is very prevalent, resulting in many animals becom-
ing blind. Heatstroke is a frequent occurrence, on account of the
excessive heat and moisture, and is fatal in the majority of cases.
The temperature in heatstroke frequently rises to 110° to 113° F.

102 THE ARMY HORSE IN ACCIDENT AND DISEASE.

Glanders, which is very common, runs a rapid and fatal course.
American horses rarely suffer from the chronic form of the disease
often manifested in cooler climates.

In the Tropics a careful daily inspection of the horses should be
made and the temj)erature of every animal should be taken at least
once a week. Any animal with a suspicious discharge from the nose
or with sores upon the body indicating farcy buds and any animal
showing a rise of 2 degrees above normal temperature should be
isolated and kept under observation by a veterinarian. In case of
an outbreak, temperatures should be taken daily. Normal tem-
.tture in the Tropics is usually about 1 degree higher than in a cool
climate, and it may rise as much as 4 degrees with exercise of a
moderate nature. These facts should be taken into consideration in
recording temperatures.

CHAPTER XTV

MEDICINES ; THEIR ACTION AND USES.

Antiseptics. — Remedies which arrest putrefaction. They kill or
prevent the development of those bacteria which produce decompo-
sition.

Examples: Corros. sub., carbolic acid/creolin.

Disinfectants. — Destroy the specific poisons of communicable
diseases by killing those germs wliich produce disease.

Examples: Lime, sulphur gas, etc.

Deodorants. — Disguise or destroy odors.

Examples: Iron sulphate, carbolic acid, etc.

Rubefacients. — Cause redness of the skin.

Examples: Alcohol, turpentine, etc.

Vesicants. — Cause a discharge of serum from the skin.

Example: Cantharides.

iSUxmacJiics. — Promote digestion.

Examples: Gentian, ginger, etc.

Vermicides. — Kill worms.

Examples: Turpentine, iron sulphate, etc.

Vermifuges. — Remove intestinal worms by purgation.

Parasiticides. — Destroy parasites.

Examples: Carbolic acid, creolin, etc.

Purgatives. — Evacuate the bowels.

Examples: Aloes.

Laxatives. — Mild purgatives.

Examples : Bran mash, small dose of linseed oil.

Cholagogues. — Promote secretion of bile.

Examples: Aloes, calomel.

Diaphoretics. — Increase perspiration.

Examples : Ethers. Same action produced mechanically by warm
clothing.

Diuretics. — Increase secretion of urine.

Examples: Potass, nit., turpentine.

Tonics. — Gradually but permanently improve appetite and increase
vigor.

Examples: Quinine, iron, gentian, etc.

103

104 THE ARMY HORSE IN ACCIDENT AND DISEASE.

Anesthetics. — Produce loss of consciousness.

Example: Chloroform.

Styptics. — Check hemorrhage.

Example: Tincture of iron.

Cansiics. — Destroy tissue by burning.

Examples: Lunar caustic, copper sulphate, etc.

Expectorants. — Act upon the mucous membrane of the respiratory
organs and cause an expulsion of their secretions.

Example: Chloride of ammonia.

Stimulants. — Promptly but temporarily increase nervous vigor,
thus increasing action of the heart and other functions.

Examples: Alcohol, ammonia, ether.

Alteratives. — Correct morbid conditions without causing marked
physiological effects.

Examples: Iodide of potassium, potassium nitrate.

Astringents. — Contract living tissues.

Examples: Alum, zinc sulphate, tannic acid.

Sedatives. — Depress (slow) the nervous system.

Example: Potas. bromide.

Anodynes. — ^Relieve pain by diminishing the excitability of nerves
and nerve centers.

Examples: Opium, belladonna.

Antispasmodics. — Prevent or remove spasmodic contractions of
voluntary or involuntary muscles.

Examples: Belladonna, sulphuric ether.

Carminatives. — Aid in the expulsion of gas from the intestines by
increasing natural movement, stimulating circulation, etc.

Examples: Capsicum, ginger, aromatic spts. ammonia, sulphuric
ether, etc.

Febrifuges or antipyretics. — Agents which reduce high temperature
of the blood; reduce fever.

Examples: Acetanilid, cold water.

VETERINARY MEDICINES.

Acetanilid. — Is a febrifuge and antiseptic. Used internally to
lower fever in doses of from 1 . to 4 drams. Used externally as an
antiseptic in the form of a dry dressing.

Acid, arsenious (arsenic). — Is an irritant, corrosive poison, given
internally in doses of from 1 to 6 grains as a digestive tonic, and for
skin diseases, usually in combination with iron sulphate and gentian.
Externally it is used to remove warts, in the form of an ointment, 1
part of arsenic to 8 or 10 of lard.

Acid, horacic. — Action, antiseptic; a saturated solution is very
useful in conjunctivitis. With oxide of zinc it makes a very nice
diessing for abrasions, scratches, etc.

medicines; their actions and uses. 105

Acid, carbolic. — A valuable antiseptic and disinfectant. A 1 to 20
solution makes a very good wash for all wounds. A very good pre-
scription for local use is the following:
Carbolic acid, 6 drams.
Glycerin, IJ ounces.
Water to make 1 pint.
Acid, salicylic. — A useful antiseptic; a saturated solution of sali-
cjHIic acid in alcohol is a good dressing for indolent sores and ulcers.
Salicylic acid dusted upon- a woimd will remove the granulations
of proud flesh.

Add, tannic. — ^An astringent and antiseptic. It is given internally
in diarrhea and dysentery. Dose, 30 grains to 1 dram.
The following prescription may be used:
Acid, tannic, ^ to 1 dram.
Opium, powdered, ^ to 1 dram.
Make into one ball and repeat every two hours until the diarrhea
is checked.

Tannic acid is an excellent remedy, used in the form of a saturated
solution (with witch-hazel water), for hardening tender shoulders.

Aconite. — Is a dangerous poison and should not be used internally,
but locally. Mixed with other drugs it makes a good anodyne lini-
ment.

Aconite, 2 ounces.
Alcohol, 5 ounces.
Opium, tincture, 4 ounces.
Witch-hazel, distilled, 5 ounces.
'/ Mix, and apply several times daily.
\w AlcoJiol. — Stimulant. Given for weak heart in debilitating dis-
eases, such as lung troubles, etc. Dose, 2 to 4 ounces in 1 pint of
water, and repeated every four to six hours, as required.
It is useful in the formation of liniments.

Aloes, Barbados. — Is the general purgative for the horse. Dose,
6 to 8 drains.

Aloes, Barbados, 6 to 8 drams.
Ginger, 1 dram.
Make into a ball and give upon an empty stomach.
The ''cathartic capsule, " to be supplied, will take the place of aloes.
It will contain aloin, strychnine, ginger, and calomel.

A purgative should never be given in diseases of the respiratory
system.

It generally takes about twenty-four hours to operate.
Alum. — Astringent. It is useful as a wash for sore mouths; used
in the strength of J ounce to 1 quart of water. Externally it is a
valuable remedy in the treatment of thrush. Burnt alum is useful
for the removal of proud flesh.

106 THE ARMY HORSE IN ACCIDENT AND DISEASE,

Ammonia, aromatic spirits of. — Stimulant and carminative. A
very useful remedy in the treatment of colics, and exhaustion. Dose,
1 to 3 ounces, well diluted.

Ammonia, solution of. — Used externally only, in combination with
other drugs, as a stimulating liniment.
Ammonia, solution of, 1 part.
Turpentine, oil of, 1 part.
Olive oil, 2 parts.
To be well shaken before using. It is an excellent external appli-
cation for sore throat.

Ammonia, chloride of. — Used in all cases where an expectorant L^
indicated, such as diseases of the respiratory system. Dose, 1 to 4
drams. For catarrhal diseases it is usually combined with quinine
and nitrate of potash, prepared in the following manner:
Ammonia, chloride of, 3 ounces.
Quinine sulphate, 6 drams.
Nitrate of potash, 3 ounces.
Make into twelve powders and give one every three of four hours.
Belladonna, Jluid extract. — Antispasmodic and anodyne. Used
in cases of colic in conjunction with other medicines. Dose, 1 to 2
drams.

When apphed to the eyes it dilates the pupil and soothes the
irritated membrane. Generally used in combination with sulphate
of zinc or boracic-acid solutions.

A very useful wash for the treatment of conjunctivitis is made as
follows:

Sulphate of zinc, 20 grains.
Belladonna, fid. ext., 1 dram.
Water, 3^ ounces.
Apply twice a day.

Camphor, gum. — Antispasmodic and antiseptic. Dose, 1 to 2
drams. A very good remedy for diarrhea is made as follows:
Camphor, gum, 1 dram.
Opium, powdered, 1 dram.
Make into a ball; give, and repeat every two hours until rehef is
afforded.

Externally it is useful for sprains, combined with other medicines,
forming what is known as the soap liniment.
Castile soap, 10 parts.
Camphor, 5 parts.
Alcohol, 70 parts.
Water, 15 parts.
To be used only externally as a mild, stimulating, anodyne liniment.
A useful dressing for wounds is made of gum camphor, 8 ounces,
carbohc acid, 3 ounces. This is especially valuable in fly time.

medicines; their actions and uses. 107

Ckinnabis indica (Indian hemp). — Antispasmodic and anodyne.
Its main use is in colic, as it relieves pain without causing constipation.
Dose, 2 to 4 drams.

Cannabis indica, 2 to 4 drams.
Ammonia, aromatic spirits, 1 ounce.
Water, 1 pint.

Give at one dose and repeat in three-quarters of an hour if necessary.
This is an excellent remedy for colic.

GarUharides, powdered (Spanish fly). — Used only for its bUstering
effect. Prepare by rubbing the cantharides and cosmoline together
(1 to 5 or 6) with a spatula on a piece of glass.

Oapsicum (cayenne pepper). — Stomachic and carminative. Given
internally in combination with gentian and ginger in mild cases of
indigestion attended with flatulency. Dose, ^ to 1 dram.

Ohp/reoal. — ^A mild antiseptic and deodorant. It is very good
mixed with poultices, especially for wounds and sores that have a
foul odor. It may be dusted on the surface of foul sores and will soon
destroy the odor. Internally it is given in doses of 2 to 4 drams,
and is useful in chronic indigestion and diarrhea.
^ / Copper sulphate (blue vitriol, bluestone). — A caustic, tonic, vermi-
cide, and astringent. Used principally as a caustic for thrush and
canker. A good remedy for thrush or canker is equal parts of sul-
phate of copper (powdered), sulphate of zinc, and sulphate of iron:
" The three sulphates y This powder can be applied two or three
times daily. Used also internally as a tonic in chronic nasal
catarrh. Dose, 1 to 2 drams.

CoUodion. — When painted over wounds it forms an air-tight
coating and in small wounds keeps the edges in a fixed position
and promotes healing. Especially valuable' when applied to punc-
tured wounds of joints.

Chloroform. — Antispasmodic, stimulant^ and anodyne. Useful
in colics. .Dose, 1 to 2 drams, well diluted. It may be added to
anodyne liniments. When inhaled, it acts as an anesthetic.
\ Cosmoline. — A by-product of petroleum. Used as a base for
ointments. It is also valuable to apply upon the skin, when wound
secretions are abundant to prevent dropping out of the hair.

Creolin. — ^A nonpoisonous, nonirritating antiseptic and para-
\4iticide. It is one of the best medicines that we have, not only as
a valuable application for all wounds, but to destroy all parasites
with which the animal may become infested.

Used in solution or ointment in a strength of 1 to 50 or 1 to 20.
For mange it is used in a 1 to 10 solution.

Digitalis, fluid extract of. — A very dangerous poison, and should
not be administered internally. A valuable diuretic when applied
over the kidneys and well rubbed in.

108 THE ABMY HOBSE IN ACCIDENT AND DISEASE.

Effier, nitrous, spirits of (sweet spirits of niter). — Stimulant,
antispasmodic, diuretic, and diaphoretic. Dose, 1 to 2 ounces.

A very useful stimulant in all cases of weakness of the heart action.
For its stimulating and antispasmodic actions it is given in colics
combined with belladonna or cannabis indica.

Ether, sulphuric, — Stimulant, antispasmodic, and carminative.
Dose, 1 to 2 ounces, well dduted.

Combined with 'belladonna or cannabis indica its antispasmodic
action is increased.

Fenugreek. — Aromatic and stomachic. Sometimes combined with
tonics to disguise their odors. Dose, 1 ounce.

Flaxseed meal. — Used for poultices.

Geviian. — Stomachic and bitter tonic. It improves the appetite
and general tone. Dose, ^ to 1 ounce.

Ginger. — Stomachic and carminative. Combined with purgatives
it diminishes their tendency to gripe, and also somewhat hastens
their action. Dose, ^ to 1 ounce.

Glycerin. — Used as a base in the same manner as cosmoline.
Useful, combined with equal parts of iodine, in the treatment of
grease.

Iodine. — Given internally in diabetes insipidus. Dose, 20 grains
to 1 dram, to be repeated three times daily until the quantity of
urine is lessened. Best given made into a ball with flaxseed meal.

Externally it is used for the removal of swellings, curbs, enlarged
tendons, etc. It is also a useful stimulant for indolent sores and
ulcers. A good solution for external use is made as follows :
Iodine, 1 ounce.
Iodide of potassium, 3 ounces.
Water, 1 pint.

To be applied several times daily.

Tincture of iodine is made of iodine, 1 ounce; alcohol, 1 pint.

Iodoform. — Antiseptic. Used externally as a dry dressing, either
alone or combined with other drugs, such as boracic acid, acet-
anilid etc.

Iron, tincture of the chloride of. — A valuable tonic, building up the
system and enriching the blood. Useful in purpura and in conva-
lescence after all debilitating diseases. Dose, 1 to 2 ounces, well
diluted.

Used externally as an astringent and styptic in serious hemorrhages.
A small piece of cotton saturated with it and applied to the bleeding
part is the proper mode of application.

Iron, sulphate of (Ferrisulphate) . — Tonic and vermicide. It
increases the appetite and builds up the system. Dcwse, ^ to 1 dram.
Frequently combined with nux vomica, etc.

medicines; their actions and uses. 109

Lanolin. — Useil as a base for ointments in the same manner as
cosmoline.

Lead, acetate of. — Astringent and a valuable remedy for relieving
local pain. Used externally to cool and relieve sprains, inflamed
tendons and joints, and to relieve itching skin diseases.
The white lotion is made as follows:
Acetate of lead, 1 ounce.
Sulphate of zinc, 1 ounce
Water, 1 quart.
Shake well and apply several times daily.

The lotion is a very valuable remed}'^ for the relief of all external
diseases accompanied by heat and swelling; also an excellent dressing
for wounds.

Lime, cMoride of. — This is the best disinfectant that we have.
Four ounces to 1 gallon of water is the proper strength. This solu-
tion should be used as a wash for the disinfection of stables. A
small portion of chloride of lime placed around in stables will destroy
tlie odor arising from decomposed urine.

Lunar caustic. — Used for the removal of warts and proud flesh.
Four grains to 1 ounce of water make a good application for the
removal of the cloudiness remaining after an attack of ophthalmia.
\ Mercury, bichloride of (corrosive sublimate; antiseptic tablets). —
Dissolved in water this is the n^ost energetic antiseptic; 1 to 1,000
solution is the proper strength to use in the treatment of all wounds.
Two tablets to a quart of water give this strength; if the bichloride
is in bulk, use 15 grains to a quart of water, and add 15 grains of
chloride of ammonia to insure complete dissolution.

Mercury, mild chloride (calomel). — Internally, a cholagogue.
Dose, \ to 2 drams. It is not used alone, but is combined with
aloes.

Calomel, 1 dram.
Barbados aloes, 4 drams.
Ginger, 1 dram.
Water to make a ball.
Externally, antiseptic and drying. Used in the treatment of
^ ulcers and thrush.

Mercury, hiniodide. — Used as a blister; its effects are very pene-
trating. Used principally in the treatment of spavins, splints, side-
bones, ringbones, and all bony enlargements.
Binioide of mercury, 1 part.
Cosmoline, 5 to 6 parts.
Mix and rub together thoroughly.
Apply with friction for at least ten minutes.

Nux vomica, powdered. — A nerve stimulant and tonic. Dose, ^ to
1 dram. It is a very useful tonic in building up the tone of the

V

110 THE ABMY HORSE IN ACCIDENT AND DISEASE.

system in convalescence from debilitating diseases and general lack
of vitality.' Generally given in combination with gentian, iron, and
'other tonics.

OU, linseed. — Laxative (mild purgative). Dose, ^ to 1 quart.
Do not use boiled oil.

Oil, olive. — Generally used as a vehicle in making liniments and
oily solutions.

Oil of tar (pine tar). — Useful for plugging holes and cavities in the
hoof after all suppuration has ceased.

Oil of turpentine. — Diuretic, stimulant, antispasmodic, vermicide,
and expectorant. Dose, 1 to 3 ounces diluted with oil.

Externally it is used in the formation of liniments (see Solution
of Ammonia).

Opium, tincture of (laudanum). — Anodyne, antispasmodic. Checks
secretion of mucus membrane. On account of these properties it is
a valuable remedy in diarrhea and dysentery.

Very useful in the treatment of all abdominal pain where there
are no symptoms of constipation, but as a rule belladonna and
cannabis indica are preferable. Dose, 1 to 2 ounces.

Externally, opium tincture is used to relieve pain of sprains and
bruises.

A very good anodyne lotion is made as follows :
Opium tincture, 4 ounces.
Acetate of lead, 2 ounces.
Water to make 1 quart.

Apply every few hours.

Opium, powdered. — Not used externally. It is used internally for
the same purpose as the tincture. Dose, ^ to 2 drams.

Potassium bromide. — Nerve sedative. Dose, ^ to 2 oimces. In
tetanus this medicine can be given in large doses.

Potassium nitrate (saltpeter). — Alterative, febrifuge, and diuretic.
Dose, 1 to 4 drams. In the treatment of laminitis the dose is 2 to 4
ounces, repeated three times a day. Externally it makes a good
cooling lotion:

Nitrate potassium (saltpeter), 5 ounces
Chloride of ammonia, 5 ounces.
Water, 16 ounces.

Mix and keep the affected parts saturated with this lotion.

Internally, saltpeter is a most excellent medicine in the treatment
of catarrhal and febrile diseases. It is also useful in the treatment of
swollen legs.

Potassium iodide. — Alterative, diuretic, and expectorant. Dose, 2
to 4 drams. It is given to promote absorption of enlargements, such
as enlarged glands in lymphangitis, and in partial paralysis resulting
from injury to the brain or spinal cord.

medicines; their actions and uses. Ill

For sucli purposes full doses are given twice a day for two weeks.

Potasfiiuit) permanganate. — Antiseptic, disinfec^tant, and deodorant.
Useful for the removal of foul odors arising from unhealthy wounds;
also for cleaning hands and instruments. From 1 to 4 drams, water
1 pint, is the proper strength of the solution for use.

Quinine, sulphate of.-. — Tonic, stomachic, antiseptic, and mild
fohrifugo. Dose, ^ to 1 dram, repeated three times a day. It is
given in all febrile and debilitating diseases. Combined with sul-
phate of iron it is very useful in purpura. In influenza and pneu-
monia it is generall}'^ combined with gentian and nitrate of potash,
made into powders in the following proportions:
Quinine sulphate, 1 ounce.
Gentian, 3 ounces.

Make twelve powders and give three times a day.

Salol. — Antiseptic. Used internally and externall}' for its anti-
septic properties. Dose, 2 to 4 drams.

Sodium hicarhonate . — Carminative, stomachic, relieves acidity of
the stomach. Dose, 1 to 2 drams. This is an excellent medicine in
chronic indigestion and flatulency.

Sulphur. — Parasiticide. This me<licine may be used for the treat-
luont of mange, but it is inferior to creolin or carbolic acid.
\^/ Witch-hazel. — A cooling astringent wash, very useful when com-
bined with other medicines in the form of liniments or lotions.

Zinc sulphate. — Externally it is much used as a caustic and astrin-
gent for wounds, foul ulcers, etc. It is an excellent remed}^ for the
treatment of thrush and canker.

Sulphate of zinc ]

Sulphate of copper J Equal parts.

U, Sulphate of iron )
..-''Zinc o.nde. — Antiseptic and astringent. I'sed either as a dry
powder dusted on the wounds or can be made into an ointment with
lanolin :

Zinc oxide, 1 -part.
Lanolin, 6 parts.
Zinc chloride. — An irritant and corrosive poison, never given inter-
nally. Externally it is applied as a stimulant, astringent, caustic,
and parasiticide. It is also used as an antiseptic, disinfectant, and
«KM)dorant. From 2 to 4 drams to the pint of water are used for
*)rdinary antiseptic purposes.

DOSES.

Grouped according to amounts; for reference and for convenience
in memorizing:

GRAINS.

Arsenic 1 to G. Iodine 20 to 60.

112 THE ARJVIV HORSE IX ACCIDENT AND DISEASE.

DRAMS.
J^tol.

Capsicum; Iron sulphate; Nux vomica, powdered; Quinine sulphate; Tannic
acid.
i^to2.

Calomel; Opium, powdered.
1 to 2

Belladona, fluid extract; Camphor, gum; Chloroform; Copper sulphate; Sodium
bicarbonate.

1 to 4

Acetanilid; Ammonia, chloride; Potassium, nitrate.

2 to 4

Cannabis indica, fluid extract; Charcoal; Potassium iodide; Salol.
6 to 8

Aloes.

OUNCES.

i-ii to 1

Gentian; Ginger.
1

Fenugreek.
Hto2

Bromide of potassium.
1 to 2

Sulphurior ether; Sweet spirits of niter; Tinct. Chloride of iron; Tinct. Opium.

1 to 3

Aromatic spirits of ammonia; Oil of turpentine.

2 to 4

Alcohol; Potassium nitrate (in laminitis).

o

Webster Family Library of Veterinary Meciicin(
Curr.mings School of Veterinary IVledicine at
Tufts University
200 Westboro Road
North Grafton, MA 01536

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