LIBRARY NEW YORK STATE VETERINARY COLLEGE ITHACA, N. Y. This Volume is the Gift of Kent Poultry Library McClure’s Americ vet Date Due PRINTED | IN U.S.A. ie Cornell University Library The original of this book is in the Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924000012025 McCLURE'’S American Horse, Cattle and Sheep Doctor BEING A FULL DESCRIPTION OF THE DISEASES COMMON TO THESS ANIMALS, TOGETHER WITH A COMPLETE LIST AND METHOD OF ADMINISTERING THE MEDICINES REQUIRED IN so: 3 2: : : THEIR TREATMENT : : 3: : 3: 8 By Ropert McCrurg, M.D., V.S., PROFESSOR IN THE VETERINARY COLLEGE OF PHILADELPHIA, AUTHOR OF “THE GENTLEMAN’S AMERICAN STABLE GUIDE,’’ EDITOR OF “THE HORSE IN THE STABLE AND FIELD,’’? MEDALIST TO THE U. 8. AGBICULTURAL SOCIETY, PRIZE ESSAYIST TO THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE 31 AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY, ETC., ETC., ETO. 3: With Numerous Illustrations Chicago Freprrick J. Drake & COMPANY Publishers COPYRIGHT 1917 FREDERICK J. DRAKE & CO. COPYRIGHT BY nae THE HHNNEBHRRY CO, wr. 1901 = one = Be) [> | ci ty) ? z CONTENTS. INTRODUCTION. Breathing, . . . . . . ° . Causes of Disease, 7 Y @ ‘i y @ . Fever, . . "i * . . . * * How to Observe Diseases, é ‘ * # a . Principles of Disease, ee Rew Pulse, . . f . . . . . Treatment of Disease, « z « . 2 « Vis Medicatrix Nature, : a 4 : ‘ 3 DISEASES OF THE HORSE. Abrasion, . a é “ iz 5 3 Abscess, . a . . * « . * # Acari, 7 ‘ 5 . . < a 7 . Accidents, ‘ . . . . . . . . Aconite, . * o . 5 . . si < Alteratives, . « . ¥ % . . . . Amaurosis, ‘ . . . s = . . Ansmia, r ‘ F . ‘ * a ¥ x Anchylosis, . ‘ . . . . . . Aneurism, » * < es . % . . a Apoplexy, . . . . . o 6 ° . Aphtha, . . . . . . . . . Atrophy, . Se a a Se ee Back Sinuses, . ¥ a . . . . . Baldness, . . . . . . . . . Belly-ache, . i . ‘ . a . * . Big Head, . . . . . ° . . Bishoping, . . . . . . . . . Biteof Mad Dog, . «© + «© «© «© -@ PAGE Bladder Diseases, . Bleeding, . . . Bloody Urine, * Blood, . ‘ % Boils, Bots, é Bowels, Disease of, Brain Diseases, Breaking Down, . Breathing Short, r Breeze Flies, . Brittle Feet, Bronchi, © Bronchitis, Bronchocele, . Broken Knees, . * Bruises of the Sole, Burns and Scalds, Bursa Mucosa, Enlarged, Caleuli, =. z Cancers, Canine Rabies, . Capped Elbow, . Capped Hock, . % Carditis, 3 . Caries, Castration, Cataract, Catarrh, Cautery, . * Cerebro-Spinal Meningitis, Chest Diseases, . Chest Founder, Chilblains, . Chill, =. . Choking, . " * Chorea, Cold, * , Cold Lotions, ; Colic, f i < Coma, Congestion of the Lungs, Constipation, . CONTENTS, Consumption, . Contagion, Contraction, 7 Convalescence, . Corns, # P Coryza Gangrenosa, Corrosive Sublimate, Cough, Counter-irritants, Cow Hock, . < Cramp, . Crib-Biting, Curb, Curby Hooked, Cutaneous Diseases, - Cutting, Death, x ‘ Debility, ‘ * Deformities, Deuteropathia, Diabetes, Diaphoreties, : Diarrhoea, 2 Diathesis, Diet, * Disinfectants, is Distemper, Diuretics, Dropsies, Dysentery, - a Ear Diseases, . Eochymosis, . Eczema, . . Elephantiasis, Embrocation, . Emetics, 3 ‘ Emphysema, . Encysted Tumors, Encephaloid, . Endermic, z ‘ Enema, . . Enteritis, * * CONTENTS. . . . ° ° . . . . . . * , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Eoxootic, . ‘ % * Xphemeral, . . . . Epidemic, . . . Epizootie, . . . . Epilepsy, . . . . Epiphora, 2 . 5 . Epsom Salts, . . . Eruptions, . ‘ * Erysipelas, . . . Exostosis, % q z a Eye Diseases, . 5 5 False Quarter, é . a Faroy, : . < . Fatty Tumor, ¥ + Farrier, . é % é Fever, Putrid, 5 Fever, Sympathetic, . : Fever in the Feet, n z Fibroma, . ie » * Firing Horses, . i Fistula, . a . % Fistula in the Foot, ‘ Fistulous Withers, . . Fits, ‘ " ° “ Flaxseed, . é . Food, Hints on, . . . Fomentations, . . * Foot Diseases, F Founder, . A ‘ ~ Fraotures, P ‘ ‘ . Fracture of the Hip é Frost Bites, . ‘ 4 « Fungi, as a Cause of Disease, Gangrene, . . ‘ y Gastritis Mucosa, a . Glanders, ‘ é ‘ ‘ Glass Eye, 5 . . Gleet, Nasal, . . . Granulation, r 5 Gravel in the Foot, . * Grease, . . . . Gripes,. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ° . . . . . ° ° . . . . . . . . . . . . . ° . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ° . . ° . . . . . . . . . ° . . . . ° . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Grogginess, . . . Grunter, . z 5 . Gullet, Obstructions in, Gun-shot Wound, - . Gutta Serena, 5 5 Heart, Diseases of, . . Heaves, P rs . Heat, ‘ a . Hepatic Diseakey; . : Hernia, . é o . Herpes, . . Hereditary Tiiseates, . Hide Bound, - . Hip-joint Disease. . . Hock, The, . % . Hooks in the Eyes, . * Horse, Natural History of, Horse Fly, : . Humanity to Animals, Hints Hydrothorax, . 4 Hydrocele, . ‘ a Hydronemia, . . . Hydrophobia, . . Hypertrophy, . . . Hypodermic, . x Hysteria, . é . . Indigestion, . ‘ . Infection, . « é . Inflammation, 7 . Influenza, a“ . . Injections, . ‘i . Instruments, . 7 . Intestines, . . . Itch, 3 a . . Interfering, . «. . Jack, 7 . . . Jaundice, * . . Joint Diseases, . . on, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ° . . . . . . . . . . . . . ° . . ° . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jugular Vein, Inflammation of, . . Kidneys, Diseases of, ° Knees, Broken, Fi . I CONTENTS. Knee Joint, Loese Cartilages in, . . . . . 5 . 147 Knuckling, . é E . 5 ‘ . 5 5 ‘ a . 17 Lameness, é c 3 . . : y ‘ . i . . 148 Lamanitis, . . . é . . . * . F ; - 148 Lampas, . Fi : . 7 ' . . j . 7 - 148 Laryngitis, . . ri 4 ei ‘ r ‘ $ 3 y . 148 Leg, Fractures of, . . . . . . . ‘ 5 ri . 149 Lice, . ‘ s % . . z s i a ‘ . 149 Ligaments, 7 E . . . . . . . ‘ i . 149 Lipoma, . . . . . . . . . . . - 149 Liver, < 5 e : ‘ F . . F . 4 . 149 Locked-jaw, . a“ a . « * % = ‘ a . 150 Loins, ‘ , c : : ‘ z é F é ‘ . . 152 Loss of Appetite. Lumbago. Lungs, . * ‘ « : - 153 Lymph. Lymphangitis, : . . ‘ 7 . F ‘ . 157 Madness, . * i: é < “ . « % 7 * - 15% Mad Staggers, . 7 . : ‘ a ' . . 5 é . 157 Maggots, ‘ é 5 E : . . ‘ ‘ 5 . - 158 Malignant, E . ‘ . . . A fs “ s . . 158 Malignant, Epidemic, . c ‘ 4 * i ‘ ‘ a « 158 Mallenders, F * ¥ - ‘ . a ‘ . ‘ « 158 Mange, . . , . . . . . : 5 . . » 158 Materia Medica, A % f ‘ . ; . . ‘ . 159 Megrims, e . . ° . . . . . . j » 159 Melanosis, E . 7 ° . si . . ° . . . 159 Melancid, . «© © © «© © © «© © «© «4 « 159 Mesentery, * ¥ . « a . . . . . < - 159 Mesenterica, . a « * . * a F . - ‘ » 169 Metastasis, i 5 . . : . 3 . é i 4 . 160 Moon Blindness, . ‘ zi c . . . c r - 160 Mortification, . ‘ F 2 “ % ° * . f : - 160 Moribund, ‘ é c * fi e 7 . . ‘ 3 - 160 Mouth Diseases, . : i es < . . . ‘ , . 160 Mucus, . ‘ . . . . . . . . : : - 162 Mucous Membrane, . 7 . a . . . . % % - 162 Myalgia, 2 . . . . . . . : . 3 - 162 Narcotics, . a ‘ ° . . . A A y c - 163 Nasal Gleet, . a < . . . . . . ‘ - 163 Navicular Disease, . a . . . . a ‘ 3 163 Necrosis, i . 4 ‘ ¥ « ‘ ‘ x + - 163 Nephritis, zs ow & 7 | PAGE Nervousness, . ‘ ‘ . ‘i ‘ ‘ on ae : 5 . 164 Neurotomy, ‘ e ¥ a é ‘ “ * * * ‘ . 165 Nose, Diseases of, - . . . . . ‘ . . 3 - 165 Numbness, 4 . * e . ‘ ‘ * é ; ‘ . 166 Obesity, A a. a % 5 a ‘ a ‘ q . - 166 @dema, . # ‘ a - ‘ * F . " ‘ ‘ . 166 Gstromania, . ‘ ‘ * ‘ . 3 * P i cS . 166 Omentum, . ‘ is . : . ‘ . . ‘ . F . 166 Open Joints, . : . . . . . . . : : . 166 Ophthalmia, . . . . 3 . . . : : . - 166 Ossification, . . . ‘ . . . . . ‘ . . 166 Osteology, . a ‘ P P * : ‘ : “ : . 167 Osteoporosis, . . . . : se - . 167 Ostitis, 5 a - ‘: - ° e 5 . . . 5 . 167 Overreach, . . * # é 5 é . * ‘ s . 167 Ozena, a a : ‘ 5 . . . é r . ri . 167 Paliatives, . : A : é " 3 é ‘ fs 2 . 167 Paralysis, . . . ; . s . . . é . 167 Parotid Duct, * ‘ ‘ r ‘ a ‘ ‘ . 168 Pathology, ‘ ‘ ‘ « ‘ “ P % ‘ 4 5 . 169 Patella, Dislocation of, a ¥ a : i a“ zs “ . 169 Pasterns, . Fi % 5 . 5 5 ‘ . . : 5 . 170 Pelvis, . is a * 2 : . . i . ‘ ‘ - 170 Pelvic Abscess, * . ‘ # . . . ia 4 . 170 Penis Hanging Out, A ‘ é . Fi é 5 ‘ c » 171 Peristallic, ‘ . i is ‘ . F . F ‘ . 171 Peritonitis, . ‘ 4 ‘ . z a ‘ « ‘ 2 . 47 Periosteum, : 4 . . 7 . * . a p ‘ . 172 Phagadena, . ‘ . . . . . . . : . . 172 Phlebitis, . - 5 : . : . eo a . . . 173 Phlegmasia Dolens, . . . F . . . . ‘ . 173 Phrenitis, é A . . ‘ < . . . ‘ . 173 Physiology, - . . . 5 . . . . ‘ P . 178 Physicking, . . . . . . . . . is é . 173 Pleurisy, ri a . . . a . ‘ . . . . 174 Pleuro-pneumonia, - . . . . . . : . - . 174 Pleurodynia, . . . . é . . . hs ' . 174 Plethora, . Fi % 5 . i , < : : z r ~ 14 Pneumonia, . 5 ‘ . y ‘ F 3 - ‘ ; . 174 Poisons, . “ é . a . ‘ * . . 174 Bit: koe AR Pe Be OY Mink 3 3 I A a OS Ee eS EE CONTENTS. Predisposing Causes, . . . . . . . ee . . 178 Prick of the Foot, . ‘ * . ” é ¥ a ‘ ’ . 178 Probang, . . . . . . . . . . S . 178 Procidentia, * ‘ a % . . ‘ < * « . 179 Prognosis, . i 8 ‘ . . 5 5 c . . . 179 Prophylactics, . : : . . = ‘ r - % : . 179 Proud Flesh, 7 ‘i : 5 . fe : - 4 F . 179 Prurigo, . 4 s 5 . . a . , ‘i F A . 179 Pulse, . 5 ‘ z ste: Se 5 ‘ * . . ‘ - 180 Punoture, . - i * . . " : Fé x a . 180 Purgatives, . f . . . . . . . . ‘ . 180 Purpura, . . . ° gi= . . . . ° . . . . . . . . ° . ° . . . . . . . . . . ° . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ° . . . . . . . . . . ° . . . . . . . . ° . . . . . . . . . . . . . * . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ° . . . . . . ° . . . . . . . . ° . ° . . . . . . . . . . . ° ° . . ° . . . . . . . . . . . . . ° . . . . . . . . . ° . . . . . . . . . . . . ° . . ~ a = Lead, . a Lime, Linseed, Linseed Oil, Liquorice Root, Lobelia Inflata, Logwood, Lunar Caustic, Lupuline, Lytta- Guathavldes. Magnesia, Manganese, Marsh Mallow, Marigold, Meroury, Mercurial Ointment, Merzeron, Morphia, Muriatic Acid, Mustard Seed, Myrrh, Narcotics, . Neat’s Foot Oil, Nervines, . Nitrie Acid, Nitre, Nux Vomiea, Oak Bark, Oils, ‘ Opium, Pareira Brava, Peach Leaves, Peppermint, . Pepper, Pepsin, . Petroleum, Phosphorus, Pitch, Pomegranate Punica, Poppies, Rotash, . . . . . . . 380 . . . . . - 380 . . . . # 382 . . . . . . . - 382 i . . . . 382 . . . . - 383 . . . . . . . . . - 383 . . . . . . 383 . . . . . 883 . . . . . 384 # . « . . . » 384 . . . . . . 284 . . . . . . . . 384 Prussic Acid, . Pumpkin Seeds, Purgatives, . Pyroxylic Spirit, Quinine, Rennet, Rhubarb, Ricinus Communis, Rochelle Salts, Baffron, Bagapenum, Sal Ammonia, Salt, Sal Volatile, . Sassafras, CONTENTS, Barracenia Purpura, Savin, Sedatives, . . . . . . . Senega, Polygala Senegs, ‘ ‘ : . F é Sialagogues, Silver, Nitrate of, Soap, Soap Liniment, Soda, Spanish Fly, Specifics, Spermaceti, Spirits of Nitrous Ether, ¥ é a * ‘ ‘ ie Spirits of Wine, Sponge, Starch, Styptics, Sudorifics, Sugar of Lead, Sugar of Milk, Sulphuric Acid, Sulphur, Sulphurous Acid Gas, . . . . . . : Sulphate of Zine, Tannate of Glycerine, . * “ ‘ * * é . Tannin, - 386 ~ 87 - 387 ; . 388 - 389 - 390 . 391 . 391 . 391 ; - 391 : . 391 . 394 386 386 586 387 388 388 388 390 391 391 391 391 391 393 394 - 394 PAGE Werk 4% Rw awe cw ae 8D Tartar Emetic, . . 3 « re ne ee ee a ee See) Tobacco, ‘ . . é é * % . ‘ ‘ we . 395 . 396 Tragascanth, . . . . . . ¥ « a . . Turpentin, . «© © © © © © © 6 ¢ . - 396 Urse Ursi, * ¥ ’ ¥ # % # * * ‘ . 397 Valerian, . ‘i . . ° 5 . . f ‘ ‘ . 397 Valerianate of Soda, . ‘ ‘ . si . ‘ 3 a . 398 Veratrum, 3 ‘ A é ‘ é . s é : 7 - 3898 Wax, é ig . A z ‘6 e A a ‘ s . 398 Willow Bark, x P * é é je ‘ . . “ - 309 Yeast, « x x * « * a a “ ‘ P " . 399 Zino, c . . . . . o . . . . - 399 Zingiberis, « a * . . . . a é ‘ - 401 Zylodine, 5 . . . . . . . . . a - 401 PRESCRIPTIONS AND PREPARATIONS. Cerates, . ‘ ; ‘ 3 ‘< 8 ‘ " P x P . 401 Clysters, . . . . . . . . . . . - 401 Drenches, . ‘ # - . # . . % ‘ ‘ ‘ . 401 Eye Lotions and Washes, . . . . , i . “ - 401 Eye Salves, . . . . . . . . . g e - 403 Freezing Mixtures, . sta de . . : F - - 403 Liniments, : a . . . . # ‘ é é ‘ - 403 Ointments, . . 3 é ‘ é ‘° : F ‘ ‘ - 405 Plasters, . é « é ; . a ‘ > « - 407 Poultice 9. ee eee ee OF Bpirits, sie ah sa ea tO Tinctures, n “ ¥ . x “ . % * . . - 408 Waters, . é 7 ¢ a . . ‘ a . a é - 408 Medicines to be Kept on Hand, . . . . . . . . 409 Table of Doses According to Age, _ 5 * F 7 » 411 Articles Necessary for Measuring, Welghing, hic. ss 7 a P a 412 ‘Foot-and-Mouth Disease,. . . . © m @ « « w BD4 INTRODUCTION. OAUSES OF DISEASE. ScrENTIFIC men give three names when they speak of the causes of disease—exciting, predisposing, and proximate. The first may justly be termed the originators of disease ; by the second is meant those more easily acted upon by causes that a more healthy animal would resist altogether ; and the third is almost the disease itself. Of the causes with which we are acquainted, not many of them are alike, and their effects, that is, the disease, just as diverse. These causes are named in the following table: 1, Electric, and other conditions of the atmosphere. 2. Food and water. 3. Overwork. 4. Poisons—animal, vegetable, mineral, and zumins, or ferments. 5. Malformations, or badly-formed parts. 6. Age and decay. 7. Changes of temperature 8. Hereditary influence. 9. Mechanical. 10. Starvation. That the writer may be more clearly understood in 29 30 INTRODUCTION. regard to these causes, examples will be given in the order above stated. The first is looked upon as the cause of the many dis- eases which take on an epizootic form. The second, rusty straw, and musty hay and corn fed to animals with weak stomachs. Third, riding too far and too fast, overloading, etc. Fourth, animals drinking out of leaden troughs, where pieces of old iron may be lying in the bottom. In- oculation by the virus from a glandered horse, are illustra- tions of animal poisons, zumins, or ferments. (See Glan- ders.) Fifth, a horse with point of hock inclined forward, which is the originator of curb. Sixth, an old horse or cow, with no teeth to chew its feed. Seventh, taking an animal from a warm and comfortable stable, and exposing it to a cold, north-eastern storm. Eighth, a flat forehead, ’ transmitted from parentage, thus preventing a full develop- ment of the brain where the optic nerve is given off from the brain, thus insuring blindness about the seventh or eighth year, and sometimes earlier. None need be told of the disposition of the coarse-bred Canadian horse to be- come affected with disease of the bones, mostly in the form of ring-bone, (which see.) Ninth, stone in the bladder, and calculi in the bowels. Tenth, besieged garrisons, for- tresses, when crops have failed, and famine. HOW TO OBSERVE DISEASES. We are sometimes asked how it is that we know so ex- actly what the disease is that this or that animal is affected with, as it cannot speak and narrate its ills and its aches. To this question we might repeat a common truism, “A shut mouth tells no lies;” therefore, nobody is deceived. Nature has but one set of weights and measures, and these INTRODUCTION. 31 only should be used. Thus, if a horse have a corn or bruised heel, he will be as sure to go lame as he would with an ordinary sprain. The difference is, that he not only stretches out the sore foot, but he elevates the heel from the ground, and will not set his foot flat to please, or it may be said to deceive any one. The uneasy eye, the anxious expression, and the sharp, peculiar look, tell the tale of suffering, and bear testimony to a description so faithful and true, that every man should understand how to interpret them. THE PRINOIPLES OF DISEASE, Congestion.—By this term is meant an undue flow of blood into a part, and remaining in it. The blood-vessels lose the power of contracting and emptying themselves, as when in health. Congestion is not accompanied with in- flammation, as some suppose, and may exist without irrita- tion. Irritation is only present when the blood passes more rapidly into a part than its vessels can carry it out, and inflammation only is present when more fluid is thrown into the vessels than they can get rid of. Irritation. —This peculiar condition is the result of is- exeased sensitiveness, or an exalted action, accompaniea with quickened beating of the heart and pulse. When we apply the term to special cases, it will be better under- stood, as irritation of the bowels producing diarrhea, of the bladder frequently passing off urine, of the eye causing an increased flow of tears, and of the throat giving rise to cough. Inflammation differs from irritation, inasmuch as it is more painful. There are three varieties—acute, sub-acute, and chronic. Inflammation has also three terminations: 32 INTRODUCTION. ‘ (1.) Resolution ; that is, it gives way, or is relieved be fore any alteration has taken place in the part so inflamed. (2.) Suppuration, or the formation of pus. (3.) Mortification, or death of the part affected, and the subsequent death of the animal. Inflammation is charac- terized by four conditions, or phenomena, as they are called—pain, heat, redness, and swelling. Inflammation assumcs different degrees of intensity, modified by the cause, and the part or organ affected. When it is situated in the windpipe, (bronchitis, which see,) lungs, or bowels, great uneasiness and disturbance are manifest. In a few hours this condition gives way to depression. Depression—Many diseases of an inflammatory type, when their course is run, leave the system in a state of de- pression, or a low condition of vitality. How necessary, then, that this should be properly understood when treat-~ ing inflammatory diseases, as one pint of blood taken from a large horse would, under these circumstances, cost him his life! Rather anticipate the weakness by supporting and husbanding the strength as much as possible, so as to overcome disease. There are two great divisions of diseased action, which it will be well for farmers, and others interested in the welfare of their animals, to know, and these are: First. The exalted, or as it is called sthenic, or commonly known by the term inflammation, and requires for treatment, not bleeding, but medicine having the power of overcoming the exalted condition, by controlling the fast beating of the heart and pulse. This is easily done by the power of such agents as aconite or veratrum, (which see,) and with- out in any way impairing the strength and constitution of the animal. The second, or depressed condition of dis- ease, and known as the asthenic, requiring a treatment INTRODUCTION, 33 opposite to the above variety, namely, iron, gentian, etc., (which see,) to add to the strength of the animal, and quality of the blood. An improved diet, and in greater quantity, will, in many cases of depression, not only cure the disease, but remove the cause also. FEVER. There are four stages observed in fever :— (1.) Weakness, loss of appetite, and low spirits. (2.) A shiver, or chill, uneasiness, flanks move quick and short, nostrils more or Jess distended, one leg or ear hot, and the other cold. (3.) After a time the coldness is succeeded by great heat and thirst, costiveness, urine scanty and high-colored, mouth hot and dry. (4.) When the fever has lasted for a longer or shorter time, the skin becomes more moist, the bowels and ‘kidneys act more freely ; the pulse becomes more full, although not less frequent, and the mouth more moist. When fever is accompanied with disease of the lungs, liver, or other organ of the body, or after an accident of any severity, it is then called symptomatic fever. Fever is called idiopathic, when not accompanied by dis- ease or accident. From the days of Galen to the present time, of the many theories advanced to explain its proximate cause, none seem to satisfy the philosophical student, and all belong to the unsolved problems in physiology. Diseased Secretion —A good example of what is here meant may be found in the discharges from the nose o1 animals affected with cold, influenza, and glanders. The ‘salivary gland may secrete too much fluid, as horses eatiug second crop clover. We call this salivation. 84 INTRODUCTION. Increased Secretion.—In health, serum is only supplied In sufficient quantity to keep the surfaces moist, the ab- sorbent vessels preventing accumulations. In the cavities of joints this secretion is often too large, causing enlarge- ments, of which a very good example may be seen in swell- ings of the the hock-joint, called bog spavin, and also in thorough-pin. THE PULSE. The pulse of the horse and the ox is felt on the inner angle of the lower jaw, as being the most convenient place. The state of the pulse tells the condition of the heart, whether the disease is of an exalted or depressed character, or whether sickness is at all present. The pulse is more fre- quent in young than in old animals. In the full-grown and healthy horse it beats from thirty-two to thirty-eight in the minute; in the ox or cow, thirty-five to forty- two; in the sheep, seventy to seventy-five; and in the dog, from ninety to ninety-eight. In inflammations and fevers the frequency of the pulse is increased. In debility and depression it is slower, but sometimes quicker than natural. There are the quick pulse, the strong, the sharp, the regular, the intermittent, and many other varieties, both fanciful and real, which few persons can appreciate. The pulse of inflammation and fever numbers from seventy- five to eighty beats in the minute; and in great debility, as in the last stage of glanders, accompanied with tubercles of the lungs, the pulse will number one hundred beats per minute. BREATHING. A good sized, healthy horse, will take one inspiration to three of the pulse beats. When the breathing is more INTRODUCTION. 35 frequent or slower, and when irregular, or difficult and laborious, there is then disease ; although we sometimes see the breathing quickened and short, when no disease is present. Both the pulse and the breathing will be quick- ened by exposure to heat, as in a stable up-stairs, and ex- posed to an August sun. By removing the animal to a stable not so situated, the breathing and the pulse will be greatly lessened. Hence the advantage of placing animals in a cool and airy place when they are unwell. It saves a great waste of their strength and vitality, thereby enabling them to throw off the effects of disease. TREATMENT OF DISEASE. The antiphlogistic plan of treating disease was derived from a theory now entirely exploded, and almost forgotten. Repeated bleedings, blistering, physicking, and starving on low diet, are some of the measures entering into the general plan which has destroyed more life and property than all the wars, ancient or modern. Bleeding, in domestic practice, is almost discarded, and in veterinary practice it should never have been employed. And if this fact shall be the means of opening the eyes of those interested (and who is not?) in the health of the animals supplying us with meat, and the horse, (a willing and a faithful help,) to the injury done by bleeding in health or disease, the writer will have his reward. Avoid these measures, and substitute a rational and successful system of treating the diseases of your animals. Ascertain whether your. horse is suffering from a disease of an exalted or in- flammatory kind; substitute aconite, pure air, and cold water for bleeding, and in a few hours you will have no cause to regret the change. If the disease be of a depressed 36 INTRODUCTION. kind, accompanied with weakness and debility, give nus vomica, iron, and a generous diet. If the disease be an eruptive fever, give sulphite of soda to purify the blood. In rheumatism, administer colchicum and carbonate of soda. In mange, apply the sulphuret of potassa to the skin, and thereby destroy the small insects which cause the trouble. In hard swellings use the preparations of iodine, to cause their absorption. In lameness, allow absolute and entire rest, and apply hot or cold applications and slight irritants to the parts, to remove the products of the sprain. Ascer- tain the cause of disease, and having found it, have it re- moved, and the effects will cease. Ifthe animal be costive from eating dry, concentrated feed, remove it, and give green feed or bran, but do not give physic. If diarrhea be present, leave it, at least for a time, to itself, as it is nature’s plan of getting rid of the offending matter. But, if it should continue, chalk and opium, as an astringent, are what is wanted. The reader cannot fail to see how simple, and his experience will demonstrate how successful these measures are in arresting and curing the diseases of all our domestic animals. VIS MEDIOATRIX NATURE, OR HOW DISEASES ARE OURED WITHOUT MEDIOINE. Intelligent persons have no difficulty in recognizing in the constitutions of animals and men a power of self- restoration, which is capable of resisting the influence of disease. It is this power that heals wounds, unites broken bones, and supplies lost substances. Diseases are not un- frequently efforts in this direction, intended to stay the action of hurtful material when admitted into the system. When INTRODUCTION. 37 the eye, for instance, receives a particle of sand or hay-seed, the weeping of the secretions of pus are remedial measures to rid it of the offending matter. Poisons are good ex- amples of the manner in which animals will cure them- selves. When poison is taken into the stomach, irritation of the bowels is set up, followed by purging, as an effort to get rid of tho poison. Nature, however, is not always suc- cessful, and the animal may die from the violent action set up. Again, a sprain will be cured by this very power, provided absolute and entire rest be allowed to the sprained part, without any interference from medicine or art. The remedial powers of nature often require assistance, as, for instance, in cases of debility, when the blood is becoming too watery. A few doses of iron, and in many cases a little extra food, will enable the sanative powers of the constitution to effect a complete cure. Often the removal of an animal from the sphere of exciting causes of disease, will cause the effect to cease, and the power of nature will cure the affection. Hence, many persons reflect upon the many instances when apparently severe cases of sickness were cured by some simple substance, and much credit given to a power it never possessed. Where the powers of nature are left to perform a cure, let the strength of the animal be maintained, because if that fail, where is the chance of recovery? Blood-letting and physicking are powerful and depressing agents; so much so, that when carried to any extent, few, if any animals, by the little power that may be left, will cure themselves. It is this knowledge that enables Homeeopathists to continue their practice ; for if it were not for this power in the constitu- tion in each and every animal, Homeopathists would have long since ceased to practise their peculiar art. If farmers and owners of horses and cattle will only cease to bleed, 33 INTRODUCTION. «nd pour nostrums down the throats of their stock, and learn to rely more upon the great curative that God has implanted in the constitution of all His creatures, as a power in protecting their lives when attacked by disease, it will surely be infinitely more profitable and pleasant to them. In curing disease, medicine and art should be directed to assist the powers of nature to overcome diserse —nothing more. DISEASES OF THE HORSE. ——_ above the hoof, or where the hair joins the hovf, which soon. breaks and discharges pus. FOOT DISEASES. 105 Symptoms. Horse off his feed. Considerable excitement and fever. Holding the foot off the ground, and very painful. A swelling soon shows itself at the coronet, and in a few days breaks and discharges pus. After this the aorse will resume his feed, but will not make very free with his foot, which will be better to-day and worse the next day, depending upon the discharge of pus from the foot. Causes. A prick from a nail, a bruise on the sole, 4 suppurating corn, or sometimes from a sand crack taking on suppurative action. QUITTOR SYRINGE, Treatment. The great secret of the treatment of this uis ease, is to make a free opening from the bottom of the foot, When this is done at once, you will be greatly surprised to see the swelling go away as quickly as it made its appearance, and if the swelling has broken, it will soon cease to discharge when the opening is made from below, or at the bottom of the foot. Having effected this purpose of an opening, get a small syringe and inject into the opening above, if there be any, and if not from the opening below, a mixture of the sulphate of zinc, two ounces; rain water, eight ounces, once in the day. If the shoe has been taken off for the purpose of making the opening, have it put on again so as to hold some soft stopping in the sole to 106 DISEASES OF THE HORSE. keep it soft. Cow dung is as good, if not better, for this purpose, than the best of costly flaxseed. Never in cases of this disease, apply poultices around the whole of the hoof, as in that case the hoof may fall off. Healthy hoofs can be poulticed off. Whatever poultice, it must be ap- plied to the sole. If no opening has been made from below, drop ten drops of muriatic acid into the opening above, once in the day, for a few days. This will destroy the disease. Founder.—(1.) Acute FounnEer.—Every school-boy is familiar with the name of founder when applied to a lame horse, but few horsemen ever comprehend the nature and seat of this affection. Founder in all its forms is inflammation of the lamine or leaves, which dovetail into each other, and bind the sensible and insensible portions of the foot together. Hence, it is called by some learned persons in diseases of horses laminitis, by adding the Greek worl iis. Founder is again called by some persons fever in the feet. However, as to names, the disease is of often occurrence, and when left to itself, destroys many good horses by leaving them ever afterward sore and tender in front, as the horsemen have it. Symptoms. The horse will scarcely move; stands upon his heels, with fore feet and legs stretched out as far as he can get to throw the weight off them. Thus, to all ap- pearances, making the animal hollow in the breast, which appearance has given rise to the idea that the horse is chest foundered. The hind legs are brought far in under the belly. The head of the horse is erect and high. Fever and constitutional disturbance are very great. The horse s extremely excitable, and breathing fast and laborious. Altogether, the poor suffering horse is the very picture of distrass and disease. FOUNDER. 10? Causes. Giving cold water when overheated, and tired from overwork. A tendency in the feet to take on inflammatory action. The animal not in proper health or condition for performing heavy or fast work. Treatment. Place the horse in a wide and airy stall, with plenty of good straw for bedding to encourage the horse to lie down, which will relieve him very much. Indeed, so rouch is this the case, that it has been recommended that every foundered horse should be forcibly thrown and kept down, till the active stage of the disease has passed off. This, however, I do not advise, as the horse is excited enough without increasing it by throwing him from his feet. Rather give good bedding, and the majority of horses so affected will be ready and willing to lie down of their own accord. After the place is all fixed, and the horse moved into it, give him twenty drops of the tincture of aconite root in a cupful of cold water, poured into the mouth with a bottle having a strong neck. Repeat the dose every four hours, till six to eight doses have been given. Apply cold ice-water cloths to the feet. Ina few hours, possibly, the shoes can be taken off. At first, this generally cannot be done, except the animal is down. Care should be taken in removing the shoes, so that every nail is made loose before an attempt is made to pull off the shoes. Have as little hammering on the foot as possible, as it will shake the great and over-sensitive frame. Let the cold water be kept on constantly for the first day, or until the active pain gives way. At leisure, the feet can be pared thin on the soles, so they will yield to pressure with the fingers. By getting the animal to lie down as soon as possible after he gets in; the cold water cloths applied, and the aconite given; the animal ina day or two may ne nothing the worse from the attack. The longer the animal 108 DISEASES OF THE HORSE, remains before these remedies are applied, the less likely ig he to be free from its effects afterwards. Before thé horse is again put to work, be assured he has quite recovered. During the treatment, give plenty of cold water to drink. Never give tepid water to a horse while he is sick from disease. Give grass or soft mashes for a day or two, but do not keep a sick horse too long on low feed, as debility and swelling of the legs and various portions of the body will take place. Remember. Do not bleed, neither from the neck, nor foot, nor from any place else in a disease of this kind. (2.) CHronic FounpER.—Symptoms, Cause and Treat- ment will be much the same, only it will not be necessary to push the treatment so far. Principally depend upon softening the horn of the feet, paring the soles of the feet, and a few days’ rest. The horse, for a week or two after- wards, should be placed in a stall having six inches of sawdust spread over it, and kept a little moist with water poured over it once ina day. When horses are recovering from acute founder, they also might be placed in a stall so prepared. Clay stalls are objectionable. Fractures.—This term signifies a broken bone. Frac- tures are the result of great force applied to the bone, as from kicks, falls, and accidents. Fractures occur in three forms. (1.) The simple fracture or break, either oblique, or slanting, or straight across the bone. (2.) The compound fracture, where the bones are broken in several places. (3.) The comminuted fracture, where the bones are broken in pieces, and the ends of the broken bones are seen cutting through the skin, and, possibly, severing some FRACTURES, 109 of the blood vessels, causing, in many cases, death from loss of blood. The first, or simple fracture, is the only variety that calls for much notice, as the other forms of fracture, when occurring in horses, are beyond remedy. Simple fracture of the following named bones may, with care, be in a great measure cured, and the animal be made useful for many purposes; as, for instance, it would be obviously wrong to have a valuable mare destroyed, because of simple fracture of one of many bones, as she would be useful for breeding purposes, if not for the farm or the road. Fracture of the bones of the leg anywhere from the elbow down, except it may be the knee joint, can readily, with a little care and attention, be secured in its place, and the animal be made useful. So also the hind legs from the huck down to the foot. Fractures of the ribs usually get well of themselves, because they are always kept in place. So also of the haunch bone. Indeed, simple frac- tures of most any of the long bones will unite of their own accord, if the bones are put and kept in their place by proper fixings. Symptoms. The symptoms of fracture of the long bones of the legs are seen at once by the looseness of the leg, the horse not having the power to move it. The leg can be turned in any direction. The horse is in great pain, excitement, sweating, etc. If there are bones pointing through the skin, the horse had better be shot. Treatment. Place the horse, if in summer season, in the field, and in winter in the barn-yard, where there is not too much straw to prevent the foot being carried without interruption. Then give twenty-five drops of the tincture of aconite root every five hours, for the first twenty-four hours, t¢ 110 DISEASES OF THE HORSE. - relieve pain, excitement, and fever. Take hold of the broken leg carefully, and place it in a, position as near like the other leg as possible, not only in shape, but in actual length by measurement, for it is the neglect of this that some legs are left shorter and some longer after fractures. The whole position of the leg being got at, apply a good coating of tar to the leg, around, above, and below the point of fracture. Then wrap the whole leg in oakum, coarse tow, or carded cotton. Over this, place broad pieces of boards, like shingles, on the sides and front of the leg, and fill all unevenness with the tow or cotton, so the splint or boards will lay flat on the leg. Secure the whole by careful tying with broad strings or soft cords. The great secret in the successful treatment of simple fractures of the bones of the legs, is the fixing of the leg, so it cannot move until they have united. Feed the horse well, and see every day that the splints on the legs are not loose. Never sling a horse from his feet in cases of fracture, for it will be regretted. If the horse is to be kept in a stall, make a hole in the floor of the stall, underneath the foot of the broken leg, so that he can stand with the leg at full length. Bear in mind, no horse will put his foot to the ground till he is able to do so; therefore, leave everything to the broken-legged, except the matter of securing the broken bones in their place. And by giving him his feed, he may be safely left to himself, and nature will do the rest for him. Fracture of the Hip or Pelvis.—Symptoms. The horse is extremely down in one of the hips, with a peculiar loose motion of the hind leg, almost giving way every step the horse makes. There are no diseases this can be mistaken for in the hind leg or hip. This fracture is pro- duced in a moment; and even whilst the horse is trotting, FRACTURES. 11? he will stop all at once as if he were shot. Fracture of the hip, I say hip—so that the unprofessional reader will better understand—but it is the bone of the pelvis. The mere name will not amount to much, for the treatment is: let it alone, and it will get well in three months of itself without any interference from medicine or art. Turn the horse out for a few months, either in pasture or in the barn-yard, and give him plenty to eat. Fracture of the ribs will require no treatment, except it may be a few days’ rest. Sometimes a swelling will be seen on the side of a horse having a broken rib, in a few days after the accident. It may form an abscess; if so, have it opened to let out the matter; and if it should not become soft and hold matter, let it alone, as it will do little harm; or, make the application for a few times, say once a week for three weeks, of the ointment ef iodine. (See Prescriptions and Medicines.) Fractures of the simple kind take place in various parts of the body, and when such is the case, and they do not interfere with any action or function of the body, they can be assisted only in so far as bandage and splint are concerned, so as to secure the ends in proper position. This will require some ingenuity, and cannot be described, as a bone is not always broken at one place, nor is it always of one set kind of break. The means will on these occasions have to meet the ends required of them in the best way possible. Sometimes pieces of broken bone will have to be taken out, where the bone has become detached. If this occur in the bones of the leg, of course the horse had better be shot. Where small pieces of bone become loose, it is usually in some of the flat bones, as the shoulder blade and the lower jaw bone, from kicks from other horses. 112 DISEASES OF THE HORSE. Fractures of the teeth take place often, and where they are very loose in the head, they had better be taken out altogether, and rasp the sharp points of the broken ones with a file or rasp, to prevent cutting the mouth when the horse is chewing. Fungi as a Cause of Disease.—Much has been said and written of late years of minute fungi being the cause of diseases. Dr. Lassaure has made experiments with pencellum, etc., and concludes from them that fungus is not a cause, but an accidental presence. In contradiction of Hallier, and I might truthfully say of many other per- sons, it has been shown that nothing is to be gained in the study of the causes of disease by cultivating microscopic fungi, and it cannot be regarded as a contagious element until we have succeeded in producing disease from art. Frost Bites.—The results of frost bites may be called chilblains, which again give rise to extreme swellings of the heels and back parts of the hind legs, until finally the skin gives way, terminating in sores and ulcers that may at once be taken for scratches. The sores are deeper in such cases than in scratches or greasy legs, but closely resemble Phagadena, (which see.) In the worst cases we have seen, the skin and flesh shoughed, followed by gangrene or mortification of the leg, and death of the horse from the poison thus produced and absorbed. We have seen several cases of frost bites in different stages and severities, and which, in all cases, was the result of broken and imperfect doors facing the northern exposure, and behind which stood the hind legs and heels of the horse. Treatment. If the legs be found, on opening the stable, to lw swollen and painful, rub the parts with snow or ice- col* water, then follow gradually with warmer water, a GASTRITIS MUCOSA. 113 degree or two above freezing; and whem warmth is re- stored, bathe with weak spirits. When the legs and heels break into sores and ulcers, apply, twice daily, carbolic acid (in crystals), four drachms; olive oil, four ounces. Mix. Gangrene.—This is a name applied to, or is synonymous with, mortification or death of a part, and is characterized by a livid or black color. Gangrene is attended, or is ushered in, by a sudden giving way of pain, which has often been mistaken for recovery. When gangrene of an outward or external part takes place, there is a change in the condition of the part, it assumes a different aspect, the swelling sub- sides, and upon touching the part a crackling sound is pro- duced, owing to the evolution of gas. Gastritis Mucosa.—This is a new name to many persons, even well informed in diseases of horses, notwith- standing it is a very common one in the spring of the year, assuming always an epizootic form, and being closely allied to the epizootic catarrh, sometimes called typhoid influenza. (See Influenza.) The chief difference in the symptoms between the two diseases, being the absence of a cough, which is always observed in influenza. The one disease attacking the lining membrane of the windpipe; the other, the mucous membrane of the stomach and bowels, or in other words, the digestive organs, more than the respiratory. Gastritis Mucosa is a fatal disease, if treated by low diet, bleeding, blistering and physicking, because it always assumes a low standard of vitality, or great weakness. Hence the horse so affected, and so treated, has no chance for his life, whatever. Symptoms. As before stated, the horse has no cough and the breathing is not disturbed. The breath and mouth is not hot nor dry, but often the mouth is slimy, and to such 8 114 DISEASES OF THE HORSE. an extent that it looks as if the horse were salivated, The legs soon swell, or become rounded, or filled as they are often called. The swellings are not inflamma- tory, nor painful; they contain lymph, or plastic mat- ter from the blood, which disappears as it came, when the strength of the horse gets up again, and the disease subsides. The appetite is entirely suspended from the com- mencement of the disease. There is one of the many symptoms, which is never absent in this disease, and is very characteristic of its name and seat, and this symptom is that the foeces or dung is small, or in pellets, and covered with slime, and portions of the mucous membrane of the stomach and bowels, or what the stable-man calls “very feverish.” The prominent symptom of this disease is great weakness, and this is the case, almost from the first mo- ment of the attack. Causes. The cause of this as well as of all epizootic diseases, is involved in not a little obscurity, and to get out of this state of ignorance, and uncertainty as to the cause, we are graciously pleased to call it atmospheric. This atmospheric influence, may be either electric, a poison, or a chemical element, capable of altering or changing the various parts or portions of the body most exposed to its subtle influences. However, this disease, as before stated, is peculiar to the spring of the year, commencing as the hermetically sealed earth begins to open its pores to the rain and sunshine of spring. May there not be dele- terious emanations from the earth, or at least after great frost or snow, is there not during the process of thawing a colder air or gas given forth from the thawing process, than the animal is breathing a few feet higher up from the ground? This was one of the points entering into the celebrated controversy between myself and the distin- GASTRITIS MUCOSA, 115 gushed Professor R. E. Rogers, of the University of Pennsylvania, on the salt and slush question, a few years ago, whether it was or was not injurious to the health of man or horse to sprinkle salt upon the track to thaw the snow from them. If my argument did not prevent further use of the salt upon the track, it did some good in making it obligatory upon the railway companies to keep all gutters and inlets clear, to allow the slush to escape at once from the street. So I think, it is clearly established, that the cold emanating from the soil, during the process of thawing or breaking up of winter, are great and exciting causes, not only of this disease, but of many others in both man and beast, and which have hitherto been called atmospheric. And in connection with this condition, we have in horses, at least, a want of their usual protection, for with the warm sun of spring, the animal throws off his hairy coat, thus as it were unnecessarily exposing himself to these insidious causes of disease. Treatment. When cases of this and other diseases of the same type (gastritis mucosa) first came under my care, I treated upon different principles and with different medi- cines than what is here recommended. I look back with extreme dissatisfaction on the false doctrines and false teachings of the books and the schools which have led many inquiring minds astray since their day of teaching commenced. The treatment now recommended is sound, scientific and successful, and in a very short time the horse will be at work again, as if nothing had been amiss. The first day of the disease, give, every four hours, twenty drops of the tincture of aconite root in a little cold water; next day, give the tincture of nux vomica in fifteen drops every four hours, in the same way, till the horse is well, which usually will be about the sixth or seventh day, and sometimes even 116 F DISEASES OF THE HORSE. sooner. If, however, the case does not improve, and the appetite is not good, give powdered carbonate of ammonia and gentian root, each three drachms to a dose, morning, noon and night, in addition to the tincture of nux vomica. These medicines will have to be mixed with cold water, and the horse drenched out of a strong-necked bottle or ox’s horn cut slanting at the mouth. Keep the ammonia in a bottle tightly corked till it is used, as it loses its strength by exposure to the air. Let the horse have as much cold water to drink as he wants; and for this purpose a bucketful should be kept before him. Pure air and good ventilation should be insured to all sick horses. Green, or soft feed should be given from the first day, if the horse will eat it. Green feed all the time of sickness will be of advantage, but oats will have to be given in addition, to support the strength and vital powers of the system, to enable him to throw off the effects of the disease. Such, then, is the manner of curing a disease which has destroyed many horses, even when treated by men calling themselves veterinary surgeons, or at least horse doctors. (See Influ- enza and Rheumatism.) Glanders.—The following synopsis of a lecture deliv- ered by Dr. McClure published in the Hvemng Bulletin will answer for the history and nature of the disease called glanders. The treatment will be made more plain for non-professional readers. Dr. Robert McClure, Veterinary Surgeon, delivered a very interesting lecture at the Veterinary College. His subject was “Glanders in Horses.” He said: Glanders is a disease dating from the time of Xenophon, or four hundred years before Christ, and we are assured by Hippo- crates, (ruler of the horse) that confirmed glanders was in- eurable, and that it was then known by the name Proflu- GLANDERS. 11? vium Atticum. Veterinary surgeons recognize twe varie- ties of Hquinia in the horse, viz.: Equinia mitis, contrac- ted from horses with greasy heels (Paronychia Equi), and Equinia Glandulosa, a dangerous disease, and readily com- municated to man. Glanders is unknown at the trépics and at the poles, and is not seen where strwna is not a dis- ease of the people. It is a domestic disease. The assigna~ dle causes are many, among which may be enumerated starvation, filth, and debilitating diseases, as strangles, eatarrh and lung-fever, or, indeed, any disease capable of generating pus; and this pus being absorbed into the general circulation, thus forming a Ferment, a Zumin, or a Leaven, as the Bible has it, within the blood, the effort of na- ture to get rid of this offending matter is seen in the ulcerations of the lining membranes of the nose. The re- cent experiments of Professor Giovanni Polli, of Milan, seem to corroborate this view, as he has produced glanders and other Zymotic diseases in seventy dogs, by injecting into their blood in some cases fetid bullock’s blood, pus, and glandered products, and neutralizing the ferment so set up by the administration of an alkaline sulphite—a new intero-chemical doctrine—on the principle of arresting the vinous fermentation set up in a vessel of cider by add- ing to it a preparation of lime. The experiments of this distinguished professor, enable the veterinary surgeon to extend his usefulness, and the domestic physician to snatch many a useful life from an early grave. How many brave men have stood the storm of battle in the late war—were ad- mitted to the hospital with perhaps a shattered bone—am- . putation was performed, the case did well for a few days. The kind-hearted surgeon saw a change for the worse ; appe- tite gone, the rigor and chill supervened till it was too plainly seen that the pus from the stump had been absorhed into the 118 DISEASES OF THE HORSE. blood of the unfortunate man ; fermentation was set up, and death staring h’m in the face, there was no power to save. The discovery of a ferment and its antidote have changed the scene from death to that of life. So, likewise, with veterinary surgeons, however ignorant and slow some of “them are to see and understand, it will enable them to pre- serve the life of many a useful animal to its owner, thus adding very materially to the happiness and prosperity of this great and prosperous people. Glanders are recognized by ulceration of the lining mem- orane of the nose, or the formation of pustules, and com- monly situated in the septum nasi. These pustules soon ulverate and discharge pus of a greenish color, rapidly dry- ing up when spread over the nostrils, and sinking in water, owing, as is supposed, to it containing no oil or pus cells, but principally albumen. There is one phenomenon never absent in this disease, and that is the enlarged gland under the jaw ; hence, the common name of the disease—glanders. There are, said the lecturer, many wrong ideas entertained, not only in regard to the contagious nature of the disease, but also in regard to its incurability and even fatality. Glanders is no more contagious than the heavy, stinking discharge from the nose of some horses with catarrh, as the pus of an abscess on the nose of a horse with a cold, when introduced into the blood of healthy animals, will produce a ferment—which explains the reason why a cold in horses terminates in glanders; it is the absorption of the pus. This will be readily understood, when it is said the hors: is running or bordering on glanders. Horses affected with chronic glanders will live and work for years, which fact, being well known, has caused dissatis- faction with local laws, prohibiting the use of glandered borses. GLANDERS, 119 Fresh specimens of sections of the lungs, nose, and othe: portions taken from a glandered animal, were placed at the disposal of the lecturer for the purpose of illustrating to the audience, showing the morbid changes effected by the disease. At the close of the lecture, the doctor showed the manner of generating nascent hydrogen for the purpose of detecting the presence of the alkaline sulphite in the secre- tions of horses, under its effects, for the purpose of the cure of glanders. Before touching upon the plan of treatment, the reader is referred to the article Farcy. Treatment. The proposition of restoration in a disease of this kind, is the destruction of the ferment, the removal of its products or effects, and the improvement of the bad habit of body by enriching the blood. To remove or neutralize the ferment or poison, give one- half to one ounce doses of the sulphite of soda at night, in cut feed, for several weeks, and five grains of the powdered Spanish fly along with it, which will act not only as a powerful tonic, but as an agent whereby the product of the disease will be removed from the body of the animal by the kidneys. This treatment will not interfere with the other medicine, which is powdered gentian root, three drachms; powdered sulphate of copper, two drachms. Mix these articles, and give the whole for a dose, and give one dose morning and mid-day. These medicines will have to be continued for a long time, not only to cure the disease, but to improve the health. The horse must be well and highly fed, and removed from other horses while the treatment is going on. Change the feed often, so as to get all the elements that the blood re- quires, and to keep up the appetite, for if the appetite fails, no cure can be made. Remember. Glanders associated with tubercles of the 120 DISEASES OF THE HORSE. lungs, cannot be cured, and it then partakes rather of the nature of consumption than of simple glanders without tabercles, which is easily cured. Glass Eye.—(See Eye Diseases.) Gleet.—(Nasal.) This term is used to denote a thin, transparent discharge from the nose in cases of coryza, and as a sequel to catarrh and cold in old and debilitated horses. Whilst there are no ulcers on the lining membrane of the nose, or no enlargement of gland under the jaw, the case may be dismissed as simple gleet, which can be readily cured by good feeding and a few tonic powders, such as powdered sulphate of copper, three ounces ; powdered gen- tian root, four ounces; powdered Spanish fly, one drachm. Mix, and divide into twelve powders, and give one powder once in the twenty-four hours. These powders will last two weeks, and can be renewed if necessary. Give the powders in large bulk or cut feed, so as to protect the coat of the stomach from the effects of the Spanish fly. Granulation.—This means the little red portions of flesh, which grow in and fill up holes made by wounds. Sometimes these grow too fast; then they are unhealthy, being soft, and grow beyond the edges of the wound. To prevent this, sprinkle a little powdered bluestone, or a little sulphate of zinc, and the wound will soon heal level with the surrounding surface. Gravel in the Foot.—This name conveys an impres- sion that sand or gravel has got into the foot, which is often the case from cracks or other openings in the foot, whether from above or below. Wash out the sand, if possible; if not, remove some of the horn, and wash out well, and fill up the hole by shoemaker’s wax applied hot, and smoothed over by the hand previously wet, so the GREASE. 123 warm wax will not stick to it. If the opening be in the sole, shoe with leather soles, tar and cotton, until the hole has grown out or closed up. Grease.—This is a disease of the heels and legs of horses, characterized by an unsightly condition of the parts. The whole being the result of suppurative inflammatory action of the skin and heels of the hind legs, usually, but sometimes of the fore ones; is more common in coarse-bred western horses, and heavy breeds, than in well or fine bred horses. Cause. Sudden changes of the temperature of the earth, whether from heat to cold, or from wet to dry. This dis- ease always follows sloppy or wet streets, stables or lands, producing a relaxed condition of the parts from too much moisture. Treatment. Keep the legs clean and dry, and apply a mixture to the heels twice in the twenty-four hours. Water, one pint; sulphuric acid, two drachms; corrosive chloride of mercury, one drachm. Mix, and shake up before ising. Many cases are readily cured, by simply keeping the heels clean, and anointing with glycerine, or lard, having no salt in it. It must be confessed by every body, who has had any experience at all in the treatment of this disease, that there is uncertainty of an early cure; some cases will be cured in a short time, and in others it would seem that the discharge would never dry up and be healed. For cases that prove obstinate, the following plan will effect a cure, when other vaunted remedies have failed: Take one box of concentrated lye, and dissolve it in two quarts of water, and bottle up for use when wanted, in the following way: Pour a wine-glassful of the solution of lye, into a small bucket of cold water, and wash and bathe the heels and legs for half an hour, morning and night. A great change ‘ 122 DISEASES OF THE HORSE. for the better will be seen in a day or two. This wash seems to have the power of relaxing and softening the skin, and at the same time causes the legs to sweat greatly. Dry them as often after the bathing as you like, there will pour out great quantities of moisture from the skin as soon as you have done. SHoT oF GREASE.—This is a different disease from the one described, from the fact that it attacks only one leg, and that one of the hind ones, and comes on in a night, without any preceding symptoms whatever, and hence it is called a shot of grease. There is no cracking of the skin of the heels or legs, but it remains whole and unbroken. Cause. Robust stamina, or too fat and full of flesh, and to get rid of this superfluity, plastic lymph is thrown into one of the hind legs, which causes swelling of the leg to an enormous size. If this material were thrown from the blood into one of the fore legs, where the nearness to the heart increases the activity of the capillary circulation, matter would not remain as it does in the hind legs, which are so far from the centre of circulation. This disease is not unlike the phlegmassia dolens, or milk leg in the human family. Treatment. If the disease be observed early or before the leg becomes hard, take about one quart of blood from the neck, and give slop feed, that is, bran with plenty of water in it. Also, give one ounce doses of the sulphite of soda once in the day, for a few days, and bathe the legs three times in the day with the same solution of concentrated lye, as is recommended in grease, (which see.) If the swelling does not lessen in two days after these various agents have been employed, then incisions of an inch in length, through the skin, will have to be made for the purpose of letting out the imprisoned fluid before the arteries of the legs have GUNSHOT WOUND. 123 become plugged or filled up, which constitute the thick or fat leg so often seen in horses in large cities. In addition, the leg will have to be bandaged pretty tightly with a broad bandage, and be still bathed three times in the day with the solution of concentrated lye. Many good horses have been rendered of little value from want of a knowledge of this disease and its proper treatment. Gripes.—This name is sometimes applied to colic, (which see.) Grogginess.—A term meant to convey the idea that the horse does not travel very steady in front, from con- tracted or bent legs at the knee, or from soreness in the feet from a previous attack of founder in the feet, (which see.) Grunter.—This name is applied to horses that give forth a grunting noise. One condition giving rise to wheezing, roaring, whistling, piping, and rattling, will, with slight modification, produce a grunter. Observe. If the collar is not too tight on the neck, in- terfering with the free passage of air in and out of the windpipe. Causes. Generally from some thickening of the glands of the neck, or of the windpipe—the effects of bronchitis or distemper, not treated, or improperly treated, in not supporting the strength, whereby all thickenings are taken up, or reduced and even prevented. Gullet, Obstructions in the.—(See Choking.) Gunshot Wound.—This is, excepting in times of war, a rare occurrence, and the treatment consists in extract- ing the bullet, and healing the wound as for an ordinary sore. The bullet is extracted by an instrument represented in the accompanying cut, and is called Bullet Forceps. 124 DISEASES OF THE HORSE. The instrument is represented as grasping the bullet, show- ing, also, the way in which it is introduced to extract the ball. BULLET FORCEPS OF DIFFERENT PATTERNS. Gutta Serena.—(See Eye Diseases.) Heart, Diseases of the.—Of diseases of the heart little need be said, and as little can be done in the way of cure; so all I propose under this head is merely to name a HEART. 125 few of the altered conditions of the heart, which are all embraced in the sweeping term “Heart disease.” (1.) Enlargement of the heart. (2.) Wasting or shrinking of the heart. (3.) Foreign bodies in the heart. (4.) Fatty degeneration of the heart. (5.) Inflammation of the heart. (6.) Ossification of the heart. Such, then, are some of the distinctions made, when speaking of diseases of the heart. And as an illustration of what a horse with heart disease can do, and what can be, and is sometimes done with such an animal so affected, I reproduce articles from the Scottish Farmer, which may be of interest to some of our American farmers. “Tf one of the busy paternity who delight in a deal, on a dark Wednesday night, in the grass market, were asked what sort of horse he wished to procure, as a safe invest- ment for his ill-gathered coin, he would certainly prefer a good-looking Clydesdale, sound in limb; not a roarer, but with a mysterious screw loose, which few, including the horse-coper himself, can discover. Such an animal has been turned over many and many a time within the last three weeks, in or near Edinburgh.” Our readers will remember a second article on heart disease, in which three cases were specially mentioned, and one amongst them, under “observation.” “A full-sized, active gray mare, apparently fit for a goods van, having been treated for a cold by a blacksmith, proved to be suffering from dilation of the right side of the heart. She was looked upon with interest by a strong muster of stu- dents, who hoped to see further into matters, and proposed _ to buy the mare, to be destroyed, as the only humane method of treating her. But, as we are informed, a friend, 126 DISEASES OF THE HORSE. seeing the animal with swelled legs only, thought he could cure the case, and urged that she should be sent to his farm, where he would put her to the plough. In opposition te professional advice, this was agreed upon, and the students were disappointed in getting the prize. Not many days elapsed before the farmer found that he had undertaken a hard task, in attempting to cure the swelled legs. Seven dollars and a half were realized for this likely-looking animal, and we believe a smith, near Edinburgh, was the purchaser. Here the trickery commenced, and a simple countryman greedily closed a bargain which enriched the smith by forty-two dollars and fifty cents. The animal’s wind was, however, wrong, and cart-work would not suit her; so that, in despair, an exchange was effected with some of the ingenious dealers in horse-flesh, in this town. Exchange followed exchange, and it proved very trouble- some to trace the animal, until at last, in broad day-light, she fell, by the auctioneer’s hammer, to the lot of a man from Glasgow-side.” Many a twenty dollar note can be made out of a poor animal thus knocked from hand to hand, until, in the course of nature, it drops dead in harness. The history of the case is as interesting as would have been the post mortem to the students; and it will be found that one of the most remarkable features in such cases, is the length of time that animals retain a selling appearance, though absolutely unfit for any exertion. Heaves.—tThis is a term in frequent use, but not so well understood as it ought to be, seeing its importance as to the proper value of an animal. Heaves, then, may be defined as a difficulty in breathing, whereby the value and usefulness of the horse is seriously impaired. There is every degree of intensity to be seen in this disease. Some HEAVES. 127 animals are so seriously affected, that it is hard to look at the terrible efforts made in the art of respiration. The deep and not suffered-to-be-completed respiration tells the tale of great asthmatic effort and oppression. In others, it is so slight that only experts can observe it; not from the quickness of breathing, nor yet from its depth, but from a peculiar double beat or hitch, differing from all other varieties of breathing, either of fever, inflammation, or debility. Causes. Debility of the parvagum nerve; for if this nerve is divided or cut in its course, heaves, or broken wind, is set up at once. The real condition of this nerve, which gives rise to heaves, is not at present known; and it is difficult, in many cases, to trace and dis- tinguish any alteration of the nerves, as they may retain their color, yet their influence may be greatly impaired. For two reasons I have said debility. First, because, if it was cut, or had entirely lost its influence, the animal would die in forty-eight hours. Second, because, by the adminis- tration of powerful tonics, the symptoms of the disease are greatly relieved, and in some cases they entirely disappear. Treatment. Horse-dealers, in order to allay the symptoms, that is, the peculiar breathing, give an ounce each, of powdered sulphate of iron, gentian and ginger root. It is the largeness of the dose that is given, and repeated for a few days, that imparts a tonicity to the nerve. Although I have here spoken of this matter, I do not wish to be understood as advocating such treatment, nor as attempting to cheat or deceive any one; but the large dose of iron meets my decided disapproval, as being highly injurious to the horse—although the giving of round or spherical shot, as is practiced in England, is much worse. The treatment, whatever that may be, to do good per- 128 DISEASES OF THE HORSE. manently, must be by a gradual and progressive improve- ment. Five grain doses of arsenic, given once in the twenty-four hours for two weeks; then, after a week’s in- termission, commencing as before, will soon cure many cases. Give the animal feed in small bulk. Use as little hay, or rough feed, in large bulk, as possible. Improve the condition of the horse by every way or means, and you will relieve the animal. Heat.—General heat of the skin indicates fever ; local ‘heat, inflammation. Hepatic Diseases.—(See Liver, Inflammation of the.) Hernia.—This is a name given to ruptures, (see Rup- tures.) Herpes,—A name used in skin diseases, (see Mange and Skin Diseases.) Hereditary Diseases.—No one, of any observation, can deny that hereditary influence exists in the production of disease. This influence must not, in the production of disease, be considered as invariably reliably. The fact of horses or mares having a disease, is no reason why their young will have the same disease, also. It was through change or alteration of structure, action or function, that existed in either of the parents, that disease fastened upon them, and these same forms which existed in them are likely to be transmitted to the offspring, thus carrying the various formations of structure, which will ultimately, in all probability, produce the same disease. A great num- ber of the affections, which are usually styled hereditary, do not make their appearance until years after their birth, because it requires time and work to develop them. Few persons would expect a horse with cow hock, (which see,) to become curbed without work, as a secondary cause. HIDE BOUND. 129 There is one other point worthy of remark, in speaking of hereditary diseases, which is that many animals, after being poorly bred, have been badly fed and cared for; whereas if good feeding and care, had been bestowed upon them, it would have gone a long way in lessening the cer- tainty of developing hereditary diseases in them, and their offspring. This is every day being illustrated in the family of man. There are several rules laid down to be observed as measures to prevent and modify condi- tions which result in producing diseases of hereditary predisposition. And there have been receipts. found in the temple of AXsculapius, and said to be in the handwriting of Hippocrates himself, for the purpose of mitigating the hereditary conditions, which are so often seen in the human family. Although these rules cannot, in all cases, be applied to animals, nevertheless much can be done. The better way will be to avoid breeding from diseased animals. So long as like begets like, so long will we have hereditary diseases among horses. Hide Bound,.—This, properly speaking, is not a dis- ease, but the symptom of a bad condition, “ out of sorts,” debility, ete. Treatment. Feed in large bulk, mixed feed—cut hay, corn meal, and bran in good proportion—with no more water than will keep the particles together. Give the fol- Jowing powder in feed every night, for twelve nights :— Powdered sulphate of iron, three drachms; powdered gentian root, four drachms. Mix. If the animal is fat and yet hide bound, substitute the following, instead of that above recommended: Take sulphuret of antimony, three drachms ; sulphur in flour, three drachms ; sulphite of soda, halt an ounce. Mix. and give in one dose, repeating 130 DISEASES OF THE HORSE, it every night for two weeks. If in the winter, use an on extra blanket. If in summer, give cut grass to eat. Hip-joint Disease.—Happily, this is a very rare dis- ease in horses, and does not make its appearance so soon as in man. It is always the result of accident or injury, and is a joint affection—not of the muscles, because the mass of muscles are so very great over the hip, that it is not an easy matter to sprain them. I speak of this here, because among horsemen it is a great bug-bear, often occurring in their ideas; whereas, in ninety-nine cases out of a hun- dred of their so-called hip and whirl bone disease, the lame- ness will be found in the hock-joint. Why do they jump at the conclusion that the lameness is in the hip? Because in every movement of the hock-joint, the vibration or hitch is more distinctly seen by the altered action of the muscles of the hip, as when the hock-joint moves but partially, and not completely, it is not so readily seen at the hock as at the hip. Hence, this is but the old adage, cause and effect; in this case the horseman has them reversed. (See Spavin.) Symptoms. Lowness or falling in of the hip; a peculiar manner of moving, not indicating inability as is seen in fracture of the pelvis bone, but of great pain and difficulty ; not yielding or bending low down on that quarter when the horse takes a step. The leg appears shorter, and is placed, when standing, slightly under the body, and not doubled up, or standing upon the toe as is seen in cases of hock-joint disease. Treatment. Absolute and entire rest for a few weeks. The application of cold water cloths over the hip, taking them off at night, and applying them in the morning again. This will have to be kept up for a week, at least, so that all heat and tenderness will be removed before any irritani HOCK. 131 can be used to the parts. (Never apply hot liniments to a part already too hot and painful.) Then apply by rubbing with the hand over the parts, every second day, the follow- ing: Oil of turpentine, one ounce; oil of olives, two ounces ; creosote, one ounce. Mix. This will not only act as an irritant, but as a powerful sedative to the nerves of the parts, causing relief from pain, so that the animal can be made useful. Hock, The.—This is an important joint or part of the horse, and is the seat of many diseases, causing lameness, In the majority of hind leg lameness, the hock is the true situation. This fact is not apparent to the non-professional person, as the hock, while diseased, does not swell so often as other portions of the body or legs when diseased. Bog or blood spavin and thorough-pin, a blind man can almost see. With these exceptions, I say, hock-joint lameness, in the majority of cases, is charged to the hip or somewhere else, simply because persons fail to see any peculiarity, even when pointed out to them. (See Stringhalt.) Sprain of the hock-joint is to be treated with cold water cloths, for a few days, and the application of the following, once every second day, for a week, with friction or rubbing: Oil of turpentine; oil of olives ; equal parts. Mix. This is a simple, cheap, and good liniment, and will answer every purpose. Rupture of the internal and external lateral or side liga- ments of the hock-joint is occasionally seen, and is caused by a violent slip. The rupture is at once recognized by the loss of power of the horse over the leg below the joint; but can stand on the leg, as if it were sound, and there is little or no swelling—which peculiarities serve to show the difference between a broken bone of the leg and the rup- tured ligaments of a joint. (See Ligaments.) The core 182 DISEASES OF THE HORSE. is accomplished by absolute and entire rest, with occa sional friction with the turpentine liniment, just mentioned above. Be assured of the complete union of the ligaments —which will have taken place when the horse can bend and properly use the leg—before exercise or work be exac- ted. Hooks in the Eyes,—This is a term in use by coun- try folks when referring to the peculiar action of the mem- brana nictatans in cases of locked-jaw, (which see.) Many persons have advised that these useful membranes should be cut out. Nothing could be further wrong than this ; for it is merely the effect of a cause. Rather remove the cause, or cure the locked-jaw, and the protruding of the hook or horns will cease. This is the only true plan to adopt. Horse, Natural History of the.—The horse comes under the division vertebrata, class mammalia, tribe ungulata, order pachydermata, family solipeda. Horse Fly.—This comprehends the gad or breeze fly, Gasterophilus estrus. The spotted horse fly, G. Equi. The red-tailed horse fly, G. hemorrhoidalis, This last fly deposits her eggs on the lips of the aurse, and the former glues them to the hair of the legs. These various eggs are ultimately taken into the stomach, and in one year they have become sufficiently matured that they are thrown out to the outer world to get wings, and finally fly about and propagate their kind in the same manner as the parent stock. (See Worms.) Humanity to Animals, Hints on,—(1.) Warm the bit in frosty weather, before putting it into the horse’s mouth. (2.) Let the horse lick a little salt from your hands whenever you offer the bit. (3.) Never startle a horse by striking him suddenly or HUMANITY TO ANIMAIS, 133 unexpectedly, This caution is specially important if ne has a blind bridle. (4.) Uniformly gentle treatment will secure faithful and steady work. Anger, severity, and sudden jerking, endan- ger your harness, your vehicle, and your life, besides permanently injuring your horse. (5.) Be well provided with horse-blankets, particularly at night. If you are waiting for passengers, while you look out for your own comfort by a warm fireside, or in thick wrappers, see that your faithful brute companion is also protected from the chilly air. (6.) Wash the inside of the collar frequently with castile soap suds, and when it has thoroughly dried, gently warm the leather and soak it with oil, so as to soften it. But do net allow any oil to remain on the surface of the leather, unabsorbed. (7.) If the shoulders are tender, feverish, and disposed to chafe, they should be well rubbed, and afterwards washed with salt water. This should be done after un- harnessing, so that the parts bathed may be dry before work is resumed. (8.) Do not be tempted by extra pay to overload your team. Overloading occasions blindness, spavin, splint, glanders, farcy, and other painful and fatal disorders, and thus risks the loss of your capital, besides injuring yourself by encouraging a cruel disposition. (9.) See that the harness fits easily in every part, and that the shoes are tight and well put on. If there are chains connected with any part of the harness, let them be well covered with soft padded leather or fur. (10.) Let your tones, in addressing the horse, be always gentle, soothing, and pleasant. Pat him often, and en- courage every sign of attachment that he gives. 134 DISEASES OF THE HORSE (11.) Every truck, or other vehicle, should have a prop stick hung to the shafts, to relieve the purthen of the load whenever the team is standing. (12.) Curry, rub, and clean wrx and thoroughly, at least, once every day. The effect is worth half the feed. A dirty coat and skin, when the animal is deprived of exercise in pasture, and of rolling on the grass, cannot fail to produce disease. (13.) Never use a check rein. It isa false taste that thinks a horse more beautiful when his head is fastened in an unnatural position. The bearing rein keeps a horse in a constant fret, makes him restless and uneasy, and often prevents him from recovering himself in case of a stumble or fall. (14.) Your stable should be perfectly level, or very slightly inclined, well lighted, well drained, well ventilated, and well protected from draughts, and from extreme 7 heat and cold. Keep the crib clean and free from dust, and keep the hay and other fodder as far from the stall as possible, so as to be away from the steam and breath of the animal. (15.) If you use ground feed, remember that at many of the mills and stores it is adulterated with marble or plaster of paris, or with the sweepings of canal-boats and barges. Such adulteration not only robs your animals of nourish- ment, but produces stone, and shortens life. (16.) If you suspect adulteration, you can sometimes detect it by heating a portion of the feed to a red heat, in an iron vessel. After the whole has been reduced to ashes, if they contain plaster, the ashes will soon seé or harden, after being mixed with water to the consistency of paste. (17.) In hot weather, keep a wet sponge on the head of tne horse or mule; cool the mouth and face with wet HUMANITY TO ANIMALS, 135 sponges; furnish drinking water often, and sponge the legs and such parts as are liable to chafe by perspiration or otherwise; drive slowly, and lessen the weight usually imposed in cooler weather; see that the harness is not unnecessarily cumbersome and heavy; the discomfort may be materially relieved by taking off the eye-blinds, which are useless appendages, and cause much annoyance to the animal. (18.) Do not urge your beast beyond a walk when the heat is oppressive; finally, use a head-shelter or awning, constructed of wire and covered with canvass, which can be attached to the animal’s head without materially adding — weight. (19.) In icy weather keep your animal sharp shod, renewing the sharpening as often as the shoes become blunt. A few dollars expended in this way will undoubtedly save your horse from serious injury, and, perhaps, from loss of life. (20.) Standing on fermenting manure softens the hoof, produces thrush, and brings on lameness. Keep the litter dry and clean, and cleanse the stall thoroughly every morning. (21.) Sharp bits make the mouth tender at first, and afterwards callous, so that the horse becomes unmanageable. (22.) If your horse kicks and plunges on mounting, look to the stuffing of your saddle, and see if it has become hard and knotty with use. (23.) Keep your wheels well greased, and thus reduce the labor of drawing the load. (24.) Keep the feet well brushed out, and examine every night to see if there is any stone or dirt between the hoof and the shoe. Change the shoes as often as once a month. (25.) Disease or wounds in the feet or legs soon become dangerous if neglected. (36 DISEASES OF THE HORSE. (26.) When a horse is hot and fatigued from labor, walk him about till cool; groom him quite dry, first with a wisp of straw, and then with a brush; rub his legs well with the hand, to remove any strain, soothe the animal, and detect thorns and splinters; and give him his grain as soon as he is cool, dry, and willing to eat. (27.) On the evening before a long journey give double feed; on the morning of starting give only half a feed of grain, or a little hay; on the road feed in small quantities about every two hours. (28.) When horses are long out at work provide them with nose-bags and proper food. The nose-bag should be leather at bottom, and of basket-work or open texture above. On coming home give a double feed of grain. (29.) Lead the horse carefully into and out of the stable. Accustom him to stand quite still till you are seated. Start at a walk, and go slowly the first and the last mile. (30.) Never use the whip if you can help it. It will then always be available as a last resource. (31.) Be always on your guard, just feeling the mouth with the bit, lightly and steadily. (32.) If a horse shies, neither whip him nor pat him, but speak encouragingly, and let him come slowly towards the object. (33.) If you value your own life, the lives of others, ox your horse, never drive fast in the dark, or in a town. (84.) Never add your own weight to a load that is already heavy enough. Get out and walk when you ascend a hill. If you stop ona hill, put a stone behind the wheel. (35.) Never tease or tickle the horse. (86.) Don’t forget that old horses, like old men, lose their teeth and their chewing abilities ; therefore, bruise HYDROPHOBIA. 137 the oats and corn, and chop the hay for the old nag: who can’t get “store teeth.” Hydrothorax.—This is a name given to water when it accumulates in the chest. Hence, hydro, water: and thorax, the chest. Causes. Debility from the effects of inflammation of some of the organs within the chest. Treatment. Tonics to improve the general health, and medicines to draw off the water by the kidneys and bowels. An operation is recommended by which the fluids are drawn from the side by means of a trocar. (See Dropsy.) Hydrocele.—A collection of fluid in the scrotum of stallions. Treatment. Paint the scrotum with the tincture of benzoin or iodine. If these remedies are not successful in causing absorption of the water, the skin of the scrotum will have to be opened to let out the fluid. Hydronemia,—A name used when speaking of the Llood when it contains too much water—water in the Llood. (See Dropsy.) Hydrophobia.—This disease, happily, is rare—in a practice of thirteen years, and doing much in the treatment of diseases of horses, and being well acquainted with the practice of other persons, I can only record three cases, and one of these was a mule. This disease is sometimes called water dread and canine rabies, from the fact that it is only generated in the dog and feline species of animals. Cause in Horses. Bites of the mad dog, and sometimes the bite from the common cat is capable of producing the disease. Symptoms. In those cases that came under my notice, 138 DISEASES OF THE HORSE. the symptoms were anything but like each other. In one animal, the propensity to bite at objects was more severe; and in another, the horse would walk and look about him, utter a peculiar sound, and lie down and get hold of the heels and part of the arm of the fore leg with his teeth, till he had them bleeding, get up again, and walk about without any apparent object in view. But the destructive impulse attributed by some authors, I think, is merely the fancy of an inexperienced mind in such matters. The symptoms of the mule differed from each of the horses, inasmuch as he would, at times, eat hay very ravenously, stop all at once, and with a peculiar sound, not like the bark of a dog, but of a character which cannot be described, lie down and have a good roll to himself; then he would run at any person within his reach with open mouth. But in no instance did any of the cases attempt to bite at anything not endowed with animal life. All of these animals were confined in enclosures from which they could not escape. They lived about thirty-six hours after the active symptoms of the disease set in. (See Bites of Mad Dog.) Any person having the least experience with horses, may observe peculiarities, at times, which do appear not to belong to common diseases. Hypertrophy.—This name means a state of certain organs increased in size, and decreased in power. The heart, kidneys, spleen, liver, and other parts of the body, are liable to this disease. Hy podermic.—Under the skin. (See Endermic.) Hysteria.—This is a disease which is sometimes seen in mares only. Causes. Irritation of the uterus, or of some of its nerves. Symptoms, Great excitement and incapability of standing, INFECTION. 139 and it appears as if some of the bones of the back or loins were broken. Treatment. Give twenty drops of the tineture of acouite root every four hours, whilst the symptom lasts. Build up the strength of the mare by the following: Sulphate of iron, three drachms; gentian root, three drachms. Mix, and give in one dose every day, for a week or ten days, Give good feeding. Caution. Unsafe to use; will return again. HYPODERMIC SYRINGE, Indigestion.—However much man, in the sedentary walks of life, may be the subject of this disease, the horse with a task-master is comparatively free from it. Cases do occur, occasionally, in our large cities, where in too many cases the horse is left standing in the stable, twenty out of the twenty-four hours. Jdleness begets indigestion, and indigestion begets crib-biting, or wind-sucking, and between them the poor horse looses flesh, condition and spirit. (See Crib-biting.) Treatment. Send the horse to pasture, and when he returns give him regular feed, and regular work to prevent a return of it. Infection,—(See Contagion.) £40 DISEASES OF THE HORSE. Inflammation,—Inflammation of the various portions or parts of the body will be found treated of under the name of the organ or part affected. Influenza,—This is a name which is properly applied to an epizootic catarrh of frequent occurrence in the spring of the year. Indeed, it is very rare that we see a cold run its course as such, without some complication of one kind or another. Symptoms. A chill or shivering fit, succeeded by in- creased heat of the body, with fever and irritation. Loss of appetite, cough, discharge of mucus from the nose, watering of the eyes, great prostration of strength, followed in a day or two with swellings of the legs, and in bad cases, of the belly, breast, and in males, of the sheath; such is a true and succinct account of the symptoms of this disease. The symptoms will vary, as in other diseases, with the intensity of the affection. Causes. A subtle poison in the air, sudden changes in the dryness or moisture of the earth’s surface, easterly winds, cold accompanied with dampness in the air. These are conditions which too often accompany or precede influ- enza, which differs from an attack of common cold, chiefly in the severity of its effect, causing more fever and greater debility. In England it was first observed in 1819, and again in 1832, and more or less ever since. In the United States it first manifested itself in 1856, and is still seen every spring and fall with symptoms more or less severe. Treatment. The mortality in this disease is great, when treated according to the books which our publishers frequently issue—old English books, with new dresses cut to the fashion. Bear this in mind, when undertaking the treatment of a disease of this kind, that one step wrongly taken can never be recalled. Place the horse in a cool INJECTIONS. 141 (not cold) and airy place, put a light covering upon him, and give him twenty drops of the tincture of aconite root in a little cold water, every four hours, tili five doses are given. Place plenty of cold water before the horse so that he can drink as much as he wants. When the aconite has been all given, commence with fifteen-drop doses of the tincture of nux vomica, which repeat every four hours, continuing it for a few days, and if the animal improves, and the appetite returns, nothing more in the way of medicine need be given. Recovery being slow, and the appetite poor, give the following powders, morning, noon and night: Powdered carbonate of ammonia, three ounces ; powdered gentian root, two ounces; powdered pimenta berries, two ounces; mix, and divide into twelve powders, and give them mixed in a little cold water, and drench the horse out of a strong-mouthed bottle. The powders will have to be wrapped well, so as to keep them from the air, and prevent the loss of their strength. Twenty drops of commercial sulphuric acid may be given occasionally, in half a bucket of cold water, which the horse will readily drink. Do not apply blisters or anything to the throat, as is too often done; they can do no good, but positively much harm. Be assured the animal has fully recovered its strength before putting to work. If treated in the manner described, in from five to six days the horse will be almost well again. (See Gastritis Mucosa, and Rheuma- tism.) Injections.—These are composed of warm water, soap, and a handful of table-salt; the water about luke-warm. The usual way to give injections, is by means of a large syringe, capable of holding a quart of the fluid. The diseases which call for injections, are the various varieties of colic. Few medicines will cure colic without the aid of 4142 DISEASES OF THE HORSE. injections ; whereas, colic, in very many cases, can be readily cured by the injection alone. Therefore, never put confidence in any person who undertakes to cure colic, without injections of warm water, soap and salt. Instruments.—The various cuts of instruments, repre- sented throughout the book, explain themselves. The few here given, may be explained as follows: No. 1. Above are shown two patterns of the ecraseur manu- factured in Philadelphia for use in the University of Pennsylvania, veterinary department. No. 2. This is a very good representation of a similar instrument which is also manufactured in INSTRUMENTS. 143 Philadelphia. The ecraseur is now extensively and suc- cessfully used for castrating colts, and for the removal of tumors. The object of using this instrument is, that no bleeding follows its use. (See Castration.) No. 3, is a spring lancet, and was invented by a Mr. Weiss, of London, for the use of farmers who could not use its more surgical prototype, the lancet. This was at a time when bleeding was thought to be the great panacea for all the ills and aches to aes which man and beast is heir. No. 3. ty iNT a No. 4. No. 5. No. 4, is a small syringe, used for injecting medicines into the cavities of tumors, to destroy their diseased walls, No. 5, is a curved trocar and canula, and is used for piercing dropsical swellings and tumors, to run off the fluid. The trocar is drawn out after the parts have been 144 DISEASES OF THE HORSE, pierced, and the canula remains as a tube, whereby the water escapes. No. 6, is a straight trocar with canula, and is used in different sizes and for various purposes. Its first and most important use is for piercing the rumen of cows and oxen when attacked with hoven. Second, it is used occa- sionally for piercing the horse, in cases of flatulent colic, and in drawing off the fluid or serum accumulated in the chest from disease of the lungs ind pleura. Third, a small size of this instrument is used in piercing the head of sheep affected with hydatids. After the trocar has entered the hydatid sack, the trocar is pulled out, the canula remains, the point of a small and well-packed syringe is placed in the head of the canula, and the suction-force draws the fluid into the syringe, and the small cysts into the canula—which can be caught and pulled out by means of a pair of forceps. A trocar and canula should be kept by every farmer who has a cow or an ox. Intestines,—Introsusception, or an entangling of the intestines, sometimes takes place in horses, and proves fatal. Causes. Bowels empty, and the horse being driven fast. Symptom. When the horse comes in, he is observed to be uneasy—lying down, pawing with his feet, following closely the symptoms of colic. The difficulty, or impossi- bility of procuring relief, is only seen on examination, after the horse is dead. (See Bowel Diseases.) Itch.—(See Mange and Skin Diseases.) Interfering.—This name is in use when speaking of a horse hitting himself on the inside of the pastern joint, either on the hind or fore leg. Sometimes it is called cutting. It is usually done with the side of the opposite foot. JOINT DISEASES. 145 Causes. The blacksmith is many times wrongfully blamed for want of attention or skill in shoeing the horse, because he interferes. There are cases, no doubt, where a little observation and care, on the part of the shoer, would have prevented it. From much observation, however, I am satisfied that the chief cause lies in the weakness of the horse, particularly in the spring of the year. Horsemen well know that their horses did not interfere in the winter months, when the weather was not oppressive, and the horse in excellent spirits; and no changes have been made in the shoer or manner of shoeing. Treatment. Give a few powders of iron and gentian in the feed, to restore the horse to strength. (See Medicines.) Jack,—A small point on the inside of the hock-joint of the horse, affected with bone spavin. Jaundice.—This signifies bile in the blood; biliary intoxication, tinging the membranes of the nose, mouth, etc., with a yellow color. Joint Diseases.—The diseases of the various joints in the horse, are many. Among them may be enumerated: Of spavin—bone, blood, bog and occult—four varieties, all of the hock-joint; of the patella, in the form of dislocation ; of the hip, or whirl-bone joint, ulceration and sprain; of the joints of the back-bones, caries and ulceration; of the foot, coffin-joint, commonly called navicular-joint, Jame- ness; of the pastern joints, anchylosis or stiffjoint; of the lower pastern, ring-bone; of the knee-joint, stiffness and open joint; of the point of the shoulders, ulceration and bulging out of the capsular ligament of the joint; wind galls, of almost all the joints, more specially in the pasterns. The cause and treatment of these affections will be found under their proper heads, throughout the book. 10 146 DISEASES OF THE HORSE. Jugular Vein, Inflammation of.—This may be merely a simple swelling, after bleeding, caused by bruising the parts, by too great force applied when bleeding, or by closing the wound too tightly, causing extravasation of blood, between the skin and the fascia. Inflammation of the jugular, may be of great magnitude, involving that vessel the whole length of the neck, above and below the wound made by bleeding, ultimately causing its entire obliteration. And, occasionally, the inflammation extends to the brain itself, destroying life. Happily, bleeding is not now recommended in the treatment of disease; conse- quently, this affection will be among the diseases of the past. Treatment. Remove the pin, or whatever has been used to close the wound, and apply a piece of blue-stone to the bleeding sore; this may be used once a day, for a day or two. Hot fomentations, or a small poultice, should be applied to the part, to abate the inflammation or irritation. The fomentation will have to be applied, the whole length of the thick corded vein, to cause its relaxation. Cut the feed for the horse, so as to save the movements of the jaws, thus giving rest, as much as possible, to the parts affected. Kidneys, Diseases of the,—The most important of which is that already described under the head of diabetes, (which see.) Hematuria or bloody urine is occasionally seen in horses, more frequently in cattle, and consists in a diseased state of the kidneys, from violent strains or acci- dents. Caleuli, or stone in the kidneys, are often found in the kidneys of horses, and cause considerable irregularity in making water. Treatment. Occasionally give thirty to forty drops of muriatic acid, in a bucket of cold water, to drink. Bloody urine may be treated by warm-water cloths, laid KNUCKLING. 147 over the back or in a situation above the kidneys. Use flaxseed tea as a drink, to soothe the parts. Give no salt- petre or other medicine. In old horses, as in old men, considerable chronic disease of the kidneys exists. Although little can be accomplished in the way of cure by medicines, a great deal can be done to soothe the parts, by soft and soothing feed and drink, s ch as steamed or boiled feed and flaxseed tea, cut grass and other green feed, with plenty of cold water, at all times, to drink. The more fluids that go into the body, the less irritation of the bladder and kidneys. (See Bladder Diseases.) Knees Broken.—(See Broken Knees.) Knee Joint, Loose Cartilages in the.—Small loose vartilage is sometimes found floating in the knee joint of horses, as well as of man, and is the cause of much of the obscure lamenese that is so often unaccounted for, and, so far as I am aware, has never been noticed by other writers. The lameness is very sudden, and passes off as if nothing had happened, constantly coming and going. Treatment. Remove the body from the joint by first getting it into a corner, and holding it there, and cutting and taking it out; this is too dangerous an operation for every person to undertake, as it is cutting into a synovial cavity. Knuckling.—This is a peculiar loose double action of the pastern of the hind legs, and is a symptom rather than a disease of itself. Cause. Disease in the hock-joint, and weakness in the part from the effects of sprains, or other injury. It also accompanies occult and bone spavin. Observe. Knuckling of the hind pasterns is a symptom 148 DISEASES OF THE HORSE. strongly indicative that the animal has had an attack ot paralysis or is likely to have one: at all events it clearly shows that either the brain or spinal cord is to a certain extent diseased, resulting in loss of motive power in the pasterns. Treatment. Feed the horse well, and give fifteen drops of the tincture of nux vomica three times in the day. If the hock-joint be the cause, treat the hock as for spavin, or palliate the symptoms by applying two parts of olive oil, and one part of creosote and oil of turpentine, two to threa cimes in the week. Lameness,—Lameness occurs in many ways, and from many causes, such as fractures, bruises, sprains, wounds or injuries, all of which will be found treated of, under their various names, through the book. Laminitis,—A name in use by veterinary surgeons when speaking of founder, and is a generic term trom lamina, or leaf—which forms the bond of unity between the sensible and insensible structures of the horse’s feet, and is the seat of the disease commonly called founde*. (See Foot Diseases.) Lampas.—This is a name applied to a slight enlarge- ment, swelling, or fullness of the bars of the mouth of young horses from the changes of teething. Pinching the skin of the bars with the nail of the thumb till they bleed, and rubbing in a little table salt, is much better than burning the mouth with a red hot iron—the effects of which the animal never forgets nor forgives, as is shown in any attempt to do anything about his head. Laryngitis,—This is a disease or inflammation of the upper portion of the windpipe accompanied with fever, LIVER. 145 increased breathing, and cough. The cause and treatment of this disease will be the same as for bronchitis, (which see.) Leg, Fractures of the.—(See Fractures.) Lice.—Lice of various kinds are often the source of much trouble amongst horses kept in the vicinity of hen or chicken houses. Symptoms. Uneasiness, rubbing, and scratching; stamp- ing with the feet and biting at the legs, as if something were annoying him. Treatment. Take of the liver of sulphur, one ounce; cold water, one pint. Mix, and apply with a hard brush to but a portion of the body at a time. If that is not effectual, get bi-chloride of mercury, thirty-two grains; cold water, one pint. Mix, and apply with a brush toa portion only at a time, or a piece of the body every day, cill all has been gone over with the brush. This is very weak, and can do the horse no harm. Ligaments.—These are strong, fibrous substances, which bind together the different bones of the body or skeleton. There are two great classes of ligaments: the rounded, or the lateral, and the capsular, or sack-like ligaments, as of the shoulder and hip-joint. Lipoma,—aA variety of fatty tumor. (See Tumors.) Liver.—The liver is the largest secreting gland of the hody, situated within the short ribs on the right side. [ts function is the secretion of bile—a yellow alkaline or soapy fluid. Without the liver, digestion and animal heat cannot be maintained, and the waste or effete matter cannot be re- moved from the blood. So, therefore, when the liver ig disturbed, there can be no health in the rest of the system, 150 DISEASES OF THE HORSE. INFLAMMATION OF THE LiveR.—The horse is rarely the subject of inflammation of this organ in an acute, but more commonly in a chronic form. It is often met with from the fact of many horses being highly fed, and having nothing to do. Symptoms. The affected part is very obtuse. But we have a very striking analogy of this disease between man and the horse, which materially assists in forming a correct opinion as to the disease. Pain and lameness in the right shoulder are characteristic of liver disease, whether in man or horse, and have often been mistaken for and treated as the disease itself. Not less so is the peculiar yellowness of the membranes of the eyes, nose, and mouth, constituting a disease called by old horse doctors the yellows. Treatment. Give powdered aloes, four drachms; pow- dered ginger root, two drachms; podophyllin, one drachm. Mix, and make into a paste with molasses, and form 4 bolus, or crumble the mass in a little thin gruel, and drench the horse with it. Feed the horse with green and soft feed to keep his bowels open. These measures being neglected, suppuration or an abscess will be formed, and break into the bowels, or become absorbed and produce glanders, which I believe to be a prolific cause of this disease, and which is preceded by ill health and bad habit of body, terminating by a mysteri- ous and unaccountable discharge from the nose, inasmuch as it is not accompanied with cough; and other symptoms of cold. Locked-jaw.— This disease occurs usually after wounds of the feet, as from nails running into the feet, from wounds and fractures, and from a simple wound of a tendinous portion of the body. Locked-jaw occurring after wounds or other injuries, is called trawmatie, And LOCKED-JAW. 15? when locked-jaw takes place, as it sometimes does, without any injury or assignable cause, it is called idiopathie locked-jaw. Locked-jaw may be defined a spasmodis contraction of the muscles of the body, often confined te one set of muscles alone. I have in practice seen the same contraction in one set of muscles of the body, and the muscles of the jaw free from the cramps and not fixed at all, and depending upon the same causes that often produce fixedness of the jaw. Locked-jaw is sometimes confined to the muscles of the neck, and is then called trismus. Symptoms. The symptoms accompanying locked-jaw in the horse are so well known to everybody, that little need be said by me about them further than that there is general stiffness and fixedness in the manner of standing, and a peculiar expression of countenance. The extended and dilated nostril, and the fixed ear, tell the fact, very plainly, that the muscles of the head and neck are beyond the control of the animal, else his jaw or mouth would not be kept closed. Treatment. Remove the painfully-stricken animal into a place by himself, where he will have plenty of air, and no sound or sight to disturb him, and where no curious idler can enter. Place a bucket of cold, thin gruel where the horse can get at it, withous a4& >ffort to himself to reach it. This is all the feed he will be likely enabled to take for a period of from three to sixteen days. Renew it once a day, and keep it sweet. He may be able to suck this through his teeth. Small, choice morsels of other food should alse be placed within his reach, so as no opportunity be lost whereby his stomach may be filled, and his overtaxed strength be supported. In securing the gruel or other feed, have everything at hand, so that only one journey will be necessary, in the 152 DISEASES OF THE HORSE. twenty-four hours, to the place he is confined in. Open not the door of his house twice when once can be made to answer: thus much suffering may be avoided, and the chances of recovery enhanced. All the medicine necessary for the horse to have, will be one drachm doses, once in the twenty-four hours, of PRussic AcrD. Great care will have to be exercised in keeping this powerful poison; and considerable judgment as to how this medicine is to be given to an animal with his jaws closed. GENTLY elevate the head a little to insure proper gravitation, and pour the acid into the widest part between the teeth, and hold the head steadily for a few minutes; then retire, and close the door, not a loud word being spoken. A table or dessert spoon will answer for the purpose very well. Veterinary surgeons have an elastic tube, which is introduced into the back part of the mouth, and the acid poured down the tube. If the animal live from three to four days, and is afforded every opportunity to eat a little, he may get well. Whatever the wounds or injuries that have given rise to the locked-jaw, they should be dressed with equal portions of olive oil and creosote, which will soothe the irritated nerves of the part. An occasional poultice of flaxseed may be necessary. Above all things, neither bleed nor physic, as these can do no good, and will only .asven the death of the animal by taking away whatever strength he may have, all of which will be necessary to carry him through so severe a disease. Loins.—Sprain of the loins or small of the back is sometimes seen in weakly built horses of irritable dispo- sition. Symptom. Weakness upon pressure, as of a saddle-horsc ‘wielding to the rider, when mounting the horse. LUNGS. 153 Treatment. Warm-water cloths should be laid over the parts for a few days, followed in the same manner by cold-water cloths. Give rest and good feed, and use the horse in the shafts of a light four-wheeled carriage, or in double harness. Saddle work may be the means of its return, more especially if ridden by a heavy person. Loss of Appetite.—This is more of a symptom than a disease, and requires for its removal the cause which gave rise to it. In cold, influenza and fever, the appe- tite is bad, and with their removal it will be restored. Take powdered carbonate of ammonia, pimenta berries, gentian root, each two drachms, mix in some cold gruel, and drench the animal twice a day. This will not only remove, in a measure, the cause, but will restore the appe- tite also. Lumbago,.—This is applied to a peculiar stiffness over the loins or back, partaking of the nature of rheumatism, (which see.) Lungs.—These are the organs of breathing, and are subject to many diseases, having names familiar to every horseman. Under this head, however, I will only notice inflammation of the substance of the lungs, pneumonia, (lung fever,) and of the surface of the lung, pleurisy, abscess, adhesion, and congestion. (See Cough, Cold, Bronchitis and Emphysema.) (1.) Pyeumon1a.—(Pronounced numonia.)—This is an inflammation of the substance of the lungs, of late years called Jung fever, and is sometimes very common in the spring after a severe winter. Symptoms. Chill followed by fever and increased for a short time, and is succeeded by cold legs and ears, quickened breathing, and wide, open nostrils. A peculiar 154 DISEASES OF THE HORSE. quivering of the muscles of the side and breast will be observed in all cases of inflammation of the lungs, and will rarely deceive. The animal will eat nothing, and per- sistently stands with his nose and mouth in the manger ; and if taken out of the stall and stable to the open air, he will almost refuse to go back again into the stable, relief being experienced from the fresh air. Hence, the necessity for plenty of fresh air in all diseases of the lungs. When the ear is applied to the side of the neck, a peculiar creak- ing noise is heard. Slight discharge of serous flakes or matter will be observed sticking to the sides of the nose. If this disease be not subdued or cured, it ends in abscess. The peculiar pulsations observed in this and other diseases, will be found treated of in the introductory remarks. To the non-professional person, the general aspect or appear- ance of the horse, when under this disease, is infinitely more important as a rule and guide in determining the seat and nature of the disease, than any assistance they can gain from the pulse. Cause. Alterations and sudden changes in heat, cold, and moisture; an animal not in condition for work; a hereditary predisposition in the lungs to take on disease. Changes which will produce lung disease in one horse, will produce disease of a different character in another. Treatment. Place the horse in a light and airy place, and clothe him according to the weather. Bandages to the legs will, at all seasons, be necessary to keep them warm, and to that extent relieve the lungs of a portion of blood. Aconite, judiciously given, is the most powerful remedy I am acquainted with. Tartar Emetic, so valuable in this disease in man, dogs and swine, has no more effect whatever, upon either horses, sheep or cattle, than so much flour or meal. Give twenty-five drops of the tincture of aconite FOOT DISEASES. 155 root, in a cupful of cold water, and drench the horse. Repeat the dose every four hours, till six doses are given. In the majority ot cases, one to two doses will be all that is required to effect a cure. (2.) PLevrisy.—Inflammation of the membrane cover- ing the lungs and lining the cavity of the chest. Symptoms. A rigor or chill, fever, disinclination to turn short, an occasional short painful cough, and careful breathing, accompanied with a sigh or grunt. A peculiar line will be observed in pleurisy, running from the haunch, round the belly to the breast-bone. The breathing is deep, not so short and quick as in inflammation of the lungs. In the first twenty-four hours after the attack, pain will have given way, and the horse be apparently better. This, in the majority of cases of pleurisy, when left a few hours to itself and not checked, terminates in Hydrothoraz, (which see,) or water or serum in the chest, sometimes causing adhesions. The favorable termination of pleurisy is by what is called resolution. Causes. Changes in the atmosphere. Exposure to cold. Broken ribs or wounds. Treatment. Treat the horse as for inflammation of the lungs, by giving him pure air, cold water and aconite ; followed on the second day by five grains of powdered Spanish fly in gruel, once in the twenty-four hours. To remove the fluids from the body, give, after the active stage of the disease has passed, good feeding and generous diet. (3.) Apscess.—As elsewhere stated, abscess is the termi- nation of inflammation of the lungs. Pus is a common result of inflammatory action, and when in the lungs is called vomice, causing, in some cases, consumption. Where absorption of the pus has taken place, glanders is the result. The abscess frequently breaks into the bronchial tubes, 156 DISEASES OF THE HORSE. and then pus escapes into the larynx and nares of the nose, Hence, the persistent discharge which is so characteristic © of glanders. Treatment. The same as for glanders: generous diet, tonics and stimulants, with the sulphite of soda and the Spanish fly. (See Glanders.) (4.) Errusion oF S—RuM.—Hydrothorax is one of the ways in which pleurisy terminates, and when this effusion is extensive, not much hope of recovery may be expected. Cures, however, have been made by drawing off the fluid by means of a trocar pierced through between the ribs into the chest. (5.) ApuEsions.—The surface of the lungs becomes attached to the sides of the chest by fibrous bands of great strength, another common result of pleurisy. Nothing can be done but to keep up the health and strength by good feeding, etc. When animals do not thrive and pick up their spirits and flesh after cases of pleurisy, some of these various conditions may be reasonably expected to be present. (6.) ConGESTION OF THE Luncos.—The lungs are liable to become congested, when they are overcharged with blood. Symptoms. The horse blows, his nostrils are very much expanded, he is heaving at the flanks, and is the picture of distress and stupidity. Cause. Weakness and want of power in the blood vessels to contract and empty themselves. Treatment. Allow free access to cool air, clothe the body and bandage the legs to encourage the blood to the skin and legs, and give the following mixture: Sweet spirits of nitre, half an ounce; powdered carbonate of ammonia, half an ounce; mix in a bottle of cold gruel, in the form of a drink. If these articles are not at hand, give MAD STAGGERS. 157 two bottles of warm ale, or half a bottle of brandy or whiskey. (7.) PNEUMOTHORAX.—So called because the air escapes into the cavities of the pleura. Lymph,—This is a name applied to the clear fluid which circulates in the lymphatic vessels and that which is poured vut in cut surfaces, after bleeding has stopped, and forms tae medium by which the parts adhere, and are joined together. In this instance it is termed coagulable lymph, the }rincipal element by which adhesive inflammation is carriew mn. Lymphangitis.—This is a disease which attacks large coarse-bred horses that are difficult to keep in good condi- tion, and ocwasists in the outpouring of plastic lymph into the femoral veins of one of the fore legs, which, as a consequence, swells to a very great size, and exhibits to the touch a feeling of a great many irregular prominences under the skin. It is hot, painful, stiff, and accompanied with fever, which, in a short time, passes off. In a few days the heat, pain and swelling will diminish a little, and the horse will move more freely, but will, in most cases, retain a “thick leg” for life. Fomentations of warm water should be applied to relieve heat, tension, and pain; to be followed in a few days with broad bandages tightly rolled round the limb. Give soft feed, such as cut-mess, bran and green food. As soon as the animal can move the leg he may be put to slow work. Madness.—A disease produced by the bite of a mad dog. (See Hydrophobia.) Mad Staggers.—An affection of the brain. (Ses Staggers.) 158 DISEASES OF THE HORSE. Maggots.—These are sometimes seen in neglected wounds and sores, in warm weather. To remove them, apply equal parts of creosote and olive oil, or a solution of corrosive sublimate. Malignant.—A term applied to diseases of a fatal ‘character; as glanders, for instance. Why the term ma- lignant should not be applied to such diseases as locked-jaw, and inflammation of the bowels, which are so often fatal, is one of the inexplicables of medical nosology or terminology, not easily for me to understand. Malignant Epidemic.—English writers tell us that a malignant epidemic has attacked horses on the European Continent. Influenza is a disease from which scarcely one per cent. should die when scientifically and intelligently treated; but by bleeding, blistering, physicking, and low diet, a really simple and non-fatal disease is at once con- verted into a fatal and malignant epidemic. Mallenders.—A term used by old books and horse doctors, to designate a scaly condition of the skin back of the leg and opposite to the knee. A term which certainly, to say the least, should long ago have been blotted out of all the books, as vague, uncertain, unmeaning. This scaly eruption is the result of dryness of the skin of the back part of the leg, where the greatest and almost constant movement of the joint is going on. The same condition is seen on the face of some joints, and in others on the back, from the constant mobility of the parts. Who has not seen scruffy or scaly heels of horses ending with scratches? (See Skin Diseases.) Mange.—This is a disease of the skin, and is caused by a small mite called acari, which breeds and burrows in tha MESENTERICA. 158 skin, To cure mange, destroy the insect. (See Skin Diseases.) Materia Medica.—This is a name applied to every substance used in the treatment and cure of disease. Megrims,—A disease of the brain occurring at periods, especially in hot weather, and when exposed to a powerful sun. This differs from epilepsy only in the absence of spasms. (See Epilepsy.) Causes. Tumors in the choroid plexus, and enlargement of the pineal gland. Treatment. Merely palliative, by using a dutch collar, so as not to interfere with the circulation of the blood from the head. Observe. In summer the horses subject to brain diseasé . or fits of any kind, should not be used for family purposes. In winter they will make useful animals. Melanosis.—A variety of cancer peculiar to gray horses, which turns white with age, and is caused by the transfer of the coloring pigment from the skin to the blood. (See Cancer.) Melanoid,—(See Cancer and Tumors.) Mesentery.—A membrane formed of two folds of the peritoneum, between each of which there are numerous glands, lacteals, lymphatics, arteries, veins and nerves. It is called the mesentery, because it adheres to three lumbar vertebre, and has the small intestines hanging to it. One portion of it is called the mesocolon—supporter of the colon -—and another the mesorectum, which encloses the rectum. Mesenterica,— Wasting of the mesentery is a disease which is not very common to horses, although some clearly marked cases are sometimes seen, characterized by wasting 160 DISEASES OF THE HORSE. of the body, weakness, and general debility of the whole system. Bowels irregular, sometimes soft, at other times hard, of a pale or straw color, and frequently of bad smell. All that can be done is to keep the strength and condi- tion of the horse up by iron and gentian, so frequently recommended throughout the book. Metastasis.—A term denoting a change or shifting of disease from one part of the body to another. as is well illustrated in cases of rheumatism. Moon Blindness,—(See Eye Diseases.) Mortification.—Death of a part. (See Gangrene.) Moribund.—A term in use, and applied when men or animals are in a dying condition. Mouth, Diseases of the.—These are but few; per- haps the irregularities of the teeth are the most important. So much is this the case, that from diseased or carious teeth, an affection arises, to many external appearances, similar to glanders; and horses have accordingly been destroyed, whereas, if a carious tooth, producing a stinking discharge from the nose, had been removed, these appear- ances would have passed off. The edges of the teeth of horses, at all ages, are apt to become sharp, and cut or wound the inside of the mouth, and interfere with mastication or chewing. When horses are off their feed and losing flesh, it will be well to have the teeth examined. To remedy any irregularity of the grinders, a rasp or file, with a concave surface and long handle, is used to make the teeth smooth and level. Wolf teeth are supernumerary, but do no injury to either the mouth or the eyes. (1.) Scatp Movrs.—Another simple affection of the mouth, which is characterized by the horse slobbering or MOUTH. 161 frothing from the mouth, as if salivated. In aggravated cases fever is present. Treatment. Give ten drops of the tincture of aconite root in a little cold water three times in the day, for 48 hours, and allow the horse to have a bucket of cold water sus- pended or placed before him, to cool his mouth in. TOOTH CHISEL, RASP AND HAMMER, (2.) Wounds oF THE ToncuE.—Should be treated the same way, but without the aconite. If the tongue is nearly cut through, have the cut portion entirely removed, The horse can do wonderfully well without a large part of his tongue. (3.) Brack Toneuvr.—This is not a disease, but the effect of a simple and non-fatal affection, frequently treated by bleeding, blistering and physicking—destroying vitality, and inducing mortification of the tongue, as well as of other portions of the body. (4.) ApurHous Turuss.—Soreness of the mouth, with white patches on the tongue, inside the cheeks and roof of the mouth. In man, «his condition of the mouth is called stomatitis. Causes. Bad condition of the stomach and dyspepsia. 162 DISEASES OF THE HORSE. Treatment. Borax in powder, one ounce; molasses, three ounces; mix, and apply with a soft brush, or soft piece of cloth. Give soft feed or cut grass. A few doses of sulphite of soda, half an ounce to a dose, given for a few evenings, will be all that is wanted. (See Lampas.) The mouth is a favorite and convenient place for horse- men to try the keenness of their pocket knives, when the least pretext is offered. The palatine artery is sometimes cut lengthwise; and when that is the case, the bleeding, thus unnecessarily induced, will not stop when it is wanted. Many plans and contrivances are recommended, by individuals, to stop such bleeding; but none are equal to a piece of iron or kitchen-poker immersed, for a few minutes, in hot water, and applied to the wound for a moment, which will at once stop further loss of blood. (5.) Parror Mouts.—A malformation consisting in the upper front teeth, projecting over the lower ones. Young horses are little inconvenienced by it, but not so with old ones, when the teeth are long; for then the lower teeth wound the soft palate of the upper jaw, especially when the horse is eating. Keep the teeth short by the use of the file. Mucous Membrane,—A thin lining of all the air passages ; so-called, because the surface is kept moist, with a slimy matter, as referred to in the succeeding article When this mucus is altered in quantity and quality, and when mucous-pus is poured out, disease is present. This is seen in cases of cold, bronchitis, and inflammation of the eyes, (which see.) Mucus.—A thick, viscid substance, thrown out from the mucous membrane, throughout the body. Myalgia,—A term given to inflammation of a set of NECROSIS. 163 muscles, and is applied, by some, to wasting of the muscles, as is sometimes seen in sweenie. Narcotics.—Medicines which act upon the nervous system, diminishing its power and sensibility, and so re- lieving inflammation, irritation, and pain. A medicine capable of doing this, also contains the properties of ax anodyne, a sedative, soporific, carminative, and nauseant. There are but few medicines possessing this power over the horse, and these are, aconite, prussic acid, veratrum, and, perhaps, lobelia. In my practice, nothing answers the purpose so well as aconite. It is the great antiphlo- gistic. Indeed, so great is its power, that in bronchitis, inflammation of the lungs, feet, and bowels, or where there is pain and fever, no remedy or remedies can compare with this invaluable medicine in the treatment of diseases of the horse. (See Medicines and Prescriptions.) Nasal Gleet.—A thin, transparent discharge from the ose. (See Gleet.) Navicular Disease.—This is a disease commonly called coffin-joint lameness, and by some it is termed grogginess. (See Foot Diseases.) BONE HOLDER. Necrosis,—This is a term given to a dead bone when tt is attached to a sound one. The difference between caries and necrosis is this: Caries is present when the bone 164 DISEASES OF THE HORSE. is impaired only, and necrosis when the bone is entirely dead, and its functious have entirely ceased. Whena bone has fallen into the condition of necrosis, its removal be- comes as necessary as the removal of ayy other dead or LISTON’S BONE FORCEPS. foreign matter, in order that reparation and restoration of the function be repaired, and a cure be made. Nephritis,—A technical term applied to inflammation of the kidneys, (which see.) Nervousness,—Few persons having the care of horses have failed to observe in them, occasionally, a peculiar excitability of disposition when any confusion and noise is going on, and when being harnessed for work. ‘The tail becomes somewhat elevated, they move from one side of the stall to the other, and pass manure from them repeat- edly every few minutes, until one would think there was nothing left in their bowels. These animals are usually light bellied and poor feeders, but fleet and free goers, very gay in saddle or harness, and much admired by persons not versed in horse-flesh. They make excellent Sunday horses, but poor every-day animals, as the constant excitement, when at work, overdoes their physical powers. This con- dition impairs the value of the horse very much. Treatment. Keep nervous horses in a place by themselves, where there is no noise or sound to disturb them, and have no harness or saddles in the place with them, nor clean NOSE. 165 harness or exddles where they are; for whenever a piece of harness is seen in the hands of the groom, the anima) expects it is to be put upon him—hence he gets excited, and efforts are made to empty the bowels of their contents. The harnessing or saddling should be the last thing done before going out with such a horse, as it gives him no time to empty the bowels and become excited. Ten grains of opium, and a drachm or two of prepared chalk may be given, either half an hour before going out, or after he comes in. Such horses are more pleasant to drive, if this be given. Stuffing cotton or wool in the ears also has a good effect. Neurotomy,—