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».

THE

VETERINARY SCIENCE

THE ANATOMY,

DISKASES AND TREATMENT

-OF-

Domestic (Jntmals

ALSO—

COXTAFXIXC, A KL'LL DESCRIPTION OF MI-DICIXKS

AND RIX'EIPTS.

II V

J. E. ii()i)(;ixs, V. s.,

( Hoiutrtiry (inii/iiiifi- of the Oii/nriu Wtrriimry College),

AM)

T. II 1IASKETT,

( Sitrihiry of \'f/,-n'iiit ry Sriciiic Ci»iip<inv j.

TOKOXTO. CANAOA:

I S96.

/.//./. KIOHTS KESEk'lfOJ

Eiiler.-d aa-ordini; lo Act of Hk- i'a.iianH-nt of Cana.l:.. in ilu- yoar iH.,(.,
by J. K. Moin.iNs, V. S., a.ul T. H. Haskki r. at ilu- IVpartmi-nt
of Aj^rii'iiltiiio.

Entered acrordinK to Act of lon^.v.s. i„ tlu- year .S.)6. by J. K.
HoiHWNS. V. S.. and T. H. Uaskk. i. in tin- Olluv ol ilu- L.branan
of Conjfivss, at \Va•^l^inKloM. I"). C,

'ym^

SOLICITOR OF PATENTS,
London, - Ont.

HEAL & FLEMING. PRINTERS AND PUBLISHERS
172 King Stbeet, London, Canada

\

PREFACE.

\

ax THK retiucst of some of the leadinj;^ stockowiiers and
prominenl farmers of Ontario, and believiii}; that a work
of this kind has lonj;' been wanted by tliose interested in
domestic animals, the authors have undertaken the pub-
lication of TiUt N'etkrinakv Siikxik in the simplest I%nf;lish
lanj^uaj^e. They have endeavored to make it a profitable and in-
terestinjf study for stockowners and their sons, who, by carefully
consulting' the payes of this book, will find it to contain informa-
tion of untold value.

The first forty-two pajjes contain the practical anatomy or
conformation of the horse, and should be carefullv studied.

The diseases and treatment of the horse follow these, and
Chapter I. lays the plan of how to examine a sick horse, and as
the reader proceeds ii will be found to be simple in the extreme.
Mistakes in doctorinj^ can hardly be made, as the causes, symp-
toms and treatmer,t of the diseases are so fully explained that the
stockowner has but to follow the directions laid down in
this book.

The comparative anatomy, diseases and treatment of cattle,
bei^^inning' at page 2iq, will likewise be found to be as simple and
satisfactorily explained as that of the liorse.

The diseases and treatment of sheep, found between pages
292 and 313 of this book, are fully dealt with, and it will he found
by persons who read and study this part o\' the book that sheep
are as easy to doctor as any oi the other animals. The same may
be said of the diseases and treatinent o\' pigs, dogs and poultry,
found from pages 313 to 340.

Medicines, a very important part of the study, and fully and
practically expl.-iined, will be found commencing on page 341.
Following' these are the receipts for making liniments, lotions,
powders, blisters, etc., which are very valuable to exerybody,
especially those interested in stock, which may now be said is
what the farmer looks to for a livelihood.

2.^7 ^"^

THE VETERISARY SCIENCE is considered
hv many to be equal to a thorough praclical course
ill a veterinary ctdlege, and copies of the b-jok can
onlv be obtained through any of our duly author-
ized agents.

f

1'^

ii

EXPLANATION OF PI.ATK I.

Skklkton of thk Hukse.

This cut ^ives the names of all the joints and bones in the body,

also the number of bones in each section. Names

marked .icciinlini,'' to niimhi'is.

I

0

Hi

H
<
.J
a.

1. Scapula, or BlmuUIer ))lii(1o.

2. HuineruB, or ghoulder l>one.
M. Hii()iiif«, (ir bone of forearm.
4. Ulna, or bono of foroHrm.

it. CirpiM, or knee (contiiins S bonea).

6. .MelH<;arpal, or lurge shin l»onf,

7. .Small Metacarpal*, or splint l)ont'8,

2 in number, I on cai-h side.

H. Sesamoids, or futlnck bones, "J unall

bones at tlie back i/f the joint.

y. (); Sutlraginis, or larne iiiislern bones

10 Oji Coroiiic, or small pasleru bones.

11. ()d I'e4li8, or foot bone.

12. Os Xitviculaie, or hht'llle bone, silu

aled bcliind the cottin joint, and is
the seat of the cottin joint lame
ntss.

13. Femur, or hip bone.
14 Patella, or stitlle bone.

15. Tibia and Fibula, or thigh bones,
the Fibula being u small bone run-
ning down just outside the Tibia.

IK. Tarsus, or hock joint contains six
stnull bones.

17. Metatarsal, or largo shin bone.

IH. M utataraals, or small shin bones,
being 2 in number.

19, 2<), 21, 22 and 211 receive the same
names in the hind leg as M, {*, 10, II
and 12 in the front leg, being the
same from the fetlock down.

24. Cervical region, or neck bone, being

7 in nund>er.

2.'), Dorsal region, or bairk bones, being
Is in number, to c irrespond with
the Is pairs of rilis.

2li. I.umlar region, or small of the back
bones, being (( in number.

27. Sacral region, or rump bones, being
.'i in num)>er.

25. CoLcy^i-al region, or tail bones,

bt-iii:: Is ill number.

20. Cranium bones, or bones that pro-
tect tlie bruin.

.'tn. I'ppt-r and lower jaw bones.

iti. Slcrnuiii, or breust bone.

:t2. liilM. Is pairs.

X\. I'elvis, or hip bones.

34 .Shoulder joint.

It."). Klbow joint.

'Mt. ('arpus, or knee joint.

.■t7. Fetlock joint.

.'tS I'astern joint.

.'<!!. L'otlin joint, which is situated with-
in tiie hoof.

40. Hip joint.

41. Stillle joint

42. Tarsus, or hook joint. The joints

receive the same name from the
hock down in the bin. I leg, us from
knee down in the front leg.

THE

Veterinary Science

PART I.

Anatomy of the Horse.

CHAPTKR 1.

BONE.

BONKS are hard, yellowish-white, insensitive objects which
form the skeleton of animals. Living' hone is bluish
pink, insensitive and elastic. On exposure to air it
becomes diseased and blackened, and :.■. /ery sensitive and painful.
Hones are made up of two kinds of matter — anintal, which
makes the bone toug'h and clastic, and earthy, which makes it
hard and brittle. In youn^ animals the animal matter forms
one-half of the substance, which afterwards diminishes to one-third
as the animal advances in a^e. This is why we account for old
animals' bones being easier to fracture and harder to mend.

COVERING OF BONE.

Bones are covered by a touj^'h, fibrous, inelastic membrane
called periosteuiii, which can be seen on examininj^ a bone of an
animal which has just died. The only exception we have to this
is at the joints where ono bone articulates with another, and
where a tendon or muscle plays over a bone; here wo Hnd its
place taken by articular cartilajje.

CONTENTS OF BONE.

We find in the extremities or near the ends of bones, red
marrow, while in the shaft we find white marrow.

CLASSES OF BONE.

Bones are classed as long, flat and irregular. Long bones
are found in the extremities or legs, and serve as levers for
travelling and pillars to support the body. Always remember, that

I

2

THE ANATOMY OF THE HORSE.

long bones are divided into a shaft and two extremities. Flat
bones are found where vital organs need protection. Example:
Shoulder blade and ribs, to protect the heart and lungs; pelvic
or hip bones, to protect the bladder, rectum and other urinary
and genital organs; also the cranial bones, to protect the vital
organ called the brain. Irregular bones are found in the spinal
column and in the joints, such as the knee or carpus hock or
tarsus, where great strength is required.

HEAD BONES.

In speaking of the different points of importance in connec-
tion with the head bones of the horse, in making a cross or
longitudinal section of the head, you will notice it is full of
cavities or sinuses. The uses of these are to lighten the head
and also to warm the air as it passes into the nostrils on its
road down to the lungs; you will also find it is full of foramen
or small holes for the nerves from the brain and various blood
vessels to pass through to the organs situated in the head,
such as the tongue, lips, and the various glands in and around
the head.

Then we have the cavities in which the eyes are situated,
one on each side of the head, called the orbital fossa. In examining
this fossa you will find a small opening or foramen, through
which the optic nerve passes in coming from the brain to the
eye. This is the nerve of sight. Then the most important part
of all to consider is the cranial cavity in which that very impor-
tant organ is situated called the brain, which controls all the
various functions and movements of the body.

Then we have another point, viz.: the situation of the

drum of the ear. It is situated in the hardest bone we find

in the whole skeleton, called the petrosal. The nerve that

gives the function called hearing comes from the brain down to

the petrosal bone and enters by a small foramen or hole into

the drum of the ear to give hearing. This nerve is called the

auditory nerve.

CERVICAL OR NECK BONES.

In considering these bones, we find seven in number. The
first and second bones proceeding from the head receive special
names. The first one is called the atlas, from which the head
is suspended and attached to ; it somewhat resembles the body of
a bird with wings out. Thr next bone receives the name of

I ^.

:i

'»*":^«'.i

THE ANATOMY OF THE HORSE.

L

h \

ii

t

dentata. This is the bone which allows the head to turn in any
direction, hence it is sometimes called the axis or pivot of the
neck. Between these two bones, on the upper side, is the only
place where the spinal cord is not covered with bone— a spot
about the size of a twenty-five cent piece. Here is where the
operation of pithing is performed in destroying the horse. It is
done by running a sharp instrument, such as a knife, fairly in the
centre of the neck about four inches behind the ears, and passing
in this hole through the coverings of the spine into that very vital
organ called the spinal cord, causing death instantaneously. The
next four bones receive no name, and are about the same in size
and length. The last, or seventh bone is only about one-half the
length of the preceding ones and receives no special name.

DORSAL OR BACK BONES.

In considering these bones we find eighteen in number. The
chief points of interest about them are the height of the
spines on the upper part of the bones. These large spines form
the withers of the horse, as you will notice in the skeleton. On
either side of these bones we find the ribs attached, eighteen pairs
corresponding with the number of bones in this region.

LUMBAR OR SMALL-OF-BACK BONES.

In considering these bones we find six in number, and they
are situated immediately above the kidneys.

SACRAL OR RUMP BONES.

In considering these bones we find five in numbc in the
young horse, which become united and form one in the adult.
These are situated between the upper hip hones and help to form
the rump of the horse. Beneath these bones the bladder is situated.

COCCYGEAL OR TAIL BONES.

In considering these bones wc find eighteen in number. The
principal points of interest in these are, they become smaller
as they proceed towards the point of the tail.

HIP OR PELVIC BONES.

These are three in number, viz.: Ilium, ischium, and pubis.
The largest is the ilium, passing upwards and forwards, the outer
part of it forming the pin of the hip or outer angle. The back or
posterior part of this bone forms a third of the articular surface of

f

4 TMK ANATOMY OF THK HORSE.

the round joint and also helps to form the upper wall o( the pelvic
or hip cavity. The ischium passes back from the round joint and
helps to form the floor of the pelvic cavity, and can be felt in a
horse that is poor in flesh projectip'rout below the tail on each side.
The pubis, the smallest of the three bones, is situated immediately
in front of the ischium bone and forms the floor of the pelvic cavity.

STERNUM OR BREAST BONE.

This bone is small and short in the horse and is situated on
the lower side of the chest cavity. The principal points of this
bone are that it is the softest one in the horse, and the first eii^ht
pairs of ribs are attached to it on either side. This bone, in the
horse, resembles a small, flat boat.

RIBS.

In considering^ the ribs we find eii^hteen pairs. They form
the lateral wall of the thorax or chest cavity and afford protection
to the heart and lunifs. They are attached above to the dorsal
rei,''ion o\' the back bone. Melow, the first ei4,'^ht pair are attached
to the sternum, or breast bone ; these are called the true ribs of
the horse; ihe next ten pair are not attached to the sternum
below, the lower ends beinj^^ free, and are continued downwards
and forwards by a small piece of cartilage or gristle, and are just
slightly attached to the breast bone ; these are called the false ribs.
Also remember that, starting with the first rib, they get longer
until we get to the ninth rib ; afterwards they get shorter until the
last rib is reached, it being only a few inches long.

NUMBER OF BONES IN SKELETON OF HORSE.

In the head of the colt is found thirty-eight bones, not includ-
ing the teeth, but in after life we find a great many bones become
attached to each other by a process called ossification.

Head .SS

Spinal column '}4

Pelvic oiivity or hips, three pair or six single (i

Riha, eighteen pair .'?(>

Breast 1

Both fro.t legs 42

Botli hind legs .'Ui

Kar, bones very small and unimportant 3

Total, not incluiUng tiie teeth '210

The teeth are dealt with separately in another section of this book.

THE ANATOMV OF THE HORSE.

CHAPTKR II.

CONSIDERATION OF JOINTS.

THK various structures which enter into the formation of
joints are the extremities of bone, ligaments, cartilag-e,
and sometimes we have muscles which help to support
the joint. All articular joints are supplied with a synovial mem-
brane, which secretes the synovia or joint oil for lubricating^ the joint.

Cartilaj^e, or what is familiarly called ^^ristle, are of two
kinds, viz.: articular and fibrous. The fibrous is not of much
importance and does not need much consideration ; it is found in
various parts of the body. But the articular cartilage, which
covers over the ends of bones where they form a joint, is of more
importance.

Lig'aments are strong' fibrous bands found principally around
joints. They are of two kinds, capsular and binding. A capsular
ligament is a thin membrane, attached around the end of each bone,
which helps to form a joint, and is, as it were, air-tight. The
uses of these ligaments are to keep the joint oil from escaping,
and partly helps to hold the bone together. On the inside lining
of this ligament we find the synovia membrane which secretes the
joint oil. Binding ligaments are generally found on each side of
of the joint, and are very strong bands ol' fibrous tissue. The uses
of these Ugiinients are to hold the bones of the joint firmly together.

THE IMPORTANT POINTS OF JOINTS IN EXTREMITIES.

Shoulder Joint. —This joint is formed by the shoulder blade,
or scapula, and humerus or shoulder bone. This is a ball-and-
socket joint, and has a strong capsular ligament, and is held to its
place also by several large muscles, the most important one
being the flexor brachii, which passes down over the shoulder
joint through a pulley-like process on the bone, and is held down by a
binding ligament which is supplied by a synovial membrane, or sack.
This is the seat of what is called shoulder joint lameness. The
motion of this joint is outwards or inwards, backwards or forwards.

Elbow Joint is formed by the lower part of the humerus and
the upper part of the radius and ulna. It has a capsular ligament
and binding ligaments, one on the inside and one on the outside.
The action of this joint is just forwards and backwards, or flection
and extension, but has no side motion.

THE ANATOMY OF THE HORSE.

Carpus, or Knee. — This is a very important joint, constructed
of eight bones, having two rows, four in each, held together
by strong, short ligaments. Thus we have three separate articular
surfaces in this joint. The top side of the upper row articulates
with the bone of fore arm ; this surface gives the most motion to
the knee. Another articulation between the two rows of bones gives
slight motion to the knee, but not so much as the upper articular
surface. Between the lower part of the lower row of bones and
the upper part of metacarpal, or shin bones is another articular
surface which gives slight motion to the knee. This joint has a
large capsular ligament, and has binding ligaments inside
and outside. The action of this joint is the same as elbow joint.

Fetlock Joint.— This is formed above by the lower part of the
shin, or metacarpal bone, and below by the upper part of the large
pastern bone. At the back of this joint we have two small bones
galled the sesamoid bones. This joint has a capsular and two
lateral binding ligaments. The motion of this joint is backwards
and forwards, same as knee.

Pastern Joint. — Tliis joint is situated just above the hoof, and
is formed by the lower end ol' the large pastern bone and the upper
end of the small pastern bone. It has a capsular and lateral binding
ligaments, same as fetlock joint. It also has same motion as fetlock
joint, and is sometimes the seat of what is termed a high ringbone.

Coffin Joint. -This joint is situated within the hoof of the
horse. It is formed above by the lower end of the small pastern
bono, and below by the upper part of the foot bone, or os pedis.
Immediately behind this joint, and articulating with the other two
bones, we have the navicular, or shuttle bone — it gets its name
from its likeness to the shuttle of a sewing machine. This bone
is the seat of navicular disease, or otherwise called coflin-joint
lameness, and also is affected with what is sometimes called a
low-down ringbone.

JOINTS OF HIND LEG.

Hip Joint. — This is a ball-and-socket joint, similar to shoulder
joint. It has a capsular ligament and what is called a round
ligament, in the joint, holdin',-- the head of the bone in the socket,
whicli can be seen plainly oit examining the joint. This is an
important ligament, as it often becomes strained, which is the seat
of hip joint lameness. It is also held together by the heavy
muscles of the hip. Its motion is similar to that of shoulder joint*

THE ANATOMY OF THE HORSE.

Stifle Joint. — This joint is formed above by the lower end of
the femur, or hip bone, and the upper end of the tibia, or thigh
bone. These two bones in front form a pulley-like surface on
which the patella, or stifle bone is situated. This bone, when the
joint is in motion, glides up and down over the pulley-like surface.
It sometimes becomes displaced, and this is termed dislocation
of the stifle bone. This is an important point to notice about this
joint. It has a capsular and lateral, or binding ligaments ; also
three very important ligaments, called the straight ligaments,
which holds the stifle bone to its place as it plays upon the pulley-
like process of this joint. The motion is backwards and forwards,
same as elbow joint.

Hock or Tarsus Joint.--This joint contains six bones. The
two upper bones, one of which is a pulley-like bone placed in
front, and the other one placed behind, forms that part of the
hock which is called the point of the hock to which the muscles of
the gamb are attached, whicli can be easily seen or felt. The upper
surface of these two bones articulate with the lower extremity of
the tibia, or thigh bone, and forms a true articulation of the hock
joint. This part is what gives most of the motion to the
joint. Below those we find three other small, flat bones, placed
one upon the other, having articular surfaces between o;ich one.
These are called the cuneiform bones of the hock. Immediately
behind tljese three small bones we have what is termed the cuboid
bone. This bone also articulates with the cuneiform bones, help-
ing to form the articular surface of the hock. The lower articular
surfaces help to give a small amount of motion to the joint. This
joint is the seat of the disease termed spavin.

Fetlock, Pastern and Coffin Joints are similar to those in

front leg.

In speaking of ligaments, there is another very important
one to mention which is called the ligamentum nucha, which *
supports the head when the muscles arc- at rest. This extends
from the pole of the head backwards under the mane and is
attached to the spine of the dorsal vertebrie or, comnionl\ called,
the withers of the horse. This ligament is chietly made up of
fibro elastic tissue, and will stretch much the same as a piece of
elastic.

«p

■HHH

8

THK ANATOMY OF THE HORSE.

CHAPTHR III.

THE MUSCULAR SYSTEM

coM^fo^'Lv called m.esh.
"^^USCLES are the chief organs of motion, each one beingf
/ ~ % separated from the other by a thin, delicate membrane
-^ ^ made up of connective tissue, which forms a sheath for
the muscle. A muscle is divided into two parts, viz. : muscular
and tendinous. The muscular part is the larger of the two and
forms the larger portion of it, and is sometimes called the
belly of the muscle. It is made of muscular tissue, which has a
reddish meaty color. At both ends of the muscle we find a
tendinous part, or the hard, white portion o( the muscle where it
becomes attached to the bone. Every muscle is attached to two
or more places on different bones, and, upon their contraction,
moves the joints of the body. They are well supplied with nerves,
which give strength and feeling, and also well supplied with small
blood vessels, from which the muscle is fed. Muscles are found
in separate groups, all of which have different actions to perform.
There are two kinds of muscles voluntary and involuntary. The
voluntary muscles are under the control of the will of the animal ;
example the muscles of the legs, hip, back, head, and neck.
The involuntary muscles are beyond control of the animal, and
will act even though the animal were asleep such as the heart,
the large muscular curtain which separates the chest cavity from
the abdominal cavity, which is one of the great muscles of
breathing ; also the muscles around ^he chest which assist in
breathing.

Voluntary Muscles are in groups. The first one we call
attention to, after removing the skin, is a thin muscle almost
entirely covering the body, and is sometimes accidentally removed
if not careful in skinning the animal. The action of this muscle is
to shake the skin when flies or something bother the horse. At
t';e head we find a group of muscles which assist in chewing, or
masticating, the food. Around the throat is another set of
muscles, sometimes called the muscles of the gullet, or pharynx,
which assist in swallowing. The neck muscles are divided into
two groups, one on cich side. The action of these are to raise
and lower the head, also to turn the neck and head from side to
side. The muscles of the back are generally divided into two

THK ANATOMY OF THE HOKSF

9

groups, one above the spinal column and the otiier below. The
muscles above the spine assist the animal in runnini,', jumpinj^ and
rearing". The muscles below the spine are sometimes called the
lumbar, or psofu, situated below the lumbar bones, or the bones
of the small of the back. Helow these muscles are the kidneys.
The action of these muscles is to assist the animal in gettiiii;- up.
These muscles are important, for when paralyzed the horse cannot
use his hindquarters in trying to get up.

The Gluteal Muscles, or ihe muscles of the hip, are very large,
filling in around the hip bones. The action of these is much the
same as those of the back, as they assist in jumping, running,
rearing, and in raising the hind leg.

The Abdominal Muscles, or belly muscles, are four large, flat
muscles on each side of the abdomen, or belly. The outer edge
of these muscles are attached to the outer ends of the false ribs,
also to the processes of the lumbar bones and the outer angles of
the hip bones. They unite below to what is called the linea alba,
which is a hard, white, fibrous cord, and is attached in front to
the back part of the breast-bone, passing back in the centre of
the belly, and is attached to the front of the pubic bones, or what
is called the lower bones of the hip cavity. .About ten inches from
where it is attached here, passing forward, we find a small slit, or
hole, which is called the navel, or umbilical opening, where the
naval vessels pass in <md out during the fcetus life, or before the
colt is foaled. This is a point of importance to note, for some-
times at the time of birth this opening does not close and allows
the bowels to come down and form what is known as navel, or
umbilical rupture.

Before finishmg the description of this group oi' muscles we
will mention a very large, important ligament which is found
spread all over the abdomen, or belly, of the horse. It is oi' a
yellowish color and about one-eighth of an inch thick, attached in
front to the back of the breast bone and to the hip bones behind.
This is the first structure seen after removing the skin from the
belly. This ligament gives great support to the organs contained
in the abdominal cavity. The action, or uses, of the abdominal
muscles are to support the organs contained in the abdominal cavity,
to flex the back-bone and assist in the passing of the fa'ces, or
manure. In the mare these muscles assist her in foaling, or
parturition.

10

THE ANATOMY OF THE HORSE.

I!

Tbe Coccyg:eal, or Muscles of the Tail.— In these we Bnd four

important ones — one situated on the upper side of the tail when it
is straig'ht out, its action is to raise the tail ; two are situated one
on each side of the tail, they have the power of drawing the tail to
either side ; the last one we mention is situated under the tail and
is the smallest one of the four, its action is to draw the tail down.

The Shoulder Muscles are very large and powerful ones.
There are only three of great importance, viz. : The two situated
on the outside of the shoulder blade ; these are important as they
are the seat of the disease called sweeny. The other important
one is that which passes down over the shoulder joint through
the groove or pulley-like surface on the shoulder bone. This is a
long, powerful muscle, attached above to the lower end of the
shoulder blade, down through the groove mentioned to the upper
part of the bone to the fore arm, or radius, at the front side. Its
chief point of importance rests in its action in raising the front leg,
where it passes through the pulley-like surface mentioned, when it
becomes injured or ciiseased ; it is also the seat of shoulder joint
lameness.

Muscles of Front Leg, from shoulder down, are divided into
two separate kinds, viz.: the extensor and flexor muscles.

The extensor muscles are the ones which bring the leg forward.
These muscles, above, are attached to the bones around the
elbow joint, passing down in front of the arm bones. About
three inches above the knee they become changed into the
tendinous part of these muscles, or what is called the cords of the
leg. Some of them arc attached to the knee joint, while others
pass over the iVont of the joint and are held down to their place
by a band or ligament, forming a loop, as it were, for this muscle
to glide in when the leg is in action. Each one oi' these loops,
where the muscles pass through, are supplied with a synovial
membrane to secrete the synovia, or oil, which lubricate it during
action, the same as in the joint. This is a point ol' importance,
as sometimes, on account of injury or strain of this part of the
joint where the riuscle plays through, we find a small pufly
enlargement containing oil secreted by the synovial membrane.
This disease is what is called a bursal enlargement.

The flexor muscles are the ones situated at the back part of
the leg, attached above to the back part of the elbow joint, passing
downwards at the back part of the leg. About two or three

THE ANATOMY OF THE HORSE.

11

inches above the back part of the knee joint they become tendinous,
and from there down to the back part of the foot bone, where two
of the principal muscles are attached; these form what is known as
the back tendons, or cords, of the leg'. Some of them become
attached to the back part of the knee, same as the muscles on the
front jart of the leg', while the other two principal tendons pass
through a loop formed by ligaments, the same as those mentioned
in the front part of the knee. In tracing these tendons down from
the knee to the fetlock, they pass through another large loop or
sheaih formed at the back of the fetlock, whore some of the fibres
are attached, while others continue down at the back part of the
pastern bones, and are attached to the os pedis, or foot bone.
These tendons are important as they are known, when they are
strained, as the strain of the back tendons. The action of tliese
muscles is to flex the leg, bend the knee, pastern joints and fetlock.

Muscles of Hind Leg:.— These iirc^ saIso divided into two
groups, extensor and flexor.

The extensor muscles are situated in front of the hind leg ;
attached, above, around the stifle joint, passing downwards in
front oi' the thigh bone, one being attached to the front part of the
hock, while the other passes through sheaths, or loops, which is
supplied by a synovial membrane, formed by ligaments, to hold
the muscles firm in front while the leg is in action. In tracing^
them down, in front of the shin bone to the fetlock, we find them
passing through loops, or sheaths, continuing down in front of
the pastern bones to where they are attached. The action of these
is to bring the leg forward.

The flexor muscles of the hind leg are attached, above,
around the back part of the stifle joint. In tracing them down it
is found they become tendinous. Two of the principal ones pass
down to that part of the hock joint, which sticks up behind, known
as the cap. Those form what is called the gamb of the leg, and
are partly attached at the point of the hock, the other part passing-
down to the fetlock joint througii a loop, or sheath, along the
back part of the pastern bones, and are attached to the foot bone.
This muscle, from the hock down, forms one of the back tendons
of the hind legf. Another important muscle is found passing down
underneath the ones already mentioned, through a loop, or
sheath, at the back part of the hock, where it is supplied with a
synovia sack. This is a point of importance, for when it becomes

12

THE ANATOMY OF THE HORSE.

It;

li

strained it is the seat of what is called thoroujjhpin. It then
passes down the back part of the shin bone beneath the other
tendon already mentioned, throujjh the loop at the fetlock to the
back part of the foot bone, where it is attached. The action of
these muscles are to flex or bend the fetlock and raise the hock joint
in travelling;.

Involuntary Muscles, or muscles which are not mder the
control of the will. The first we call attention to are tH; muscles
of breathing-, or respiration ; they are a group situated around
the chest in such a way as to enlarge the chest cavity and
draw the air into the lungs — this action is called inspiration - while
others in acting decreases the size of the chest cavity and forces
the air out of the lungs, which is called expiration. The diaphragm
is a muscular curtain which separates the chest from the abdominal
cavity, and also assists greatly in drawing the air in, when it
contracts ; this muscle also assists in passing manure, and in the
mare foaling. It separates the heart and lungs from the bowels,
liver and stomach. Everyone interested should examine this
muscle, which can be seen by opening any dead animal.

There is one muscle which is both voluntary and involuntary.
It is situated in the penis, surrounding the urethra, or the tube,
which carries the urine from the bladder to the penis in the male
animal. Its action is voluntary while the animal is passing urine,
or water. It acts involuntary during sexual intercourse, forcing
the semen down through the penis. There is what is known by
the name of fat situated between the muscles.

CHAPTER IV.

THE NERVOUS SYSTEM.

THIS system is a very important set of organs which give
motion and feeling to the body, and the different senses,
such as seeing, hearing, smelling and tasting. The two
principal parts of the nervous system are the brain and spinal
cord. The brain, being the centre of the whole nervous system,
is situated in the cranial cavity, surrounded by three delicate
membranes, the outer one being attached to the inner wall of the
cranial cavity. The brain contains several important nerves
called the cranial nerves, which are given off from the brain and
passed down through the various foramen or openings in the

THE ANATOMY OF THE HORSE.

13

head to supply the different organs situated there, such as the
optic nerve, which passes down to the eye, tfivinjf the sense of
sififht. The auditory nerve passes down to the drum of the
ear to give the sense of hearing. The auifactory nerves, which
give the sense of smell, are situated in the mucus membrane
lining the nose. The nerves passing down to the tongue give
the sense of taste. Other nerves pass down to the lips, teeth,
mouth and face, giving motion and feeling to the parts mentioned ;
others pass down to the gullet or pharynx, giving it the power of
swallowing. In passing from the brain along the spinal cord,
which is situated in the opening of the bones of the back, there
are numerous small nerves given off^ to supply the muscle* of
the neck, giving the neck motion and feeling. About opposite the
shoulder blade, or withers, the spinal cord gives off" a large bunch
of nerves, part of which supplies the heart and lungs with nervous
power. This is a point of importance, for if the spinal cord
becomes injured in front of these nerves it causes immediate death.
The other part of this bunch of nerves supply the shoulder, chest,
and muscles of the front legs. Passing backwards along the
spinal cord is found the sympathetic system of nerves, which go
to supply the bowels, stomaclv, liver, kidneys, and other organs
situated in the abdominal cavity. Continuing backwards along
the spinal cord, to about opposite the hip bones, we find another
lot of nerves, one of which goes to supply the rectum, or back
bowel ; this gives the power of passing manure. Others go to
the womb and bladder ; these assist in urinating by con-
tracting the bladder. Other nerves pass to the small organs
situated in the pelvic cavity; some of these nerves pass down to the
hind legs, supplying them with nervous power. The balance of
the nerves of the spinal cord ^o to supply the tail.

Nerves have the appearance of bunches of white thread held
together by connective tissue.

14

THE ANATOMY OF THE HOKSE.

•i:i

CHAPTER V.

CIRCULATORY SYSTEM.

THIS is an important system to understand on account of it
being' the means by which the various parts of the body
are ted or nourished. The principal points to consider
are the heart, arteries, capillary vessels, veins, and the very
important fluid they carry, called the blood. Considering the
heart, we find this the main organ of circulation ; it weighs about
six and one-half pounds in the average horse ; it acts as a force
pump to force the blood through the vessels already named. It
is made of strong muscular tissue, which acts involuntary, and is
situated between the lungs, which are divided by what is known
as the mediastinum, which is a division between the lungs and is
made up of two folds, the heart being between these. The bottom
end, or apex, of the heart is downwards and rests just above the
breast-bone; the base, or upper part, being directed upwards and
to the left side, the left lung having a hollow on its inside for the
heart to work in. There is a covering or sack around the heart
which helps to protect and support it in its place, attached above
to back-bone and below to the bones of the sternum, or breast-bone.
This sack is made up of fibrous tissue and is of a whitish appear-
ance ; inside it is smooth, and has numerous small glands which
secrete an oily substance called serous fluid, which lubricates the
outer wall of the heart and the inner wall of the sack so that in
action it does not irritate the walls. The cavity in the heart is
divided into two parts, the right and left sides; each one of these
parts are again divided into an upper cavity called auricle and a
lower cavity called ventricle ; thus we have the right and left
ventricle and right and left auricle. The right auricle communi-
cates with the right ventricle through an opening in the septum,
or partition in the right side of the heart. This opening is guarded
by a valve to keep the blood from flowing back into the auricle.
The left auricle communicates with the left ventricle, same as on
the right side. The right side of the heart is sometimes called the
venous ; this side only deals with the impure blood. The left side
is sometimes called arterial side, and only deals with pure blood ;
this side of the heart is very much stronger and thicker than the
right side.

THE ANATOMY OF THE HORSE.

15

In tracing the blood through the heart, commencing at the
right auricle, we find the two large veins of the body, called the
anterior and posterior vena cavas, which empty the impure blood
of the body into the right auricle of the heart. It is there guarded
by two small valves at the mouth of each vein, while the right
auricle contracts, forcing the blood down through the hole in the
septum into the right ventricle. It is there guarded by a valve to
keep the blood from flowing back, while the right ventricle
contracts and forces the blood up into the pulmonary artery, which
passes only two or three inches above the heart and divides into
two branches, one to the right lung and the other to the left lung.
These again divide into other small arteries, which flow into what
is known as the capillary network. This network is situated
around the air cells of the lungs, where, by a process, the blood
gives off carbonic acid gas, which is breathed out along with the
air. The blood takes in the oxygen from the pure air, which
changes the color of the blood from a black red to a bright red.
This is a point of importance to note as it shows that stables
should be well ventilated so that animals can have plenty of pure
air. The blood now flows into the pulmonary veins, which carry
the pure blood back to the heart to be emptied into the left auricle.
Here these veins are guarded with valves so as not to allow the
blood to flow back while the left auricle contracts to force the
blood down through the opening mentioned before into the left
auricle. This opening is also guarded by valves so as not to allow
the blood lo flow back while the left ventricle contracts, with great
force, to drive the blood up into the common aorta, the largest
artery in the body, which passes above the heart two or three
inches, and, just below the backbone, breaks into branches, one
passing forward and supplying the parts of the body in front of
the heart, the other branch passing backward under the spinal
bones, supplying the parts of the body behind the heart.

The branch which goes forward runs under the spine just a
few inches, where it breaks into other branches, some going to
supply the shoulder and front leg; the other branches being two
large ones, one passing on each side of the neck under the jugular
vein, which are called carotid arteries. These give off small
branches, as they pass up the side of the neck, to feed the
muscles and other parts thereof, while just below the butt of the
ear, this artery breaks into three large branches, which go to
supply the brain and different parts of the head. In considering

16

THK ANATOMY OV TMK MOKSi:.

1

ft'!

i ;

I ■■

the iiianch which runs backwards from the lieart, we find it a
very \ong, larg'e artery, passing just below the spine, between
the kidneys, breaking up about six inclies behind them into four
hirge branches — two on the left and two on the right side.
One on the left goes to supply the left hip and organs in the pelvic
or hip cavity, while the other passes down the left leg to supply
it with blood; one on the right side helps to supply the right hip
and pelvic cavity, whiie the other passes down the right leg.
This large branch, in passing back along the spine, gives off
small branches — one to the liver, one to the spleen, one to the
stomach, and branches to the large and small bowels, and one
to each kidney.

Arteries arc the vessels which carry the blood away from the
heart to the different parts of the body. They always carry the
pure blood of the body, which is a bright red color. When the
left ventrical contracts it causes a wave, as it were, to pass all
down through the arteries. This is an important point in con-
nection with the pulse of a horse. The walls of the arteries are
made up of elastic tissue, and after death are always lying open,
and, also, you never find and blood in them after death, the
reason is because they contract and force the blood all out before
they loose the power of contracting.

How to Tell When an Artery is Cut. The blood comes out

in spurts every time the heart beats, and is of a bright red color.
Arteries are always found deep-seated and well protected with
muscles and bone; as, for insuuice, the large arteries of the legs
always pass down on the inside of the leg very close to the
bone, and on account of this we very rarely have large arteries
injured. Towards the end of the arteries they are foimd to break
up into very small ones which run into the capillary network
of the body. These are numerous very small vessels about |^,
of an inch in diameter. Their walls are very thin and cannot be
distinguished except under a microscope, and are found in all
parts of the body. As the blood passes slowly through these sm?.ll
vessels, the nourishment is absorbed from the blood through the
very thin walls to supply the tissues of the body. When the
blood passes through this capillary network it again enters into
larger vessels called the veins, which carry it on its road back to
the heart. In starting at the head to trace the blood back to the
heart, we find it carried from the head by two very important
vessels called the jugular veins ; these are important on account

THK ANATOMY OK THE HORSE.

17

of being' the veins which arc used to bleed the animal from.
The veins which run up the inside of the front leg, carrying the
blood back from the leg, unite with the jugular veins, forming
what is known as anterior vena cava, which empties into the
right auricle of the heart. In tracing the blood back from the
hind leg^, a large vein is found on the inside of the leg, passing up
under the hip, where it unites with the veins of the hip region,
forming what is known as the posterior vena cava. As it passes
forward it takes in veins from the various organs such as the
stomach, liver, kidneys, spleen, and small bowels, and finally
empties into the right auricle of the heart. This is the complete
circulation of the blood. '

Hlood is that which carries nourishment to all parts of the
body, and also carries away all the waste material of the body,
where it is thrown off in the form of urine, which is secreted
from the blood by the kidneys. We find the waste material also
thrown off in sweat or perspiration through the skin, and also by
the lungfs. The blood varies in color in the different parts of the
body — in the arteries it is a bright red, while in the veins it is
a dark red color.

CH.VPTHR VI.

LYMPHATIC SYSTEM.

This is also known as the absorbent system, and is in
connection with the blood vessels, and is made up of
very fine minute tubes and glands, which convey from
the tissues of the body a clear fluid known as lymph, and pours
i' into the blood oi' the veins as it is on its way back to the heart.
Tliese glands are found all through the body; for instance, a large
group of these are found inside the thigh or stifle joint of the
horse, also another large group inside the shoulder. These are
important points to note as they sometimes become inflamed and
ihe leg swollen ; then they are the seat of the disease called weed
in the leg-, or lymphangitis.

18

THE ANATOMY OF THE HORSE.

Hli 1'

CHAPTER VII.

DIGESTIVE ORGANS.

THE whole digestive track from the mouth to the anus,
which is situated just below the tail, is sometimes called
the alimentary canal. The chief parts are the mouth,
pharynx, or g^ullet, cusophagus, or the tube which leads from the
gullet to the stomach and the intestines, or bowels.
The mouth is an oval cavity at the commencement of the
alimentary or digestive canal. In front of the mouth are the lips,
one above and one below ; at the sides are the cheeks ; it is lined
by what is known as the mucous membrane, which has several
small openings in it from the glands, which are situated around the
mouth, through which the saliva is poured. On the upper part of
the mouth the mucous membrane is thrown into ridges, or folds,
and are from eighteen to twenty in number. This is a point of
importance in connection with bleeding a horse with lampers.
Always remember it is not safe to bleed back of the third bar
because there is a large artery which runs down through the roof
of the mouth and enters up through a hole in the bone just before
it reaches this bar. The tongue, which has the chief nerves of the
sense of taste, is situated in the mouth ; this organ hIso has a very
important part to perform in masticating the food and mixing it
with saliva. The teeth, which also take a very active part in the
masticating of food, are mentioned later on in the book under the
heading of "Teeth."

Salivary Glands. These are the glands whicli secrete the
saliva that is poured into the mouth while the animal is eating.
There are only three pairs of much importance. One large pair,
one on each side of the throat below the ears, filling up the space
between the jaw bone and the neck ; this pair has tubes passing
around and under the lower jaw and up into the cheek muscles,
entering the mouth opposite the fourth molar tooth ; these tubes
are about as large as straws and convey the saliva from the gland
into the mouth. The next pair are situated under the pair first
mentioned ; their tubes enter into the bottom part of the mouth.
The third pair are situated under the tongue, one on each side ;
they pour their secretion into the mouth by several small
openings near the front under the tongue, which can be seen by
examining closely. This is a very important fluid in connection
with the digesting of the food.

inus,
:alled
outh,
n the
(wels.
f the
: lips,

lined
everal
nd the
3art of

folds,
3int of
mpers.
rd bar
le roof

before
s of the
s a very
ixing it
t in the
ider the

rete the
eating,
ge pair,
ne space
passing
muscles,
ise tubes
he gland
pair first
e mouth,
ich side ;
;ral small
; seen by
onnection

■ ■'.i*l««"«r^"^?«w

o ^

V.\V\.\\\\\0\ ^^V V\.\\V. II,

1Mi,I-;mi\ i; OK'i.Ws oi i 1 1 K lIuKM-:.

O
■I.

ihi.s cut shows tin' posit'oii of oa.-l, oryaii in llic bcvl\-.

1. I'tiaryiix, or j^'ullot.

■-'. <l-]^opliaj,qis, or tlio tulie wliirh can ics
the. food fcoiTi ilie gullet to the
stoiHiieli.

:<. Itiuhl lun-

4. Spleen.

."i Stoinai-h.

• i. [..ivi r.

7. Kiiliiey.

s. rieter. 'I'liis i.s tJie tul)e which <'ar-
rie.s the water from the kidneys to
the hladfler. There i.s one tul.e to
each kidney.

!l. Reetuin. or link liowel.

in I'lhuMer.

II. Tretlua.

I-. Small liowels.

I">. I/ul;.' li )wel.s

\\ Diapliiairni, or em tain win
arates the stoniich and
from the lung.s ami heart.

l.V II earl.

I(i ( 'oinmon Aorta, nliieh i.-i tlie
artery in the liody.
'I'raeliia. or wiiu

;h scp-
iiort el.s

largest

17

Is. -Mouth

pipe.

THE ANATOMY OK THE HORSE.

19

The Gullet is a cavity situated just behind the mouth. It is
chiefly made up of muscles which perform the act of swallowing
the food. It is lined with the continuation of the mucous mem-
brane of the mouth.

The Oesophagus, or the continuation of the gullet, which is a
tube extending from the gullet to the stomach, is used to carry the
food to that organ. It is made up of two coats, the muscular
and the mucous. The former contains fibres which, when once
the food enters the tube, contracts behind it, forcing it along to
the stomach. Its lining is a continuation of the mucous membrane
of the mouth and gullet. In tracing the tube down the neck from
the gullet, it passes down the left side of the neck, entering the
thoracic, or chest cavity, between the lungs over the heart through
the large muscular curtain known as the diaphragm, entering the
stomach an inch or two after passing the diaphragm.

The Stomach. — This organ is very small in the horse in com-
parison with the ox ; it only holds about four gallons, and is
situated just behind the curtain which separates it from the lungs ;
it is mostly to the left side. The walls of the stomach are composed
of three coats, one on the outside called the serous membrane —
this is a name applied to membranes which line closed cavities,
such as the abdominal, or belly cavity. The inside lining is a
continuation of the mucous membrane lining the organs before
mentioned. When the .stomach is empty this membrane is thrown
into loose folds, and there are also found several small openings
through which the gastric juice and pepsine from the glands,
situated in the walls of the stomach, enters. These are very
important fluids as they assist greatly in digesting the food. The
third coat is known as the muscular coat, being made of
muscular fibres, and is situated between the two coats already
mentioned. Its action is to give the stomach a churning motion,
rolling the food around and mixing it with the juices. The
stomach is guarded by a valve where the food enters which
prevents it from passing back through the gullet. There is
also a valve at the opening of the bowels, preventing any coarse,
undigested food from entering them. The stomach is held
in its place by five large ligaments, and is well supplied by blood
vessels and nerves. Digestion of food takes place very quickly in
the horse in comparison to other animals, and if, through a change
of food or working too soon after eating, the digestion is interfered
with it sets up what is known as indigestion, which is a very

20

THE ANATOMY OF THE HORSE.

painful disease in the horse. After the food is acted upon by the
juices in the stomach it changes into what is known as chyme,
which pass into the bowels.

The Bowels. — They are divided into two parts — the large and
small. The small bowels are seventy-two feet in length and about
one inch in diameter, and are made up of three coats, the same as
the stomach. The serous coat on the outside contains small
glands which secrete an oily material thai -ubricates the outside of
the bowels, which comes in contact with the inner walls of the
belly, so as to prevent friction when the bowels are being jolted
around in the belly. The muscular coat, mnde up of muscular
fibres, is situated between the other two coats, the same as in the
stomach ; its action is to contract the bowels, giving it motion to
carry the food on through them. The mucous coat is a
continuation of the mucous coat of the stomach. Along this coat
are found small glands known as villi and lacteal ; these are to
absorb the nourishment out of the food as it passes along through
the bowels and pours it into the blood. This long bowel is found
to be attached on the upper side to what is known as the
mesentery, which is attached above to the back-bone, and can be
seen in any of the smaller animals upon examination. About six
inches from the stomach, in the bowels, are found two openings, one
for the hepatic duct, which is a tube used to carry the bile from
the liver to be poured in on the food as it passes through the
bowels. The other hole is for the duct of the gland known as the
pancreas. It secretes a clear fluid known as the pancreatic juice,
these act on thejfood in the first part of the small bowels, changing
it into chyle. After this, the action of the rest of the bowels is to
absorb the nourishment out of the food as it is passing back. The
small bowels and stomach, when in a healthy condition, should be
found empty one hour aftet food has been eaten. The small
bowels are situated mostly on the left side just behind the stomach.

Large bowels have three coats the same as the small ones.
The first part of the large bowels is known as the blind gut and is
about three feet long ; this is generally the first thing to fly out in
opening a horse's belly. Its use is to act as a reservoir to hold
the water and fluid parts of the food ; this is where the water and
fluid parts are mostly taken up into the system. The next part of
the large bowels is known as the large colon ; it lays along the
floor of the belly, is about nine feet long, and is doubled on itself
three times. In this bowel the solid part of the food is found,

THE ANATOMY OF THE HORSE.

21

where it is worked about by the contracting- of the bowel and the
nourishment taken out. After the food is worked back out of this
bowel, and the nourishment taken out of it, it enters into what is
known as the floating colon, which is ten feet long- and about two
inches in diameter, or double the size of the small bowels. It is
thrown into folds or pleats, and, as that part o( the food that
has no nourishment in it passes throujj;h, it is worked into balls
which pass back and are emptied into the rectum or back gut. This
part of the bowels, same as the small intestines, is suspended by a
sheet or fold from the back bones, and is situated at the back part
of the belly, on the left side, behind the small bowels.

Rectum or Back Gut.— It is sometimes known as the straight
bowel, which is the last part of the intestines, and is about
eighteen inches long. The coats of this bowel are a continuation
of the large bowels, but each coat is thicker and heavier. Above
this bowel, are the bones of the rump ; below it, in the
horse, we find the bladder and other small glands. In the
mare we find what is known as the womb and the vagina, which
is the passage into the womb from the outside, .-ind at the sides
we find the bones which help to fdrm the hip cavity. At the back part
is found what is known as the anus, which is situated immediately
under the tail. The use of the rectum is to hold the balls as they
pass back from the floating colon and empty in here. When the
rectum gets full and presses on the sides of the wall, it stimulates
the nerves, which cause the muscular coat of the rectum to
contract, while the muscle of the anus dialates or opens out,
causing the fftces or manure to pass out.

The Glands, which assist in digestion, are the liver, pancreas
and the spleen.

The Liver is the largest gland inthe body; it weighs from
ten to twelve pounds in the horse, and is situated between the
stomach and diaphragm or curtain which separates the cavities,
and is held to its place by several strong ligaments ; it is of a
dark brown color, and its use is to secrete the fluid called bile,
which is a greenish color and very bitter to the ta'«te. There is no
gall bladder in the horse, simply a tube which passes down from
the liver to the small bowel emptying six inches behind the stomach-
It is along this tube where gall stones are sometimes situated.
The liver is largely supplied with blood vessels and nerves.

The Pancreas is another very important gland situated behind
the liver and in front of the kidneys, lying along near the back-

22

THE ANATOMY OF THE HORSE.

bone. This gland is of a grayish, fatty color and can be found by
examining closely in front of the kidneys, its use is to secrete a
clear, colorless fluid known as the Pancreatic juice. This is an
important fluid in connection with digesting the food and enters
the bowel just behind where the tube from the liver enters.

The Spleen is situated along the left side of the stomach,
is long and flat, being about fifteen inches in length, lying along
and closely attached to the stomach. This gland is of a grayish-
red color and is soft to handle; it is a ductless gland, that is,
it has no secretion passing from it. The uses of this organ are not
clearly understood, but is supposed to regulate the temperature of
the stomach during digestion, and also acts as a reservoir for the
blood, and is sometimes called the burying ground of the red
corpuscles of the blood, it is largely supplied with blood vessels
and nerves and weighs from two to four pounds in the horse.

MEMBRANES OF THE BODY.

In speaking of the membranes of the body it is found they
are of two kinds, serous membranes and mucous membranes.

Mucous Membranes are found lining all open cavities of the
body, as for example, the lining all through the digestive organs ;
also lining the respiratory or breathing organs; again it is found
lining the organs in connection with the urine, also the genital
organs or the organs which reproduce the young animals.

Serous Membranes are membranes which line closed cavities,
that is, air tight cavities and do not communicate at all with the
air, such as are found between the bowels and the wall of abdomen
or belly, it is called the peritoneum ; there is also another one
found lining the chest cavity and the lungs, this membrane is
called pleura. There is also another one found in the brain, but
is not of much importance. This membrane is always made up of
two coats the inner one being attached to the organs contained in
the cavity, the other coat is found closely lining the inside of the
cavity in which it is found. The inner side of these membranes
always secretes an oily fluid which lubricates the two surfaces of
this membrane, and if it was not for this oily fluid, the walls
would become sore from the friction caused by the moving of one
coat on the other. These membranes are an important point to
note as sometimes they become chilled and get inflamed and set
up inflammation. Inflammation of the pleura membrane mentioned
is called pleurisy, and the membrane in connection with the bowels

THE ANATOMY OF THE HORSE.

23

called the peritoneum which when inflamed is called peritonitis,
a very dangerous disease, more so than pleurisy.

PROCESS OF DIGESTION.

In tracing the food from the mouth to where it nourishes the
muscles in different parts of the body, we first find the food taken
into the mouth by the use of the lips and front teeth where it is
masticated or chewed by means of the tongue and teeth, and while
it is being rolled around and chewed the salivary glands keep
pouring in the saliva, mixing the food and preparing it for
digestion. After it is thoroughly chewed it is rolled into a ball at
the back part of the tongue, where by the action of the muscles of
the gullet it is grasped and forced down into the tube which, by
the action of its muscular fibres, is forced down into the stomach
where it is rolled about and becomes thoroughly mixed with the
gastric and pepsine juices which act chemically on the food and
changes it into what is known as chyme. From the stomach it
passes up into the front part of the small bowels where there is the
secretion from the liver and pancreas which also act chemically ;ind
ch.'inges the chyme into what is called chyle. After this the rest
of the bowels by the action of these little villi and lacteals, which
are in the coats of the bowels, absorbs the chyle or nourishment
from the food, these vessels empty the chyle or nourishment into
the veins of the body which is then carried to the heart, where it
is forced out from the heart through the arteries down into the
capillaries which are all through the body, the nourishment is
given through the walls of these small thin vessels and gives life
and strength to the body.

CHAPTER VIII.

ORGANS OF RESPIRATION.

THESE are commonall)' known as the organs of breathing,
they comprise tlie nostrils, chambers in the head or nasal
chambers, larynx or sometimes called Adam's apple,
trachea or v/indpipe, bronchial tubes and the lungs.

The Nostrils are two openings, one on each side of the nose;
these are held open by the aid of cartilage or gristle, and muscles.
About one and one-half inches up the nostril on the under side is a
small opening about the size of a grain of shot, this is where the tube
or duct which carries the tears down from the eyes empty into the
nose. The nostril is lined with a thin delicate skin which after-

24

THK ANATOMY OF THE HORSE.

wards chanjjes into the mucous membrane as it passes up into the
chambers of the head.

Nasal Chambers or Chambers of the Head.- These give pas-

sag-e to the air from the nostril into the hirynx or Adam's apple.
There arc two of these chambers divided in the center by a thin
partition of cartilage called the septum nasi, these communicate
with the sinuses of the head. The horse cannot breathe through
the mouth on account of the formation of the throat, and this
compels him to always breathe through the nostrils. This is a
point which should be remembered.

Larynx or Adam's Apple. It is a box made of cartilage,
or gristle, gives passage to the air and is also the organ of
voice ; it is situated in the floor of the gullet. Tlhis box
has an opening on its upper side, which is guarded by a valve,
this valve is always open except when the animal is swallowing
food or water. When the food is being swallowed it passes over
the valve which closes the opening while the food passes over it.
This is important, for if the valve does not close properly and
either food or water drop into the windpipe it causes the animal
to have a fit of coughing, and is spoken of as the animal to have
the food going the wrong way. On the outside of this box of
cartilage is found several small muscles attached which help to
hold it in its place, it is lined inside by a continuation of the same
membrane, as in the chambers of the head. Along the inside of
this box is found what is called the vocal chords which come into
play when the animal is whinnying. These chords are not nearly
so well marked as in the human being, and if they or the
cartilage of the larynx become affected by disease it generally
gives rise to the disease called roaring.

Trachea or Windpipe. — This is a tube which carries the air
down from the larynx to the bronchial tubes in the lungs. This tube
is made up of forty or fifty rings of cartilage which are united to
each other by strong elastic ligaments which gives the windpipe
its flexibility, that is, it can be bent in any direction almost like a
piece of elastic. In tracing the windpipe from Adam's apple it is
found to enter the chest where it terminates into two small tubes,
one going to the right lung and one to the left lung ; these are
called the bronchial tubes.

Bronchial Tubes and Air Cells.— These are made up of the
same material as that of the windpipe, but are only about half the

THE ANATOMY OF THE HOKSE.

9.-1

size. These tubes after they pass into the substance of tlie lunjfs
they break up into other small tubes which pass all throuj^h the
luni,'^s and terminate into what is known as the air ceils. These
small tubes and air cells are lined inside by a very thin mucous
membrane which is a continuation ot" the membrane lininj^ the
other orj^ans already mentioned. Just inside this thin mucous
membrane is found the capillary network oi' the lung's, and while
the blood is slowly passiii}^ throuj^'h this network of vessels it
gives oft" to the air in the air cells carbonic aciil gas and takes in
the oxygen from the pure air while it is in the lungs.

The Lunges are the most important organs in connection with
breathing, they are spongy, yellowish organs, two in lunnbor,
one situated on the right side and the other on the left; the right
lung is the largest on account of the left one having a hollow in
its side for the heart. The lungs are separated by a partition
known as the mediastinum, also bv the heart which is in the folds
of this partition and also by the large blood vessels and lusophagus
or tube which passes on its way to the stomach. The lungs are
made up o\' liglit elastic tissue and are full of air celis and tubes,
they are very large while the animal is alive and fills up nearly the
whole chest cavity, but after death they collapse and are not nearly
so large. Between the lungs and the ribs is found a serous
membrane called the pleura or the lining membrane of the chest.
It is made up of two folds, one being attached around the outer
part of the lungs while the other is attached to the ribs at the side
and at the back to the large curtain which separates the lungs
from the bowels. The little glands situated in this membrane
secretes an oily fluid which serves to lubricate these parts while
the lungs are working in the chest so as not to cause friction.
When this membrane becomes inllamed from a chill or injury it
sets up the disease called pleurisy.

The trachea, or windpipe, bronchial tubes and air celis are
sometimes compared to a tree, the windpipe being the trunk while
the bronchial tubes and air cells represent the branches and
leaves of the tree. The lungs are largely supplied by blood vessels
and nerves.

Breathing in the horse consists of first drawing the pure air
in and then forcing the impure air out. These two acts are
performed by the muscles of the chest, part of them in contracting
in such a manner as to dilate or enlarge the chest cavity and on

26

THE ANATOMY OF THK HOKSE.

account of the space between the lunj^s and chest being air tight
the lungs themselves enlarge and the air rushes in to fill up space.
The act of forcing the air out is performed by these muscles
which relax while others contract in such a manner as to close the
chest cavity and makes it smaller, thus the lungs also become
smaller and forces the air out. The act of breathing is performed
in a horse in perfect health sixteen times a minute.

CHAPTFR IX.

URINARY SYSTEM.

THIS system consists of the kidneys, ureters, bladder and
urethra. The action of these organs is to deal with the
urine or what is commonly called the water of the animal,
which is a watery fluid secreted by the kidneys. It varies in
color, according to the condition of the animal's blood.

The Kidneys are two in number — one on the right .side and
one on the left side, and are situated just below the small of the
back — the right one being the furthest ahead. In shape, they
are long and narrow, and resemble the liver in, color. In cutting
one of these kidneys open, it is found to he full of glands and
tubes, which secrete the urine from the blood while it is passing
through the kidneys. These tubes pass to the centre of the
kidneys, where they empty the urine into what is called the pelvis
of the kidneys. The glands are largely supplied with blood v^essels
and nerves. In examining the kidneys, one will generally find a
large quantity of fat, which help to hold them to their place.
The use of the kidneys are to secrete the urine from the blood,
which contains a large amount of what is known as ureaic acid,
and if not taken out of the blood by these glands, acts as poison
to the system.

The Ureters are the tubes which carry the urine down from
the pelvis of the kidney to the bladder. The\ are two in number —
one situated on the right side of the pelvic or hip cavity and the
other on the left side close to the walls and they enter one on each
side at the upper part of the bladder. They are only about the
size of an ordinary straw.

The Bladder is situated in the pelvic or hip cavity. When
it is full it sometimes stretches out into the abdominal or
belly cavity. It consists of a body and neck. The body

THK ANATOMY OK THE HORSE.

27

llien

or

lody

is the large part, and is placed in front ; the neck beinj^ at
the back part of the bladder. This is where the urine or water
passes out of the bladder. The bladder is made up of three coats,
somewhat similar to that of the bowels. The serous coat is just
a continuation of the serous coat found in the belly cavity lining"
the bowels. The inside of the bladder is lined with mucous
membrane similar to that of the bowels, and when the bladder is
empty this is all thrown into folds. Another coat is found,
between the two membranes above mentioned, called the muscular
coat, and is made up of muscular fibres. Its action is when the
bladder is full and presses on the nerves of the coat, these nerves
causing the fibres in the coat to contract, thus contracting the
bladder, forcing the urine out. The bladder is held to its place by
ligaments attached to the wall of the pelvic cavity, and above the
bladder is found the rectum. The bladder in the horse rests on
the floor of the pelvic cavity. The position of the bladder in the
mare difTers from that of the horse. Instead of the rectum or
back bowel being immediately above it, as it is in the horse, the
womb is found just above the bladder or between it and
the rectum. The use of the bladder is to act as a reservoir to
store up the water until the bladder is full; when it is full it
presses on the walls and nerves, giving a peculiar sensation to
these parts, and causing the walls of the bladder to contract,
forcing the water into a tube which carries it from the body; this
tuho is called the urethra. The neck of the bladder is simply an
opening at the back part of the bladder, and is guarded by a
valve which prevents the urine from dribbling out except when
tlio animal is passing its water.

The Urethra is the tube which carries the water from the

hlacklor out oi' the body, and is situated much difTerontly
mare from that of the horse. In tht.

mare it is very

in the
short,

passing from the neck of the bladder along below the womb and
vagina, which is the passage from the outside into the neck of
the womb, it opens up into the underside of this passage ahout
four inches in from the outside. This opening is guarded

be felt by passing the

bv a small thit

valve.

and

can

finger along the under side oi' the passage which leads into
In the horse this tube is a great deal longer

woml

\hi

than in the

mare, it cornmences ;it the bladder, passes
along below the rectum or back bowel to just below the anus, here

28

THE ANATOMY OF THE HORSE.

this tube bends downwards and forwards passing- into the penis
of the horse and passes down to the end of the penis, where
it terminates. This tube is used to carry the urine from the
bladder out of the body and is also used in connection with the
genital organs, these are the organs which bring forth the
young animals. This tube is lined with a continuation of the
membrane of the bladder.

CHAPTER X.

GENITAL ORGANS.

THKSE organs in the horse are those which reproduce
the young animals. To bring forth the young there
must be two animals, one the horse or male animal, the
"Other the mare or female animal, or in other words, there must be
one of each sex, male and female. These organs are different in each
sex or in the horse and mare and require to be considered separately.

Genital Orgfans in the Horse are as follows: Scrotum or bag,
testicles, spermatic cord, vesicuhe seminales or the pouches
which holds the semen of the horse, urethra, penis and the sheath.

The Scrotum is the sac or bag which contains the testicles and is
situated between the hind legs, and is covered on the outside by a
very Hue soft skin. Passing up in the center under the sheath
and scrotum or bag is a well marked line in the skin called median
raphe, this can be plainly seen when the horse is on his back, and is
found to be continued up gradually getting fainter until it reaches
under the anus. L'lider the skin is found layers of white fascia or
tissue, which can be seen on cutting through the scrotum. There
is found to be a partition in the scrotum separating the two
testicles. The size of the scrotum is affected very much by the
weather, the cold weather contracts the fibres in the scrotum
causing it to get very much smaller, while in warm weather the
fibres relax causing the scrotum to get very much larger. The
use of the scrotum is to contain, support and protect the testicles.

The Testicles are two in number, one situated on the left side
the other on the right, they are oval in shape, and are attached
above to the spermatic cord. Before the animal is born the
testicles are situated in the abdominal or belly cavity and
attached to the serous membrane which has already been spoken
of in connection with this cavity. At or about the time of birth,
there is what is known as the descent of the testicles into the

THE ANATOMY OF THE HORSE.

.'9

scrotum; in their downward course, they pass throujj;-h a slit or small
opening at the back part of the muscles of the belly, where they
are attached to the under part of the hip bones. These slits or
openings are known as the inguinal rings, these rings can be felt
in the horse by pressing the fingers well up into the groins.
The descent of the testicle is an important point to be remembered
for, if it does not come down into the scrotum he is then
called what is known as a rig or ridgeling horse, in this
case the testicle is not found in the scrotum. At the front part of
the testicle is found a small ridge called the globus major, and at
the back of it is found another small ridge called the globus minor.
Passing between these two ridges there is another well marked ridge
called the epididymis, these points can be easily seen upon exam-
ining the testicle after the animal is altered or castrated. The
substance of the testicle is made up of small glands and fine tubes,
these tubes, as they pass towards the back of the testicle, form
into larger tubes and finally unite to form one tube, which is used
to carry the semen up the back part of the spermatic cord, which
these glands in the testicle secrete.

Spermatic Cords, or the cords of the testicles, are attached
above to the inguinal rings or openings mentioned before, they
are about five or six inches long and have the testicles attached to
them below. In each cord is found a small muscle which goes by
the name of the spermatic muscle, the rest of the cord is made up
of the spermatic artery, veins and nerves. Running up at the
back of these cords is found a tube about the size of a straw,
which upon examination is found to be hard and has a small
opening passing up through the centre where the semen passes up
through it. This tube is called the vas deferens. Around the
spermatic cords and testicles is a serous membrane, one layer
being attached to the testicle and cord, while the other is closely
attached around the inside of the scrotum or bag. In this mem-
brane are small glands which secrete an oily fluid to lubricate
the parts, so as not to cause friction when they are jolted around
in the scrotum, this fluid will be noticed to fly out as soon as the
scrotum is cut. This is an important point to remember, because
sometimes from a slight injury the glands will secrete a large
amount of this fluid mentioned, which causes the scrotum to look
large and swollen, this disease is known as hydrocele or water in
scrotum or bag.

so

THE ANATOMY OF THE HOKSE.

Vas Deferens. — These are the tubes which carry the semen
up the back part of the cord through the inguinal rings before
mentioned. They then pass backwards and upwards, one on
each side, to the upper part of the bladder, where they empty into
two small pouches or sacs, called the vesiculai seminales, which
store up the semen as it is secreted by the testicles, and when
full present the appearance of a pear.

VesiCUlae Seminales. — These sacs or pouches are situated at
the upper side, over the n ;ck of the bladder, one on each side,
and have the tube which carries the semen emptying into it at
the front end, while at the back end of them is a small opening in
each one that leads out into another small tube which passes
backward and empties into the urethra, which has been mentioned
before as carrying the water out from the bladder. The use of
these sacs or pouches is to store up the semen or seed of the
horse. While the horse is performing sexual intercourse, these
sacs or pouches contract, forcing the semen through these little
tubes mentioned out into the urethra, which is a tube leading
down to the penis.

The Penis is the main organ connected in sexual intercourse ;
its substance is formed of what is known as erectile tissue, which,
under certain circumstances, becomes enormously distended with
blood. Passing up the under side, there is what has already been
mentioned, the urethra, or the tube, which carries the water or urine
out of the body; and also in the act of intercourse, it carries the
semen, thus it is noticed this tube is used for two purposes, as
we have already mentioned.

The Sheath is a loose process of skin which passes down-
wards from the scrotum or bag, generally from about four to six
inches, according to the size o\' the animal, and is attached to
each side, leavint^ a hole or ope ing in the centre through which
the penis conies down. The outside of the sheath is covered by
a thin, delicate skin, same as that of the scrotum ; inside it is
lined by a membrane having a lot of small glands, which secrete
a thick dark fluid to lubricate this passage. Sometimes this fluid
collects in here and has the appearance of tar. This is an
important point to remember, for when it collects to a large
extent the sheath has to be washed out.

The Semen or seed of the horse, when examined under a
microscope, is found to contain small objects called spermatozoa,

THE ANATOMY OK THE HORSE.

31

wliich move around, and when in the womb it there meets the
ovum of the female, which is secreted by a j^fhind called the ovary.
When these two small objects unite, they form the fcetus, or
what might be called the animal in its first stage.

The Female Genital Orgfans, or organs of the mare. -These
are very different from those in the horse, and are named as
follows: Ovaries, fallopian tubes, or the tubes which carry the
ovum from the ovaries to the uterus or womb, uterus or womb,
vagina, and the vulva.

The Ovaries in the mare represent the testicles in the horse.
The) are about the size of a pigeon's e^i:;, and resemble it much
in shape. They are held to their place by ligaments, and at the
back part have a tube leading from them called the fallopian
tubes. The use of the ovaries are to secrete the ovum or et:;^.
This is a very minute body, which has to be examined under the
microscope, being only ^r^- of an inch in diameter.

The Fallopian Tubes are two canals, one on each side, which
pass backwards and upwards, and enter into the front part o\' the
uteru-; or womb. The use of these small tubes are simply to carrv
the ovum or eg^ up from the ovaries and empty it into the womb
or uterus.

The Uterus or Womb is a muscular sac situated in the hip
cavity, bounded above by the rectum, below by the bladder, and
on the sides by the walls of the hip cavity. It is divided into
what is known as a body and a neck. The body of the womb is
very small, only about four to six inches long and a couple oi'
inches in diameter when the animal is not pregnant, and near the
front end, at the upper side, there are openings where the ovum
enters in. When the animal becomes pregnant, the body of the
womb becomes enlarged and passes forward and to the left side
o\' the belly or abdominal cavity, getting larger as the time of
pregnancy passes on, imtil the liu-tus, or young, has attained its
full size. .After the mare has had her young the womb begins to
gel smaller until it attains its natural si/e ag^ain. The womb is
very largely supplied with blood vessels and nerves, especially so
when the animal is pregnant, as it takes a large amount of blood
to nourish the fcetus, or young animal, before birth. The womb is
made up of three coats; the inner one is called mucous membrane,
and is found to be in the mare, while pregnant, covered over with
numerous small processes about the size of peas, to which the

•i

32

THE ANATOMY OF THE HORSE.

placenta or cleaning of the foal is attached. The muscular coat
is next to that of the mucous coat, and lies between the outer and
inner coats T»f the womb. It is made up of muscular fibres, and
is strong and thick in the womb, much thicker than it is in the
bowels or other organs already mentioned. The use of this coat
is to suppor' and protect the foetus or young while it is being
carried in the womb, and at the time of parturition, or what is
commonly known as foaling, this coat then comes into use, as it
contracts the womb very forcibly on the foal, while the neck of
womb lies open, helping to force the foal out of the womb. This
is import&tu to r- re as the contraction of this coat is known as
labour pains, L)iu:; outside, and covering around the womb, is
found a serous coat, wh"ch h a continuation of the serous coat of
the bowels. I'lie womb is held to its place by strong ligaments
attached to tl.e su ■> e>l i* and from there to the hip bones,
these are called broad ligameni.s. At the back part of the womb
is found the neck. It consists of an opening, formed by a
projection, which is about the size of an egg and has a hard,
gritty feeling when the animal is not in season and the neck is
closed. The neck of the womb is under control of the muscle
around it, and this muscle is under control of the nerves of the
womb. When the mare comes in season, this muscle is relaxed
to a certain extent, thus allowing the neck to open large enough
for the passage of a couple of fingers into it ; but upon working
around it with the fingers it can be forced large enough for a
man's hand to pass into it at this period. If the mare is put to the
horse at this time, and becomes pregnant or with foal, the muscle
in the neck of the womb contracts, firmly closing it, which remains
closed until the time of foaling. When, at the time of foaling,
the labour pains come on, the muscle in the neck dilates,
allowing the neck of the womb to open large enough for the foal
to pass out. The neck of the womb can be felt easily by oiling
the hand and passing it into the passage to the womb, and it
will be noticed that the neck spoken of projects into the passage.
Vagina and Vulva.— These two organs together make up the
passage which leads into the womb from the outside. In the
young mare they are separated by a thin curtain, or partition, made
up of mucous membrane. This curtain is found about four inches
from the outside, and is known as the hymen. This membrane is
destroyed, or should be, when the mare is first put to the horse.

THE ANATOMY OF THE HORSE.

33

4,

■•A

althoug^h we often have it broken down in other ways, and in
some cases it will disappear of its own accord. The part of the
passage in front of the hymen is called the vagina. This passage,
in structure, resembles the womb, but is not so strong. There
are numerous glands situated along the inner coat or lining of this
passage which secrete a fluid to lubricate it. The principal use of
this organ is to guide the penis when the animals are performing
sexual intercourse, and also serves at the time of foaling as a
passage for the foal to come out through. The part of the pas-
sage behind the hymen is known as the vulva. It is about four
inches long and about two or three inches high, varying according
to the size of the mare. In front it is separated from the
vagina by the hymen membrane. It resembles the vagina in
structure, and also has little glands in its inner coat to secrete
a fluid to lubricate the passage. At the back part of the vulva,
or around the outside, is what is known as the lips of the vulva,
one on each side of the opening. The outside of the lips are
covered by a very fine skin, and, just below the skin, they are
made up of erectile tissue, which is the same kind of tissue as is
found in the penis of the horse. This tissue is found more
abundantly in the lips of the vulva of the young mare than in the
lips of the vulva of the old mare. The opening between these lips
is situated just below the anus, or the opening where the back
bowel ends. At the back part of the vulva, on the under side, is
an opening, or hole, about large enough to allow a man's finger
to pass in ; this hole is where the tube leading from the bladder
comes up into the passage and allows the urine, or water, to pass
into the vulva, where it runs out of the body. The clitoris is
situated on the under side of this passage, just inside the lips, and
can be seen in the mare after passing water when she works the
vulva. Just below the clitoris are found two or three small glands
which secrete the fluid that passes away when the mare is
horsing.

Mammary Glands, or what is known as the mare's bag, are
two glands situated between the thighs, the use of which is to
secrete the milk after birth to feed the young animal. In
the young mare they are very small, but after the mare is
with foal a few months these glands begin to get large, and at
foaling time they attain their largest size. These glands are
covered outside by a thin, smooth skin. The substance of them are

/

34

THE ANATOMY OF THE HORSE.

made up of small g-lands and tubes — the glands secrete the milk
from the blood, while the tubes retain or hold the milk until it is
drawn away from the bag- either by milking or the young animal
sucking. During the time of suckling the young, the glands are
largely supplied with blood, from which the milk is secreted.
On the under side of each gland is found the teat, or the part
the young animal takes hold of in sucking. The end of the teat
is pierced by several small holes, where the milk comes out.

THE FOETUS, OR YOUNG ANIMAL BEFORE BIRTH.

In considering this we must first speak of the ovum, or egg,
which is secreted by the ovary of the mare. Kvery time she comes
in season (which occurs every three weeks during the hot weather)
this ovum, or egg, passes down the tubes before mentioned into the
womb, where it remains a few days and then dies if she is not put to
the horse ; but, if during the time this ovum is in the womb she is
put to the horse and one of the little bodies which is found in the
semen of the horse comes in contact with it the ovum and this
little body unites together, the rest of the semen dies and passes
away, while the neck of the womb gradually contracts until it is
perfectly tight. These two little bodies begin to grow when
united and forms the foetus, or foal. The three parts connected
with the foetus, are the foL'tus, navel string, and cleanings,
or placenta. The cleaning, or placenta, is the part which is found
covering the foal and is attached to the little pea-like elevations
on the inside of the womb. This covering is found to be full of
small blood vessels which run to one point where they unite
to form two larger vessels, known as the navel veins, which carry
the blood up through the navel opening of the foal where it passes
up to its heart ; by the action of the heart it is forced out all
through the body of the foal and returned to the heart and then
forced down another artery which passes it down to the navel
opening, along the navel cord, into the cleaning or placenta
again, where it is distributed through the small blood vessels. As
the blood comes down this cord from the foal it is in its impure
state, and while it is passing through these small vessels in the
cleaning it comes very close to the small blood vessels in the
womb. The blood is cleansed and nourished from the blood of its
mother by a process similar to that which was spoken of in con-
nection with the lungs. The fcetus, or foal, does not grow so fast
the first month as it does later on ; at the age of seventeen weeks

\

THE ANATOMY OF THE HORSE.

35

or egg,
le comes
weather)
.1 into the
lot put to
mb she is
id in the
and this
-id passes
intil it is
o\v when
connected
ileanings,
:h is found
[elevations
be full of
Ihey unite
hich carry
e it passes
d out all
and then
the navel
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Issels. As
ts impure
els in the
els in the
ilood of its
of in con-
ow so fast
len weeks

the first hair appears on the lips and the tip of the tail; between
the thirty-fifth and fortieth week the foal begins to show signs of
life, and is completely covered with hair. After this time the foal
grows very rapidly and can be seen moving around by watching
at the flank. The mare carries her foal eleven months, but in
some cases in aged mares they have been known to carry their
foal over twelve months, and in rare cases in young mares they
lack a few days of eleven months.

How to Tell When a Mare is With Foal.- The first thing that

is noticed is that she does not come in season at the end of three
weeks, and if felt at the flanks she will be noticed to be peevish
and cross, and also ugly to other horses. The mare usually feeds
and thrives better at this period, and at the end of three or four
months she begins to get larger at the flanks, and gradually
continues getting larger until foaling time. Mares that are fed on
hard feed and worked do not usually get as large as mares fed on
rough feed and not worked. At about the fifth or sixth month
the foal begins stirring in the womb, which can he seen at the
flank ; this is noticed mostly after the mare has had a drink of
cold water ; it also can be felt by pressing the hand against the
flank on the left side. At about the sixth month in the young
mare the mammary glands, or bag, begins to get large, and
gradually gets larger until the time of foaling.

Sigfns of Foalins;. — The muscles and ligaments gradually, be-
come relaxed until there is quite a hollow at each side of the tail.
The vulva gets quite large at foaling time and wax usually runs
from the teats of the mare a few days before. A few hours before
foaling she is noticed to be walking around and acting quite
uneasy until the labor pains come on, . when her restlessness
increases to getting up and down and forcing, until what is known
as the water bag comes out and breaks ; the labor pains increase,
and she lies down, forcing violently, until the front legs and head
of the foal appear, when it soon slips out, and the cleaning
generally comes with it. Sometimes the foal comes backwards,
which is harder on the mare. If the mouth of the foal is examined
immediately it is found to contain what is known as the melt,
which looks like a piece of liver.

36

THE ANATOMY OF THE HORSE.

CHAPTER XI.

THE SKIN.

»HIS is the membrane which covers the body, and consists
of two layers called the dermis and epidermis. The
epidermis is the outer layer of skin, and is made up of
epithelium and protects the under layer from the air and slight
injuries, this layer undergoes a continual process of being made
up and passing away in dandruff. The dermis or true skin is well
supplied with blood and nerves, part of the nerves being the
nerves of touch. What is known as the sweat glands are found
in this layer. When the skin is injured, the outside layer being
knocked off, this part of the skin is very painful. The skin is
attached on the inside to the body by a layer of white tissue which
is known as the areolar tissue, this being the tissue which is cut
through in skinning an animal. The skin varies in thickness on
different parts of the body, being thinnest on the under parts.

HAIR.

There are three kinds of hair on the horse, the common,
which covers most of the body, being the finest of the three. The
mane and tail, which is coarse and long. Around the muzzle or
nose and the lips are found long hairs, usually black and called
cat hairs.

On the inside of the front legs, just above the knee, and on
the inside of the hind legs, about the hock, are rough, horny spots
which are called chestnuts.

CHAPTER XII.

THE HOOF.

THIS is a very important point in anatomy in connection
with the lameness of the horse. The hoof of the horse
corresponds to the finger nail of the man — ^it is divided
into three distinct parts, the wall, the sole, and the frog.

The Wall is the part of the hoof that is seen when the foot is
resting flat on the ground ; it is divided into the toe, the quarters,
the heels and the bars. The toe forms the front of the hoof, and
is the thickest and strongest part of the wall. The quarters are
situated at the side of the hoof. The walls are not nearly so thick
here as at the toe, but are almost straight up and down. The heels

THE ANATOMY OF THE HORSE.

37

are situated at the back part of the foot. From the heel is a process
of hoof, which looks like a bar, passinj>; forward between the froj^
and the sole of the foot ; this can be seen plainly by raisinj^ up the
horse's foot. There is one of these at each side of the frog',
and they act as a brace to the heel and the quarters of
the wall ; these are called the bars. Covering the outside
of the wall is a fine membrane which gfives the hoof the
polished appearance ; this is called the periople. This can be best
seen when a horse's hoof is well washed off, as it is after
travelling' through wet grass, which gives the hoof a shining
appearance. The use of this membrane is to keep the moisture in
the hoof and protect it from water. This is a point of importance
in connection with shoeing horses, as it is very injurious to file the
wall too much. Around the top part of the wall, where it unites
with the skin, is found a groove which contains a white band,
called the coronary substance, or band. The use of this is to
nourish the wall of the hoof, or, in other words, it is from this the
wall of the hoof grows. The under part of the wall, or the part
which rests on the ground in the unshod animal, or the part to
which the shoe is nailed in the shod animal, is called the spread of
the foot. On the inside of the wall, attaching it to the bone of
the foot called the os pedis, is the part called the quick, or sensitive
lamincK. This is a point of importance in connection with driving
nails in shoeing, so as not to drive the nail into this membrane or
even press on it, for it is very sensitive. When a nail has been
driven in so as to injure this membrane it is the common expres-
sion, "you have pricked that horse's foot."

The Sole is a thick plate of horn which helps to form the
under part of the hoof. It is situated between the inner border of
the under part of the wall already mentioned and the front oi the
frog. The under part of the sole is concave, or hollowed out ;
the upper part of the sole is attached to the under part of the
OS pedis bone, or bone of the foot, by a membrane called the quick,
or sensitive sole — this membrane is just a continuation of the
sensitive laminae. The outer part of the sole is attached to the
inner part of the wall. When pared down a white ring is seen
where the sole and the wall is united. At the back part of the
sole there is a notch the shape of the letter V ; in this notch the
frog is situated. An important point to remember in shoeing is
never to let the shoe rest on any part of the sole, and, also it is

38

THE ANATOMY OF THE HORSB.

not well to pare off too much of the barky-looking substance of
the sole as it helps to keep the moisture in the foot. When this
is taken off it allows the moisture to escape and it becomes dry
and contracted.

The Frog is the prominent spongy horn found in the V shaped
notch in the back of the sole. It is wide at the back, helping to
form the heels of the foot, the pointed part in the front is called the
apex of the frog. The under part of the frog is triangular in
shape and has a hollow in it called the cleft of the frog. There is a
hollow at each side of the frog, between it and the bars,
called the commissures of the frog. On the upper part is a
membrane, known as the sensitive frog, which attaches the frog
to the under part of the os pedis, or foot bone. This membrane is
simply a continuation of the sensitive sole spoken of in connection
with the sole. The back part of the frog is the widest part and
spreads out forming the heels.

To get the best idea of the structure of the foot, get a hoof
and the bones of the leg as far up as the fetlock, and saw them
down through the centre, which will show you the exact confor-
mation. The shape of the hoof differs in animals — large draft
horses are apt to have what is termed a flat foot, while in the road
horses the chief trouble is what is known as contracted feet and
weak heels.

CHAPTER XIII.

THE EAR.

THE ear of the horse is divided into several parts. The
inner part, or drum of the ear, is situated in the hardest
bone in the body, called the petrosal. The nerve which
passes into the drum of the ear, and gives the sense of hearing, is
called the the auditory nerve. From the drum a small opening
passes out into the outer part of the ear; this is the portion which
is seen on top o ' the head, and is made up of a membrane known
as the cartilage which gives the ear its stiffness. This cartilage
is covered by a fine, delicate skin, which is covered on the outside
by fine, short hair. Situated on the inner side of the outer ear
are numerous long hairs projecting outwards, the use of which is
to keep foreign bodies from dropping into the ear. The ear is
moved backwards and forwards by small muscles which are
attached around it.

THE ANATOMY OK THK HORSE.

39

is:. »s

CHAPTER XIV.

THE EYE.

THE eye is the chief organ of sight, and is situated in the
orbital fossa, which was mentioned in the bones of the
head. It is chiefly made up of several coats around the
outside and in the centre, by the humours of the eye. On the inner
side of the coats is a thin membrane called the retina, which
contains the branches of the optic nerve, this receives the re-
flections of objects as they pass through the humours of the eye
and they pass along the optic nerve to the brain. The oblong
openings seen in the middle of the eye are known as the pupils
of the eye. In leading a horse out of a dark stable into the
light and watching the pupils of the eye, they will be noticed
to get smaller, then on returning it to the st ible the pupils
will be noticed to dilate or get larger, thus it is seen the
pupil does not always remain the same size. The chief use
of the pupil is to gauge the sight. At the back part of the eye
are several muscles which are attached from around the eye to the
bones in the fossa, the use of these muscles are to move the eye
and assist in holding it to its place. Around the front part of the
eye are two movable curtains, one above and the other below,
these are called the eyelids, the use of which are to open and close
the eye, and also topotect it from injuries. Around the free border
of the eyelids are what is known as the eyelashes, the use of
which are to keep foreign substances from falling into the eye.
Situated in the inner angle of the eye is what is known as the haw
of the eye, this membrane also helps to protect the eye. In the
corner of this angle is a small duct or opening, where the tears of
the eye pass down through into the nasal tubes, where it is carried
down through the bones of the head and emptied into the under
part of the nostril or nose. A small gland is situated on the
upper part of the eye, secreting the tears which lubricate the eye.
The color of the eye is generally brown, but in some cases it is
white and receives the name of a walled eye.

40

THE ANATOMY OK THE HORSE.

CHAPTER XV.

THE TEETH.

THE teeth are situated in the mouth, in the upper and lower
jaws. They are made up of the same tissue as bone, but
they contain lo^ per cent, more of the earthy salts, this
is wiiat makes them so very hard. Unlike bone, they can stand
exposure to air and friction without becomin^j- diseased. The
teeth are made up of three hard substances, viz.: dentine, or ivory;
enamel ; and crusta petrosa. Tiie dentine or ivory is situated in
the upper part of the tooth around the pulp or nerve cavity; it is
larj^ely supplied with nerves which pass through it from the pulp
cavity, and is of a yellowish color. The enamel is the hardest
substance of the tooth and covers over the outside of all the
exposed part of the tooth, this substance is characterized by its
whiteness, and unlike the dentine, there is no blood vessels or
nerves in it, and if part of the enamel is broken off it is never
replaced as,«'ain, and the tooth below the part broken off g-enerally
becomes decayed. The crusta petrosa is found in the fani;-s or
roots of the teeth and the parts situated below the tfum, this sub-
stance is the softest part of the tooth. Each tooth is divided into
the body or crown, which is the part above the S4"um, the table of
the tooth, which is the part that comes into wear on the top.
The neck of the tooth is the part where the tjums are attached,
and the fant^s or roots are the parts situated down in the bone.

The uses of the teeth are to masticate or chew the food, and
are also used to tell the ai^^e of the animal. There are three kinds
of teeth found in the horse, viz.: The incisors or front teeth,
which are situated in the front part of the mouth just inside the
lips, are twelve in number, six above and six below. The canine
or bridle teeth, which are found mostly in the horse or male
animal and are often absent in the mare, are four in number, two
in the upper jaw and two in the lower jaw, one on each side,
a couple of inches back from the front teeth. These teeth are
from a quarter of an inch to three-quarters of an inch above the
f^um, they are round and pointed and are of no particular use.
They resemble the eye teeth in other animals. The molars or back
teeth are twenty-four in number, six on each side in the upper
jaw, and six on each side in the lower jaw, their use is to grind
and masticate the food.

THE ANATOMY OK THE HORSE.

41

upper
lijrind

WOLF TEETH.

The wolf teeth are two small, round, pointed, temporary
teeth whicli vary in size in different animals, and are situated one
on each side in front of the molars or hack teeth in the upper jaw.
They commence to grow soon after the birth of the animal and
if not pulled or knocked out usually decay between the aijes of
five and eight years and drop out. These teeth affect the eye
causing it to look dull and run water, and should be pulled
out when first noticed.

The horse has two sets of teeth, the milk teeth are temporary
and are the ones that the colt sheds, while the ones that come in
and remain without being shed, are called the permanent teeth.
The cutting of the teeth in the foal varies some, but at or within
nine days after birth the foal has four front teeth two in the
centre above and two below, and in the back part of the mouth he
is found to have twelve molars, at from seven to nine weeks he
gets four more incisors or front teeth, one at each side o( the two
centre teeth 'n each jaw; at nine months old he gets the last
of his milk or temporary teeth, these being the corner teeth, two in
the upper side of the jaw and two in the lower side of the jaw.
Now he has his full set of milk or temporary teeth, consisting of
twelve molars or grinders and twelve incisors or front teeth, six
above and six below, making twenty-four teeth in all. As the
colt advances in age he must shed all these teeth. After this age
the colt commences getting his permanent teeth; when the age of
one year is reached he gets four permanent molars, two in each
jaw one on each side behind the three temporary ones. At two years
old he gets four more back molars, one on each side of each jaw.
When the age of two years and nine month.s has been readied tiie
two middle teeth of the temporary incisors or front leetli o\' each
jaw fall out and are replaced by two permanent incisors in each
jaw, so at the age oi' three years these four permanent incisors are
up and in wear. .\t this age, the first eight molars, two on
each side of each jaw, are shed and replaced by eight permanent
molars. At four years old he sheds four more front teeth next to
the ones shed at three years old, and are replaced by four more
permanent incisors or front teeth. Also at this age it sheds the
four remaining temporary molars or grinders, which are replaced
by four more permanent molars, and he also gets four more per-
manent molars at the back of the mouth, thus at the atre of

42 THE ANATOMY OF THE HORSE.

four years the colt has a full set of permanent molars, consisting
of six on each side of each jaw, making twenty-four in all. At
five years old he sheds the four remaining temporary incisors or
front teeth, which are replaced by four permanent incisors, these
are known as the corner teeth. It is well to become familiar with
the time the colt sheds his different teeth, for sometimes the caps
or shells of the teeth do not fall off when they should; these should
be watched, for they greatly interfere with the animal feeding and
should be removed by a pair of pincers. At five years of age the
canine or bridle teeth make their appearance, so at the age of five
years the colt has all his teeth or what is known as a full mouth.

TABLE OF THE TEETH.

Age. Incisors or Front Teeth. Molars or Grinders.

Temporary or d»-™,_„* Temporary or p„„,„^_t

Milk Teeth. P^nianent. Milk Teeth. P^manf"'-

The foal at or soon after birth 4 0 12 0

" nine weeks 8 0 12 0

" nine months 12 0 12 0

The colt at one year 12 0 12 4

two " 12 0 12 8

three " 8 4 4 16

four " 4 8 0 24

'• five •' 0 18 0 24

At five years old he gets his bridle, or canine teeth, which are
four in number ; thus at the age of five years a horse has a full
mouth of teeth, numbering forty in all.

How to tell the age of a horse by his teeth is fully explained
hereafter in this book in connection with examination for soundness
of horses.

It is advisable for everyone to become familiar with the
anatomy, or structure of the horse, which has been explained in
very simple language, for the better the anatomy is understood
the easier diseases and treatments are to understand.

PART 11.

Diseases and Treatment of the

Horse.

0

0

0

4

8

16

24

24

CHAPTER I.
QUESTIONS TO ASK AND HOW TO EXAMINE A SICK HORSE.

IT IS always well to inquire into the history of the case by
asking the following questions before making an examination,
as it will help to tell what is wrong with the horse as
well as giving an idea as to what part is affected. First — find out
how long the animal has been sick. Second — find out how he has
been acting. Third — find out the cause of the trouble if you can.
If you find that the animal has been standing with his head
hanging down, eating very little, breathing heavily, and coughing,
you may come to the conclusion it is some trouble of the breathing
organs. Again, if you find out the animal is in severe pain, get-
ting up and down and rolling about in the stall, and slightly bloated,
you may conclude it is some trouble of the stomach or bowels.
Again, if you find out the animal has a straddling gait, attempting
to make water often, and allowing the penis to pass out and then
draw it in, and sometimes stamping with the hind logs, you may
then come to the conclusion it is some trouble of the urinary
organs, such as the kidneys or bladder. This will give you an
idea, after hearing the history of the case, what set of organs to
examine first. In all cases try the pulse ; it is generally taken
on the small artery which crosses the under side of the jaw about
the middle ; when the animal is in good health it should beat from
.'is to 40 times per minute, or, in other words, this is the number of
times the heart beats per minute. The oftener the pulse beats
above its regular beat the more serious the case is. It will be
necessary to examine closely the organs which you have come to
the conclusion are affected.

44

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OK THE HORSE.

CHAPTER II.

DISEASES OF THE RESPIRATORY OR
BREATHING ORGANS.

SIMPLE CATARRH OR COLD IN THE HEAD.

THIS disease means a running' or discharge from the nose
and sinuses of the head. It first commences with conges-
tion of the mucous membrane, or what is commonly known
as the lining membrane, of the nose and head. Then this conges-
tion is followed by an inflammation and dryness of the membrane,
and in a few days this is followed by a discharge of a watery
nature, which later on in the disease turns to a thicker fluid of a
whitish or yellowish color, varyiiTg according to the severity
of the case.

Causes.— The most common, perhaps, is exposure or sudden
changes in the weather, such as we have in the fall and spring ;
or standing in a draft, while warm, after driving. It is generally
found in horses that are in poor condition, the system being run
down by poor feeding or over work.

Symptoms. — The animal is noticed to be dull and not eating
very well. The hair is standing out and looks rough ; pulse not
much affected ; throat shows soreness when you press on it ; also
discharges freely at the nostrils. The breathing is about natural,
and usually the animal does not make quite so much urine, or
water.

Treatment. — As a general thing the treatment is quite simple.
Make the horse as comfortable as possible in his stable ; see that
plenty of pure air can get in, and that his stall is kept nice and
clean. Feed him plenty of soft food such as warm bran mashes,
boiled oats, or scalded chopped oats, and it is a good plan to boil
up some flax seed and put a teacupful of the juice and boiled flax
ieed in with his food two or three times a day, according to how
much it seems to loosen the bowels. In all cases of this kind it is
well to keep the bowels open with soft food. In bad cases it is
best not to work the animal ver)' much — ^just enough for good
exercise. Give him a tablespoonful of the following mixture, three
times a day in his food, and if he will not take it in his food put it
on his tongue with a large spoon, which can be done by drawing
the tongue out wiih one hand and putting the spoon well back

I

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF THE HORSE. 45

into the mouth with the other and turning' it over ; then hold the

mouth shut until the medicine g'ets wet, so that he cannot

spit it out.

Saltpetre or Nitrate of Potash i pound.

Sulphur i "

({round Gentian Root i "

Mix thoroughly and give a teaspoonful three times a day,
morning, noon and night.

In some cases where the discharge continues very long- it is

well to change the treatment and give a teaspoonful of ground

sulphite of iron twice a day, night and morning, in his feed until

the discharge stops. If his throat is sore rub it well two or three

times a day with white liniment. In cases where this dischargee is

not checked it terminates in what is known as chronic catarrh, or

nasal gleet.

NASAL GLEET OR CHRONIC CATARRH.

In this disease there is a glary discharge from one or both
nostrils. It is a chronic inflammation of the sinuses of the head,
and the discharge varies much according to where the disease is
situated and the length of time it has been going on.

Causes. - First, neglected catarrh, especially if the animal has
not been treated properly and allowed to run out in the cold
without being properly fed, such as being" allowed to run out at a
straw stack. It may be caused by a severe blow on the bones of
the head over the sinuses, and also from a bad tooth. Sometimes
a tumor will cause it or some foreign substance, such as food or a
piece of stick becoming worked up through the nose into the
sinuses; or it might be caused by coughing and the food fly up
into the sinuses in this way.

Symptoms. — This disease is sometimes mistaken for glanders.
The animal at first may be in pretty good spirits, but if the
disease is allowed to run on he will soon get thin and run down
on account of the constant discharge from the nose. There is a
discharge from one or both nostrils of a yellowish color, the lining
of the nose will be slightly reddened and in some cases is of a
yellowish color. The way to tell if the sinuses are much affected
is to tap on the bone over the sinuses with the finger, if it gives
a dull sound like as though the sinuses were full, you may con-
clude that they are diseased, but if it gives a hollow drum-
like sound, you may come to the conclusion that the sinuses are
not much affected and there is more hope of recovery. As the

46

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF THE HORSE.

1 i

disease runs on, the animal gets very much weaker, the discharge

has a very bad smell; this shows that the bones of the head are

becoming affected. If it is a bad tooth that is causing the trouble,

the discharge will only come from one nostril; the animal will not

eat very well ; sometimes he will be noticed, after taking a bite, to

throw the food out of his mouth. The breath has a very bad

smell and the horse will soon run down in condition. The way to

distinguish this disease from glanders is first, that the discharge

in glanders is of a greenish color and will sink in water, while the

discharge in nasal gleet will float on water; second, by examining

the lining inside the nose which, if the animal has glanders, will

be found to be covered with small ulcers.

Treatment. — This disease is not, as a general thing, easily

treated. If the animal is thin and run down in condition, it is

well to build him up with good food, regular exercise, pure air and

the following mixture :

(iround Sulphate of Iron ^ pound.

(iround Sulphate of Copper \ pound.

Mix thoroughly and give a teaspoonful twke a day, night and
morning, on his tongue or in his feed. Wash the nostrils twice a
day with warm water. If you conclude that the sinuses are much
affected or that some food or foreign substance is causing the
trouble, the treatment will then be different. The animal will have
to be thrown down and tied with a rope, securely, then strip a
piece of skin as large as a copper off the bone with a knife, and
take a trephine or an inch auger and bore a hole through the bone
into the sinuses, which can be easily done for the bone is soft and
thin and does not cause much pain to the animal, and can be done
with very little risk. When the hole is through the discharge will
come out of it, and with it will generally come the seat of the
trouble. Keep the hole open as long as you can by passing your
finger into it, and also injecting warm water with a few drops of
carbolic acid into it with a syringe once a day ; use 10 drops of
carbolic acid to the pint of water. If the disease is caused by a
bad tooth, have the tooth pulled out, and follow up with medicines
mentioned above.

ABSCESSES OF THE BONES OF THE HEAD.
The only treatment is to bore a hole with a trephine or auger
through the bones of the head into the abscess, allowing the
matter or discharge to escape. Inject into the hole with a syringe

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF THE HORSE.

47

a little warm water with a few drops of carbolic acid twice a day
until healed; use the carbolic acid — 10 drops to the pint of water.

NASAL POLYPI OR SMALL TUMORS.

These are situated around the nose and chambers of the head,
and are sometimes found around the throat, they are usually
attached by a neck to the membrane lining these organs.

Causes. — They are said to be due to some change in the sys-
terri, but the cause of them is not clearly understood.

Symptoms are rather peculiar. The animal has difficulty in
breathing, and sometimes acts as though suffocating and may
even fall down, and in some cases will get up and for a while
appear better, then the above symptoms come on again.

Treatment.— Examine the throat carefully by looking into the
mouth; have something to hold the mouth open and pass the iiand
back in the mouth and feel for these little tumors. Look into the
nose, and if they are in reach remove them by tying a thin, strong
string tightly around the neck or roots of the tumor, allowing it
to drop off of its own accord. They are also removed by twisting
them off with the fingers. If you cannot get at the tumors it is
then a hopeless case.

LARYNGITIS OR INFLAMMATION OF THE THROAT.

Causes. — They are similar to those of catarrh: Exposure,
standing in a draft while warm, or Irom a number of horses being
kept in a poorly ventilated stable; or from injuring the throat in
giving a ball of medicine. Sometimes it occures in the form of an
epizootic, or where a number of animals become aflfected at the
same time without any apparent cause.

Symptoms. — The animal appears dull, the throat swoolen; if
he goes to drink it will be noticed the water will run out through
the nostrils when he tries to swallow. When you examine the
throat and press on it, it causes him pain which is shown by the
animal jerking back and if pressed hard will cause him to have a
fit of coughing. It will be seen that he swallows frequently and
holds his head in a peculiar position, as if trying to favor
his throat. The animal does not care to eat much and what
he gets should be soft food, as it hurts him to swallow. If the
pulse is very much quicker than natural, and the above symp-
toms present, you have then a very severe case. The mouth is
hot and dry and has a sticky feeling; he is noticed to breathe a
little heavier than natural. The bowels are usually a little costive

48

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF THE HORSE.

and the urine or water a little scanty, as in most all the diseases of

the air passages. In two or three days, if the case is going on

favorably, it will be noticed he will have a discharge from the

nostrils, which is a good sign. This disease usually takes

from ten to twelve days to run its course, but after this the animal

should not be put to hard work for some time as it is apt to bring

on what is known as roaring or bronchitis.

Treatment. — As in all other diseases of the air passages give

plenty of pure air; have the stable well ventilated; clothe the body

according to the season of the year and if the legs are cold have

them well hand-rubbed and bandaged, and give the following

mixture:

Saltpetre or Nitrate of Potash J pound.

Clorate of Potash \ pound.

Mix the two thoroughly together and give a teaspoonful on
his tongue three times a day. Rub the throat well with white
liniment three times a day. In severe cases it is also well to take
three tablespoonfuls of mustard, two tablespoonfuls of flour and
enough vinegar to make it like a paste, rub this around the throat
every night and leave on till morning. Give the animal plenty of
cold water, a little at a time but often, feed lots of hot mashes
with a little boiled flax seed which will have a laxative effect on
the bowels. Instead of putting on mustard a hot poultice of linseed
and bran might be used and left on all night. In very severe
cases, and when the animal's life is threatened by choking to
death, it is well to perform an operation known as tracheotomy,
which is done on the windpipe, about six inches from the larynx
or Adam's apple, by first cutting through the skin and then cutting
three of the rings in the windpipe and using the regular tracheo-
tomy tube which can be obtained at almost any drug store.
When this operation is performed it gives the horse immediate
relief for he draws the air through the tube instead of the nostrils.
The way to tell when to take the tube out is to place your hand
over the tube which makes him breathe through the nose. When
he breathes clear enough through his nose to suit you, take the
tube out of the windpipe and draw the skin together over the
wound by a couple of stitches and then treat as an ordinary
wound; of course, this operation is seldom needed except in ex-
treme cases.

DISEASES ANO TUEATMEXT OV THE HORSE

41»

CHRONIC COUGH.

It is called this when no other disease can he seen.

Causes. It may result from larynijitis, or inllanmiation of the
throat. Sometimes a horse is noticed to have this kind of coiii^h
for some time before he takes heaves, or broken wind. A couj^'h
of this kind is i^enerally worse durini^ chant,''oable weather and is
sometimes shown more after eatiny and drinkiiij,'- or after being'
brought out of the stable.

Treatment. — Give the following powder:

Tartar Kinetic } pound.

Cftiiiplior. i "

Ground Digitalis \ "

Mix thoroughly and give one teaspoonful night and morning in

teed or on tongue with a spoon. A teaspoonful of oil of tar in his

feed three times a day is also recommended.

ROARING.

This disease is breathing with a loud and unnatural sound
upon any violent exertion. More air passes into the nostrils than
can pass into the lungs, and this is due to the wasting of the
muscles of the larnyx, or Adam's apple ; this condition causes the
passage through the larynx to be smaller than natural. The air
rushing through this small passage into the lungs acts on the
vocal cords ; this is what causes the peculiar sound.

Causes. — This disease sometimes follows laryngitis, distemper
and influenza by being put to work too soon after recovering from
them. It may also be hereditary, that is where the sire or dam of
the horse has been affected with roars. It may come on from
tight reining. Horses with very long necks and narrow jaws are
apt to become roarers.

Symptoms. — As long as you do not excite the animal he is
almost free from it, but if he is worked or driven hard he will show
it quickly.

Treatment. — If this disease is once well established it is
incurable, but in cases where the disease is just coming on give

Iodide of Potash | pound.

Nitrate of Potash or Hiiitpetre ^ ««

Mix thoroughly and give a teaspoonful twice a day, night

and morning, in his feed, and blister the throat with

Ground Spanish Flies, or Cantharides ^ dram.

Red Preuipitate, or Biniodid of Mercury ^ "

Vaseline, or I.ard 1

ounce.

50 DISEASES AND TREATMENT OK THE HORSE.

Mix thoroiisfhly tojjether and apply around the throat, rub it in
well and j,'-rease in tiiree days afterwards. If he is not better in a
month, blister aj,Min.

SPASMS OF THE MUSCLES OF THE LARYNX OR ADAM'S APPLE.

This disease is not very often met with but we find it some-
times affecting' old horses.

Causes of this disease are not known.

Symptoms. — The animal may appear in perfect health when
all at once he will be seized with a violent fit of coughing, will
reel, stagger, and sometimes even fall to the ground ; after a few
minutes it will pass off and the animal v»'ill seem as well as ever.

Treatment.— Give the animal a good dose of physic:

Hitter Aloes 1 ounce,

(iinger 1 teuspoonful.

Soda 1 "

Dissolve in a pint of lukewarm water and give as a drench, and

allow the animal to stand quiet the next day after giving this

drench ; follow up after this with a teaspoonful of bromide of

potash every morning in his feed.

BLEEDING FROM NOSE (EPISTAXIS).

This disease is not so commonly met with in horses as it is
in man.

Causes. — it is generally the result of some injury, or in
running or fast trotting horses when they are put to violent
exertion, rupturing some of the blood vessels in the nose ; it is
also more frequently met with in horses in high condition.

Symptoms.— How to tell whether the blood just comes from
the nose or from the lungs. If the blood comes from both nostrils
it is generally from the lungs, while if the bleeding is from the
nose it is usually only from one nostril. V'ou can also tell by
putting your ear to the windpipe and listening, if it is coming from
the lungs you can tell by the gurgling sound heard in the lungs ;
if it is in the nose you will not hear this sound in the lungs.
When the blood is coming from the lungs the breathing is affected,
which is not the case when bleeding from the nose.

Treatment.— If not bleeding very much bathe with cold water
until it stops, but if bleeding much plug the nostrils with cotton
batting saturated with white lotion and remove in twelve hours.
BLEEDING OF THE LUNGS (H/EMOPTYSIS).

This is generally a symptom of some other disease, but it may
come on, in a horse in high condition and not used to work, by

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DISEASES AND TREATMENT OK THE MORSE. .") 1

putting him to severe exertion when he is not used to it. It is
mostly found in trotting and racing horses when they are not
properly taken care of. The blood may come from the lining of
the air cells or from the lining of the tubes of the lungs.

Symptoms. As a usual thing it is not very hard to hnd out
where the blood is coming from. It comes out of both nostrils ;
the animal also coughs, breathes quickly, and is generally very
weak, and in taking the pulse you will find it beats very quick,
but weak. Hy applying the ear to the windpipe you will hear that
peculiar gurgling sound every time the animal breathes.

Treatment. -Keep the animal standing very quietly. Apply
cold water or ice to the sides and chest. Be very careful how \ ou
dr.inch the animal in this disease for they are so easily choked in
diseases of the lungs. Give as a drench —

Turpentine I ounce, or 4 taljlespoonfula,

Raw Linseed Oil i pint,

which acts as a styptic to stop the bleeding ; or you might give

Tincture of Chloride of Iron 1 dram, or 1 teaspoonful.

Mix in a pint of cold water, shake well, and give as a drench
every night and morning. If the legs are cold rub well and
bandage them. Allow plenty of fresh air to get to the animal and
blanket according to the season of the year. In some cases this
disease is treated by giving

Sweet Spirits of Nitre 1 ounce, or 4 tablespoonfuls,

in a pint of cold water, three times a day, morning, noon and
night, until the animal has relief. This disease is sometimes
followed by inflammation of the lungs.

CONGESTION OF THE LUNGS.

This is where the blood rushes to the lungs from a chill or
some other cause, filling up the arteries and veins in the lun"s
and causing them to become gorged with blood. This disease is
always found before intlammation of the lungs, that is, if the
congestion is not relieved it terminates in inflammation.

Causes of this disease are standing in a draft while warm,
getting a cold drink of water while the animal is warm, or by
putting the horse to ' ve-e exertion, such as running:, trottin^'-.
or drawing heavy lo , ' ,ien the system is not in proper shape
to stand it. It sometimes follows other diseases such as catarrh
or influenza.

Symptoms vary much according to the cause. If from fast
or hard work the symptoms are well marked. The animal

52

niSKASKS AMI TKKATMKNT OF TIIR HORSE.

becdincs slu^-'yish, trenililos at the tlank, breathes heavy, nostrils are

tlilaleil ov etilarj^ecl, pulse is quick ami weak, the lininir aroiiiul the

eyes aiul nose heeoines very much retkleneil ; by placint;;^ your ear

to the sides ol' tiie chest or to the windpipe there is a peculiar

i,'-ur,L,'^lin^'' noise ; the left's and ears will be cold. If the disease

I'ollows a case of catarrh or inlUienxa he then will be noticed to

refuse his 1\hx\, tremble all over the body, ears and le.i,''s cold,

mouth hot, pulse tpiick and weak, and by placinj^' your ear at the

sides you will hear the peculiar sounds. The animal stiinds, as he

is icenerally found to do in all lung" troubles, and if he does ^o to

lie down will get up immediately. If the animal iloes not soi>n

j^'et reliel llie disease will run into intlammalion of the lunj^s.

Treatment. The treatment must be quick. This is not a

very fatal disease, but a simple one to treat if laken in time.

Keep him well supplied with s^'oiul, fresh air, and always

be carelul he does not stand in a draft. Keep the body well

covered accordint^ to the time ol the year, and j^ive

Swt'tit Spirits of Nitro 1 oiiiiuu, or 4 tivl)k'«pooiifuIs.

Liuulamiin J " '2 "

Put in a pint of cold water, shake well and tjive as a drench,

bein^ careful not to choke the animal in i^ivinj^ it. Have the leg's

well hand rubbed, if cold, and baiidagfed ; and if the animal is in

high condition and fidl of blood it is wi;ll to gfive, with the above

drench,

Fieniin^''s Tincture of Aconite 10 to 1 "> drops.

Also put a mustard plaster on the sides over the lungs. Take ] lb. of

mustard, with 3 or 4 tablespoonfuls of Hour and enough vineg"ar

or warm water to make it into the form of a paste. Rub this well

over the sides of the chest with the hand, and in some cases it is

well to rub the front of the chest as well as the sides. In some

cases we find great benefit in having cloths wrung out o'

water held up to the sides. If he is not relieved in a ci 01

hours give another drench, same as the one mentioned .. >ve ;

repeat the drench every two hours until the animal has relief. It

is also well to give him only a mouthful of cold water at a time,

but give it to him often. Feed him soft food, and after he begins

to get better, exercise him a little by walking around ; also give

the following mixture : »

Ground Gentian Root J pound.

Nitrate oS Potash, or Saltpetre ^ "

Mix thoroughly together and give a teaspoonful three times a

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day in his i'i;ci.\, and gradually bring him back to his natural feed
and work again.

INFLAMMATION OF THE LUNGS (PNKUMONIA).

This disease is inllammation of the lung substance itself and
is i|uite a common disease. 'I'he lungs in their natural state will
lloat on water. In the first stage dI this i.-se ise the lungs are
filled with blood and serum, and they .ju dI a dull reddish
color ; at this stage, if the animal dies, the lungs will still float on
water. As the disease runs iin, if not cured, the lungs change to
a dark, grayish appearance ; if the animal dies and the lungs are
put in water they will sink.

Causes .Are much the same as those of congestion of the
hu'.gs and generally come on horses kept in a pot)rly ventilated
stable, which has a tendency to weaken the lungs ; sudden changes
in the w«ather, such as we have in the fall and spring, are liable
to bring the disease on. It is also sometimes caused by keeping
a horse in a warm stable and then turning him out to pasture ii>
lie on tiie cold ground ; or, if while he is out, a cold rain storm
comes on and he gets wet and is cliilled through ; or, if a horse is
clipped and exposed to the cold ; standing in a draft while warm ;
inhaling smoke ; also by driving against a cold wind too soon
after he has had inlluenza, distemper, or any of those weakening
diseases. It also frequently follows congestion oi' the lungs.

Symptoms. Are much the same as congestion of the lungs,
only plainer. There is, generally, very little trouble in telling the
disease. It commences first by the animal shivering, after the
shivering ceases heat takes place ; the ears and legs will first be
hot ind then cold ; the mouth is sticky and the breathing afl'ected,
not so much as in a pure case ol' congestion m( the lungs ; the
se is quick, ranging from fifty to seventy-five beats to the
uite, which is stronger-than in a case of congestion ; the horse
uoes not care to eat ; stands up all the time, with head hanging
down and ears lopped over, and in hot weather perspires freely
around the best ; the eyes have a glossy appearance and, around
the inside i he eyelids, are very red. As the disease passes on
the horse 1 ithes h.^avier and sometimes is noticed to sigh, as it
in distre the bowels become costive, and the manure has a
glossy app ance; placing your ear to the side of the chest you
will hear a rating sound similar to that produced by taking some
hair of your head, just above the ear, and grating it between the

!'

54 niSFASES AND TREATMENT OF THE HORSE.

thumb and finj;"er. If the horse is loose in a stall he will work
around till he j^ets his head to a door or window, which shows
that he wants fresh air. By tapping- the finger on the chest over
the luniks it will produce a dull sound, which, if the lung's were not
aflFected, should g^ive more of a hollow sound. If the disease is
going' to terminate fatally the pulse runs up to 100 beats per
minute and is so weak you can hardly feel it; he will breathe very
heavy ; the nostrils make a flapping- noise, and his flank draws in
and out almost like a heavy horse ; the appetite is entirely g-one ;
the breath smells very bad ; he still persists in standing-, and
notices nothing-. As death approaches the mouth becomes cold,
tiie pulse cannot be felt ; he may, near the last, lie down, which
will cause him to breathe very much heavier ; he ag-ain stag^g^ers
to his feet, breaks out into a cold, clammy sweat all over the body,
and finally stagj-g-ers, falls, and dies. If the case, on the other
hand, is more favorable, the animal eats a little and notices thing's
around him, and the above symptoms gradually disappear. It
g-enerally takes from i) to 12 days to run its course, and, as a
usual thing-, is treated with satisfaction if taken in time.

Treatment. -Clothe the body according- to the season o( the
year. If the aniiiial affected is in hig-h condition use sedatives,
such as

Fleming's Tincture of Aconit'! 8 to 10 drops.

Liiii(lanuni r; oz. or "J tablespoonfuls.

Mix in a pint of cold water and give as a drench every three hours

until the distressing- symptoms have ceased and inflammation

seems pretty well checked. If the aninial seems weak after this

gnve

Sweet Spirits of Nitre 1 ounce or 4 tublespoonfuls.

W'liisky I wine glass full.

Mix with pint ol' new iiiilk or g-ruei and give three times a day,

mornings, noon and nigfht, until the aiiimal seems strong-er. After

this, when the animal is g-etting- better and he needs a tonic to

build up his system and to keep his kidneys in g-ood action so as

to relieve his lung-s as much as possible, g-ive

Nitrat.! of I'otash or Saltpetre [ pf)unil.

(iround (Jentian Moot .| "

Mix thoroughly and gfive a teaspoonful tiiree times a day. While

the animal is sick feed on soft food, mixing a little boiled flax seed

with it to keep the bowels reg'ular. If the animal is very thin in

condition it is best not to use much of the aconite and laudanum,

but commence the stimulants sooner than if the horse was in high

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF THE HORSE.

condition. Apply mustard to the sides and chest and also cloths
\\ runi,'' out of hot water, and be sure to allow the horse to have
plenty of fresh air by having' the stable well ventilated, but do not
allow any draft to strike him.

PLEURISY.

This disease is inflammation of the lining found inside the
ribs and over the lungs. This is a serious disease if not taken in
time and allowed to run on.

Causes are similar to those of inllammation of the lungs,
and we often find this disease and inflammation of the lungs
coming tog"ether. The chief causes are exposure to cold, standing
in a draft, washing the body and not properly drying it, injuries to
llie ''ibs in any wa}'.

Symptoms. — The animal is first noticed to shiver, the pulse
quick and strong — much stronger than with congestion or infiam-
mation of the lungs- — and is sometimes called a wiry pulse. He
seems in g"reat pain, breaths heavily, which is noticed very mucli
at the Hanks. At the commencement o[' the disease he will lie
down, hut, as a general thing', he will stand up most of the time ;
if you iiKike him cough he will suppress it as much as possible,
and instead of coughing out loud, as in other lung" troubles, it
will he more like <i long, heavy groan. The idea of this is he
tries to keep from moving his chest .as much as lie can. The ears
and legs are cold, but sometimes you will find one ear hot and the
other cold ; he has a tucked up appearance, and there will be a
liollow line right along the bottom of the false ribs and up
tcwards the point of the hip ; if you press on his sides it causes
him great pain, and in turning' him around short he will groan
with pain. If this disease is not soon checked it will terminate in
what is known as hydrothorax, wiiich nieans a filling up of the
chest cavity with a watery fluid.

Treatment. This disease is treated very much similar to that
of inflammation of the lung''s. Apply cloths wrung out of hot
water to the sides if in warni weather, but if in cold weather
niustard is best and easiest kept on. Clothe the body well and
see that he is allowed plentv of fresh air without being in a draft.
At the commencement of the disease, if the horse seems to be in
much pain, give

Flomiiig's Tincture of Aconite S to 10 dropp.

Fluul Ivxtract of Belladonna h dram, or .'{D drops>.

'I'incturo of Laudanuni \ ounce, or 'J liil)lespo(infuls.

■:r;

: -usr

W."

56

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF THE HORSE.

I

'1

I!

Mix in a pint of cold water and give as a drench. Continue
the above drench every two hours until the horse is relieved of the
pain. If the horse seems weak after this give

Sweet Spirits of Nitre 1 ounce, or 4 tableapoonfuls.

Whisky 1 wine glass full.

Mix in a pint of gruel and give as a drench three times a
day, morning, noon and night, until the animal begins to recover
nicely, then use the following medicine to keep the kidneys work-
ing freely, as this will have a tendency to keep water from
forming in his chest :

Saltpetre, or Nitrate of Potash i pound.

(iround Gentian Root j "

Mix well and give a teaspoonful three times a day. During

sickness it is well to feed the animal with soft foods, with a little

boiled flax seed in it to keep the bowels free, give a little cold

water to drink in small quantities, and give it often — every hour

or two.

WATER IN THE CHEST (HYDROTHORAX).

This generally follows a case of pleurisy. In some cases
you will find several pails of a watery fluid around the lungs in
the chest cavity. When there is such a large quantity as this it
generally ends fatally.

Causes. -Pleurisy.

Symptoms. — After the pain and soreness from pleurisy has
passed off the fluid then commences to collect around the chest,
which causes him to breathe very heavily, the nostrils becoming
large, and sometimes make a flapping noise. He breathes quick,
and draws in and out at at the flank worse than he does in a bad
case of heaves ; the pulse becomes quicker than in pleurisy, and
very weak, beating from 75 to 100 beats per minute ; the blood in
the jugular vein seems to flow back towards the head instead of
flowing down, causing the vein to move every time he breathes.
By putting your ear to the chest you cannot hear anything except
above the water. If the animal is loose he will be noticed to try
to get to the door or window to get the pure air. In some cases the
animal will go on like this for several days, not eating very
much, and gradually getting worse. Near the last his ears and
legs get very cold, and all the other symptoms keep getting worse,
and the animal tries to stand on his feet to the very last.

Treatment.— - If the animal will take food give him good,
strong food, such as oats and hay, and it would be well to mix a

DISEASES AND TREAT^IENT OF THE HORSE. 57

little oi' the boiled linseed alonfj with the oats to keep the bowels

retriilar ; keep the animal quiet ; blister the sides well with a

stroiii^ mustard plaster ; give him of the followinj^^ :

Saltpetre or Nitrate of Potash | pound.

( ;rouii(l ( ientian Huot j "

(iround Sulphite of Iron .[ "

Mix thoroug'hiy and yive him a teaspoonful every five
hours. It is also recommended in some works to puncture near
the bottom of the chest, between the eighth and ninth rib, with a
small trocar and cannula, and let the fluid out of the chest, but this
operation is not very successful in the horse, and we would not
advise it to be done, although it is sometimes successfully per-
formed in human beings.

If the horse dies and you cut into the chest you will find a
great quantity of the fluid collected around the lungs, in some
cases as much as three pailfuls. *

BRONCHITIS.

This disease is intlammation of the lining oi' the bronchia'
tubes.

Causes.- This disease is sometimes caused by driving a horse
fast when he is in a weak condition, inhaling smoke, or from a
sudden change in the temperature, choking from food passing
down the windpipe, and sometimes it is caused from giving a
drench which, instead of passing down into the stomach, some o\'
it goes down the windpipe. This^disease is oftener seen in the
city than in the country.

Symptoms are a peculiar dryness of the throat, increased
breathing, and if you place your ear to the windpipe, you will
hear a wheezing noise. The animal seems quite dull, and does
not eat as well as he should. If the disease is allowed to rim on
the pulse becomes quick and weak, and the legs and ears, after a
time, become cold ; he seems very much depressed and weak, and
if the weather is warm perspires freely around ihe chest and
flanks ; on account of not eating very much he will become very
gaunt, and it will be noticed that he does not lie down, and if you
make him stir around it will start him to cough.

Treatment. — if the animal isMn good condition and strong,

give the following mixture :

Fl<^ining'8 Tincture of Aconite .5 to S dropa.

LaudHnun\ . h ouuee or '2 tiibk-spooiifuls.

.Sweet Spirits of Nitre I ouuoe or 4 tablespoonfuls.

r>H

niSj;.\SKS AND TRKATMKNT OK THR HORSK.

Mix in a pint of cold water, shake well and g'ive as a drench,
(live a drench every two or three hours until he seems relieved.
If the animal is very weak, instead of this, it is best to ^ive

Wliisky I wine gliiHS full.

Alo or Bi'cr .\ pint.

Give every three hours until he seems relieved, then proceed

with the following;; :

Siiltpc'trc^ or Xitrnto of I'otasli \ pound.

'I'lU'tar J"/iiietic .| pountl.

(! round (Jfiitiau lioot [ pound.

Mix thoroui.;;hl\' and i,''ive a teaspoonful three times a da\'.

l""eed soft feed with a little boiled ilax seed to keep the bowels

free, i;i\e cold water in small (.juantities, but often, which will

have a j^ood effect on the throat ; apply mustard or hot cloths

wrim^f out of hot water to the chest, clothe the body well, accord-

iui;- \o the season of the _\ear, and see that the animal has pure air

to breathe without beini^- in a draft. In all luni; diseases be care-

iul in drenching so as not to choke the animal.

BROKEN WIND OR HEAVES.

It is similar to astiima in man.

CtlUSeS. It is i^-enerally seen in horses that are ravenous feeders
and overload the stomach and are inclined to carry a large belly.
This affects the stomach, and the same nerve that helps to supply
the stomach with nerve power ;ilso helps to supply the lungs;
this is how we account for it affecting the limgs when the
stomach is all'ected. The kinds of food that are apt to produce it
are inferior foods, such as musty hay (cKner hay being the worst),
or nuisty oats, or it may be caused from a neglected cold. This
disease is rarely found in cavalry horses as they are fed on the
ver}- best of food.

Symptoms. This disease is easily detected when it is well
established. There is a peculiar vay of breathing", a long
inspiration followed by a short expiration and a jerking motion at
the Hank ; the nostrils are enlarged and the muscles of the belly
come into play greatly in this disease. On a damp, hot, sultry
day the symptom.s are greatly increased, and may become very
alarming, and you might be led to think that the animal was
sulTering from intlammation of the lungs ; but when you examine
the pulse you will lind It beating about natural. In heaves
there is a loud, hacking, painful, internal cough which seems
to come from the lunt;s ; this is noticed more after eating or

DISEASES ANO TREATMENT OK THE HORSE. 59

drinking", and is noticed particularly after beinjj;' broui,'-lit out
of the stable in the niornini,'', but after workinif a while
will not be so bad. If you suspect this disease when you are
cxainininj^ him for soundness i^'ive him a j^^ood feed, a pail of
water and a j^'oi^d j^allop. If affected with this disease you can
then notice it plainly. In some cases it can be relieved for a short
time by j^-'ivint^f a lar^e dose of l'"lemini,'''s tincture of aconite, 10
to 1.") drops in a drench, mixed with a pint oi' raw linseed
oil. 'i'his is sometimes done by horse traders to relieve
the animal while tradinj^", and in some cases they even pour shot
into the animal, which relieves him for a time.

Treatment. Where heaves once g-et well established it is
incurable, bu( it can be helped by careful feedinj^". Hy feedins.,^
him rei,'"ularly, and j^'ivini,'" him lots o\' oats to eat and very little
lia\-, so as to keep him s^aiuit ; water him often - four or live times
a day - not more than a pail at a time, aild never allow him \o t,''et
a lari.>-e feed of hay or a larije drink ol' water at a time. Tlie best
treatment »>f medicine is j,''ive lirst a physic of from ^ to 10
drams of bitter aloes dissolved in a pint of water, with a
tablespoonful of i4"ini,''er and soda j^iven as a drench, and allow
him to stand in the stable for a day. This will clean his bowels and
stomach out ; after this fc^jd him carefully and j^'ixe of the foilow-
int;- mixture :

• Jroimd (Jiini Caniplior j pound.

i'owdiTCil Nux N'oiiiica | "

Coiiiiiiou Soda I "

Nitrate of I'otash or Saltpetre; | "

Mix well and s^'ive a teaspoontul three times a day in his iced,

or on the toni;-ue with a spoon.

PLEURODYNIA.

This disease is a rheiunatic condition tif tlie muscles around
the chest. This is not a \ery common disL'ase.

Causes. - Ivxposure to ci>ld when the animal is recoverini;'
from plein-isy or other weakenini^' luni,^ diseases.

Symptoms.- There is threat pain and dilliculty in breatliini;
and shows symptoms somewhat similar to pleurisy. In pressiiii^-
ou the sides he shows even, more pain than he does iti nleinisy,
and when you examine his pluse you will find that they are about
rci^fular, whereas in pleurisy they would be beatini.;" quick and hard.
By puttini,^ the ear to the animal's side you cannot hear the i,''ratins4"
sound heard in pleurisy.

i/r

(10 DISEASES AXn TREATMENT OF THE HORSE.

Treatment. — If it is warm weather, or in a warm stable,

wring' a woolen blanket out of hot water, wrap it around his chest

and cover up with a dry blanket to keep the heat in. This blanket

would be better heated up by wringing it out of the hot water

every hour. While the blanket is being changed rub the sides

well with white liniment. Give him

Sweet Spirits of Nitre 1 ounce, or 4 tablespoonfuls.

In a pint of cold water three times a day, morning, noon and

night, until the soreness has passed off pretty well, then follow up

with a diuretic to act on the kidneys.

Nitrate of Potash or Saltpetre i pound.

Ground ( ieutinn Root \ "

Mix thoroughly and give a large teaspoonful three times a

day in his teed or on his tongue with a spoon.

SPASMS OF THE DIAPHRAGM.

This disease is sometimes called Thumps on account of the
peculiar thumping noise the animal makes in breathing.

Causes. — it generally results from an animal being put to
very severe exertion, such as in running, trotting, heavy drawing,
or any thing of that kind too soon after eating. It is also said to
be caused by buckling the girth of a saddle too tight. This
dise.'ise is more liable to be noticed shortly after the animal
has recovered from some weakening disease.

Symptoms. — it gives rise to a thumping noise which is
plainly heard by listening at the back part of the lungs. In most
cases you can hear the noise while standing near the animal.
This disease is often mistaken for palpitation of the heart, but by
examining with the ear along the side you will find that the noise
made is too far back to be affecting the heart, and you would
almost think by the peculiar noise made that some person was
inside tapping with a hammer. The animal has difficulty in
breathing, sweats freely and seems in pain.

Treatment. — In an ordinary case give an anti-spasmodic.

Sweet Spirits of Nitre 1 ounce, or 4 tal)lespoonfuls.

Tincture of Laudanum 1 " " "

Mix in a pint of luke warm water and give as a drench every

two hours until the animal is relieved of the thumping noise.

If warm weather, apply a woolen blanket wrung out of hot water

to the chest, with a dry one outside of it. If cold weather it is

better to apply a mustard plaster around the back part of the

chest and cover the body well. In some cases, after giving a few

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OK THE HORSE.

61

doses of the above mixture, if lie does not g'et relief, it would he

well to give

Spirits Turpentine 1 ounce, or 4 tablcspoonfiils.

Riiw Linseed Oil 1 pint.

Mix and J4"ivc as a drench. After the animal is tjettini^ hetter
feed well and give regular exercise, and bring the animal gradu-
ally back to his regular work.

RUPTURE OF THE DIAPHRAGM.

This is rupture of the curtain which separates the lungs from
the bowels, and if the rupture is large enough to let the bowels
pass through in on the lungs and heart death soon relieves the
animal.

Causes. -Pulling a heavy load up a steep hill, or by high
jumping. Sometimes it occurs when the animal is sufTering from
acute indigestion, when the stomach is full oi' gas, and in getting
up and down sometimes lies down a little too heavy, causing a
groat strain on the curtain, which causes it to become ruptured.

Symptoms. There is a frothy spume comes from the nostrils,
breathes very heavy and quick, breaks out in sweat o\er the body,
the pulse runs up very high — sometimes as high as 100 beats per
minute — and gets very weak, the animal appears as though it
was suffocating, and if the rupture is to an\- great extent the
symptoms gradually get worse, the legs and ears got cold, when
death relieves him.

Treatment. — Not much can bo done in this case, only give
Laudanum 1 oiiuce, or 4 tableapoonfuls.

Mix in a pint of water and give as a drench. This may be
given once in a while just to relieve the pain.

Jl

7^

62

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF THE HORSE.

CHAPTER III.

DISEASES OF THE MOUTH, TEETH, SALIV-
ARY GLANDS AND GULLET.

IRRITATION OF SHEDDING THE MILK TEETH.

This trouble is generally at its worst when the horse is
between three and four years old.

Symptoms. -The horse seems weak at work, sweats easily,
his hair is standing and looks roug'h, he does not feel well
and he gets gaunt and thin, his bowels get costive and the oats
come through almost whole.

Treatment. — in a case of this kind always examine the teeth—

both front and back — for shells or caps, and if there is any

remove them with a pincers or forceps. Give a mild laxative,

such as

Raw Linseed Oil i pint

in a drench. After this feed on soft food, and follow up with the

following tonic powders:

Ground ( Jentian Root I pound.

( Ground ISuiphate i(f Iron . . i "

Mix thoroughlj- and give a tablespoonful twice a day in his

feed or on his tongue.

LAMPAS.

This is very common in young horses. It is not really a
disease itself, but simply an irritation of the gums caused by
shedding his front teeth.

Symptoms. — This swelling is found in the gums behind the
front teeth in the upper part of the mouth. The gum looks red,
and if you press your finger on it it seems sore.

Treatment. Do not use any harsh treatment for, after the
horse gets all his teeth shed and his new ones in, the swelling
generally disappears of its own accord. It is well sometimes to
take a sharp knife and cut the gum in a few places, which relieves
the congestion and soreness, then rub the gums a couple of times
a day with alum water -about two teaspoonfuls of alum to a pint
of water. Be careful in cutting the gum not to cut back of the
third bar or ridge in the roof of the mouth, for there is danger of
cutting the large artery in the roof, which, if cut, will bleed
freely. If by accident you should cut this artery, the way to
stop it is : Take a large piece of cotton batting, place it in the

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OI- THE HORSE.

G'i

roof of the mouth over the cut and have it held firmly by windinj,^ a
bandage through the mouth and over the nose, tie the animal up so
he cannot eat, and leave the bandage on for twenty-four hours,
when it can be safely taken off.

PARROT MOUTH.
This is not a disease, but simply a deformed mouth, where
the upper jaw is longer than the lower jaw, and the teeth in the
upper jaw projects out over the teeth in the lower jaw which gener-
ally get very long. It is always well to examine a horse's teeth
before buying him for fear of his having some trouble like this.
These horses should never be turned out to pasture for they cannot
graze as their front teeth do not come together. But in some
cases they make very good work horses if they are kept in the
stable and fed on hay and oats. This is considered an unsound-
ness in horses.

WOLF TEETH.

These are two small teeth found in the upper jaw in front of
the grinders, one on each side. These teeth have an afTect on the
horse's eyes, causing them to run water and look dull, and, in
some cases, if they are very large, will interfere with the animal's
feeding.

Treatment, — Sometimes the teeth are knocked out with a
punch, but they are best removed by putting a twitch on the
horse's nose and pulling them out with a forceps.
SHARP EDGES ALONG THE TEETH.

The grinders on the upper jaw are wider than those of the
under jaw, and pointed to the outside, while those of the under
jaw are narrower than those of the upper jaw and pointed in
towards the tongue. \'ou will notice these points about the teeth
by opening the horse's mouth and drawing his tongue out to one
side. From the continual grinding the outer edges of the upper
teeth become sharp, and will sometimes cut the cheek, while those
of the under side wmII become sharp on the inside and cut the
tongue. If you suspect the teeth are sharp the best way to
examine them is to place a twitch on the horse's nose, have an
assistant to hold the twitch, and hold his head up slightly while
you take the tongue out with one hand and hold the cheek out
with the other, then look back and see if the cheek or tongue
is cut, and also if the edges of the teeth are very sharp, if they
are, the horse's mouth needs what is called floating or filing the

(il

DISI'.ASI'S AND I KI:A IMICNT Ol' llll'; IIUKSI;.

tcolli, uliii-li (.•an lu* easily tlone by Icaviiif^' llio Iwilcli on ami run-
iiiiijjf a lloat or tooth rasp alonj^' tlii.' outer eilj^c ol' tlic upper row ol"
teeth ami the inner eilj^-'e of the lower row o( tei'lh. It is nt)t best
to lile iIkmu loo niiuh, jusi enouj^h to take olT the sharp eilj^e of
the leeth so they will not eut the tonj^'ue ami eheeks, lor if you lile
them [oo niueh the lu>rse eamiot ^riml his hay so well.

DHCAYED TliETH (CARIES).

^'ou ilo not lim.1 i.!eea\etl teeth so i^I'len in the horse as ycui ilo
in l!)e human beiuLj'. I b>rses rarely, if ever, sulVer from tt>oth
aehe.

CllUSes. It .'generally comes from bitini,'" some hard substance
and eitiier bi'eakin^' ov crackinj^- the tooth, which then bef^^ins
to ilecay.

Symptoms. The horse in eatins^- his fijcd will be noticed, all
of a sudden, tii throw his l'ooi\ out of his mouth, fumble his I on_i,''ue
arouiul a little ami then commence io eat aj^'ain. If in ilrinkiiii^'
sometimes if the water is cold it takes him a lonf^" time to drink,
havint;- to stop several times in d>-inkint,'" a pailful. In drivinj^^ he
is m.>ticed to hold his he;id to one side, favorinj^ the side that has
the decayed tooth in it. His breath smells bad, and he
falls oil" in condition. If the tooth is in the upper j:iw, and the
roots .iU'ected, there is sometimes a running" from the nostril over
tjie tooth.

Treatment. Open the mouth with a speculum or any iron that

will answer the purpose, pass the hand back and examine the teeth

and lind out which tooth it is. .Always in examining' the mouth it

is best to put a twitch on the horse's nose as it assists in holding

him tjuiet. When you are sure which tooth is afTected take

a larg-e forceps and remove the tooth. After pulling the tooth

out keep the tooth opposite the one pulled out filed down so it

will not irritate the gum on the opposite jaw. After the

tooth has been removed feed on soft food for a few days until the

gum gets healed up. If the horse is run down in condition it

would be well to give some of the follow'ing' tonic powders to

build him up:

Ground Gentian Root J p uud.

Ground Sulphate Iron \ "

Mix thoroughly and give a teaspoonful twice a day in his
feed or on his tongue.

iiiiiiiiiiiiii

DISEASES AND TRKATMKNT OF TMK IIOKSK.

65

SPLIT TEETH.

The teeth that become split are j^fenerally the inolars or
ijrinders on the upper side of the mouth, thoujj^h, in some cases,
jt ini^lit occur in the lower jaw. If tlie split tooth occurs in the
under jaw the split part is f^enerally found on the inside of the
tooth and turned in aj,'ainst the tonf,'-ue. If it is one of the
j^^rinders on the upper jaw the split part is on the outside and
turns out and cuts the cheek.

Causes. Generally from ^cttinj^ some hard substance into the
mouth and ^rindinj,' heavily on it, such as a nail or stone.

Symptoms.- -The animal can scarcely eat, seems very much
afraid when you }^o to handle his mouth, and will sometimes jerk
back. If you run your hand along the upper jaw on the outside
where the tooth is split and turned out it will be very .sore, and
the animal will jerk his head away when you press over the tooth.
In eatinjj he is noticed to fumble his food around in his mouth,
and after having it in a few minutes he will throw it out half
chewed, stop a few minutes, and then try to eat some again.
Place a twitch on the horse's nose and proceed to examine the
mouth by drawing the tongue out with one hand and holding the
cheek back with the other and look carefully back along the
grinders, and if the split is in the upper side of the jaw you will
see it worked out and, in some cases, stuck into the cheek. If
the split tooth is in the under jaw you will find the split part stuck
into the tongue.

Treatment. — After you have found where the" split tooth is, it
is easily treated by taking hold of the split piece with the forceps
and pulling it out, which is not hard to do in most cases. Then
take a float or tooth rasp and run it along that side, and if there is
any sharp teeth smooth them ofT. If the horse is very thin
follow up with tonic powders.

HANGING THE TONGUE OUT OF THE MOUTH.

This is not a disease, but a miserable habit, and if it is once
formed you cannot cure it.

Cause is generally from the teeth getting sharp and cutting
the tongue, or from some injury to the tongue.

Symptoms. — At the first start of this habit the horse just holds

the end of the tongue between his teeth while he is at his work.

After a time it becomes worse, and while the bit is in his mouth

the horse hangs his tongue out three or four inches on either side.

6

i

66

DISEASES AND TRKATMBNT OK THE HORSE.

Treatment. Examine the mouth as to the state of the teeth, if
they are found sharp, float or file them so as stop them from cuttinj^
the tonj^uc. If the cause is a sorones-; on the tongue dress it
witli alum water — two teaspoonfuls of alum to one pint of water.
This will ^■encrally elfect a cure if the case is taken in time.
There,are certain kinds of bits recommended for this habit, but as
a general thini;' they prove a failure.

CRIB SUOKERS.

This Ih where a horse takes hold of the manger or anything"
around him and sucks wind.

Causes. Sometimes a colt will learn this habit from seeing
its mother or other horses doing it. It is aiso caused by soreness
of the front teeth at first, and he commences biting at the manger
to relieve him, when afterwards it becomes a regular habit.

Symptoms. In examining the front teeth you will find them
worn ulT from biting, and the horse, if you watch him, is continu-
ally hanging on to the manger. In some cases he will suck him-
self lull of wind, and sometimes will take severe colic from
sucking so much, while in other cases he will simply hang on
to the manger with iiis teeth.

Treatment. When first noticed it is best to put the animal in a
box stall and feed him his hay off the floor, and his grain in a pail,
which should he removed as soon 'tis the animal is through eating
so he has nothing to take hold of with his teeth. Examine the
teeth and see if there is anything wrong with them, if they are
sharp, causing soreness, file them down, or if it is a milk tooth not
properlv shed, it is well to remove it. If it is in the spring, and
the grass good, he will sometimes get over it by turning him out
to pasture. If the animal is old and has been a cribber for some-
time the best thing to do is to get a muzzle for him, and only
leave it off while he is eating.

FOREIGN SUBSTANCES IN THE MOUTH.

Sometimes we find a piece of stick caught across the roof of
the mouth, which will be noticed by the animal not feeding and
, he will be continually working the tongue around in his mouth,
and if not removed the animal will fall off in flesh. In this case
examine the mouth well and remove any substance found caught
in the mouth with the fingers or with a pincers.

Barley or Wheat Beards. — When horses are fed on barley or
wheat straw, or ^haff that has beards in it the mouth should be

frrij-ssrrisJT-it^si.'^ssR'ssssaBEan

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OK THK lUlRSK.

67

examined every week or two, fo* in a great many cases the beards
jjet so lodjjed in the month that the animal cannot remove them
with his tongue.

Symptoms. The horse does not feed well, his breath is bad
and his mouth seems sore when you handle it ; he becomes gaunt
and thin.

Treatment. — in all cases where you are feeding this kind of
food examine the mouth carefully, and if you find any beards
remove them with the finger and wash the sore place with alum
water twice a day until it heals up. Use two teaspoonfuls of
alum to a pint of water.

INJURIES TO THE TONGUE.

The tongue is sometimes injured by a person pulling too
hard on it when it is drawn out of the mouth, which paralyxcs
the tongue. There cannot be much done for this, only give very
soft foods, which he can almost drink down, and give him a tea-
spoonful of powdered nux vomica three times a day on liis
tongue with a spoon. The tongue is often injured by I lie
horse pulling back when tied by the bit. In some cases
tlie tongue is almost cut olf. If you think there is no chance
oi' the tongue healing it is best to remove it with a knife and apply
Monsel's solution of iron to stop the bleeding, if any. Afterward
hatlie the tongue with a little alum water three or four limcs adav
for a few days, until the tongue heals up. Use one teaspoonful of
alum to one pint of water ; also feed the horse on soft food for a
few days, while the tongue is healing. If the tongue is not cut
enough to remove, treat it same as treatment after removal.

INFLAnMATION OF THE TONGUE (GLOSSITIS).

This is not a very common disease.

Causes. -It is sometimes caused by handling the tongue
rough, by pulling too hard when taking it out of the mouth, or by
giving irritating medicines which are not diluted enough with
water; by eating poisonous grasses and sometimes by a thorn stick-
ing in the tongue.

Symptoms. There is a flow of saliva from thq mouth ; the
animal cannot chew his food well, and there is difficulty in
swallowing and breathing, the tongue gets red and is painful when
pressed upon, is very much swollen, and in some cases sticks out
of the mouth, the horse seems generally feverish, and after a few
days there will be seen small boils forming around

<»^ DISKASKS AM) 1 KKATMENT OV Tlu: IIOKSIi.

the tonf,''uc wliich havo matter in them, the lining' covering llie

tonffuc becomes dry and cracked in several places. If the anitnal

does not j^et relief he cannot cat nor drink, and will soon die of

starvation.

Treatment. If it is a thorn or any foreig^n substance, remove

it and give a dose of laxative medicine, such as one pint of raw

linseed oil. Halhe and gargle the tongue with the following :

Tim;; lire of l^andanuiii ... I ouiico, or 1 tahlohpooiiful.s.

1'iilvt:ri/,(!(l Alum 1 teaiyjjooiifii].

■VVater 1 pint.

Gargic oi bathe the tongue three or four times a day, and

blister him in the space under the jaws with a mustard plaster. If

the tongue is .swollen very much it is well to lance it with a knife

and allow the watery matter to es. pe, also open the little boils

that have matter in them and let it escape. l<"eed the horse soft

food with lots of boiled Oax seed in it, as it has a soothing

efTect on the tongue. Follow up with the following powder:

Nitiatc of I'otasti or Saltpetre ,\ pound.

S.il|)lnir } "

i'ulvciizod Alum i "

Mix thoroughlyand give a tcaspoonful on his tongue three times
a day. These arc to gargle and heal the tongue, as well as help
the animal to thrive.

APHTH/?£ OR THRUSH.

At certain times this is a very common disease.

Causes. - Certain kinds of food will cause one kind of aphth.e,
but the kind we usually see is the infectious kind. This is where
the disease is commimicated from one horse to another through
the air, from stable to stable.

Symptoms. The horse is usually first noticed to be dull and
not feeding' weP. has a slight coi gh, rims down in condition,
and sweats easily when he is working. Upon opening his mouth
to examine it you will find a lot of little pimples, like small
blisters, all over the tongue and the insides of the lips and
cheeks, these pimples or blisters are found all the way througli
the lining of the gullet, stomach and intestines, and in some cases
the animal gets quite feverish and imable to do any work.

Treatment. -Give a half pint of raw linseed oil in a drench to
start on. This will loosen up the bowels and help to carry off the
disease, A tablespoonful of ginger is a good thing to give with
the oil, then give the following :

small
s atKl

DISEASKS AM) TKlCAl MKNI' Ol' Till'. IIOKSIC. Htt

' loiTirnon Soda j pound.

Siilplmr I "

Nitrate of I'otaHli or Saltpetre j "

Mix thoroiijihly aiul give a tcaspoonfiil three times a day on the
toiii^iie with a spoon, also s^argle the mouth out with ahim water —
two.teaspoonfuls to a pint of water — witii a sponge three times a day
until the pimple:, disappear. While he has the sore mouth feed on
soft food, and put a lot of boiled llax seed in the feed which will
keep the bowels loose.

INJURIES TO THE LIPS AND CHEEKS.

The lips aiiu cheeks sometimes become bruised and cut in
various ways, if the skin is broken to any extent it is best to
stitch it up with a needle used ior sewing up wounds, Inil
it may be tlone with a darning needle. In sewing use carriage
trimmer's twine, or a piece of white wrapping twine. Put a stitch
alnnit every half inch, and in stitching it is best to tie a separate
knot for each stitch, then bathe with warm wiiter two or three
times a day and apply, after bathing, the white lotion. In sewing
the wcnind it is best lo place a twitdi on tlie animal's nose to keep
liim c|uiet. If the skin is not broken bathe and apply the white
lotion same as mentioned above.

PARALYSIS OF THE LIPS AND CHEEKS.

This is not a \'ery common disease, although it is nut with
occasionally.

Causes. It is an injury lo the nervL's which supply the lips and
cheeks with motion. For instance, it is done sometimes by using
a heavy poke ^n\ a horse in the pasture, also in the stable by hav-
ing him tied with a heavy iialter, or ;iny other kind of an injur}
that would alfect the nerve will produce this ; cold weather will
sometimes bring it on.

Symptoms, it is first noticed fli.u the animal is not able lo
use his lips in eating or drinking, or in any other way, and they
hang ilabby ard loose, and in most of cases they look as ;:
swollen, but it is only the looseness of them that gives them that
appearance. When the horse tries to drink he has to put his head
deep into the pail so that the water covers up his lips and nose,
for this is the only way he can drink.

Treatment. Keep ilie horse's strength up as best you can by
feeding soft food which can be easily chewed. In this tlise;ise it is
liest to keep the animal in the stable and gi\e him tiie following
medicine :

sf.

.'j

■''MS

ih'

■M

7<i nisiAsi:s ami rui:AiMi;\ i' oi ifiI'. iiok-sk.

I'liwilcri'd \iix \'i)iiiir;i I |i(iiinil,

< ii'oiiiiil ( iciilliiii Knol ] "

.Mi\ llii)ioiiu;lily ;incl ^ivi- ;i U-aspDoiirnl lliri'r times a (.lay,
li.iiul iiil> his ili(.'i'ks llin'f tiiiu's a clay and apply llu' v.liili' liniiiK-iil
alU'i oai li riihhiiii^'. This ilisease j.;L'iK'rallv lakes iKnn Ivvo lo six
\vi^ ks |i) ri.'ii)\'er aiul in all eases remove I lie i.aiise ol the
lii'uMe.

DISEASES OF THE SALIVARY GLANDS.

SI AVhKINC Ok ritOilllNd AT TIH: MOUTH.

CilUSCS. It is ;.;enerally e:iiisi.-il hum s.MiKlhiiu; in the le'd tliat
the aiiiiM i' is eaiin!^, ov a hea\ v ilose o\ atoiiile will eaiise it, of in
laet anylhini; that will slimul ite the seeietiMii ol the salivaiy
i^laiuls.

SyniplOIllS. A eonlimial iliippin;; ol the saliva Irom the lips.

TrcatniOIlt. l.'hin;e his leeJ anil wash his momli ont \\ith

ah'm wat;.'!' two iiv lhi\e limes a ilas' two ''asp loiilnis to a pml

ol water. il this thus nvil help i! 14'ive iiim a ;;ooJ pli\-.ic:

I'.illcr .Allies S (Ir.i'riM.

< 'iiiiiiiiiiii Siiila I l('iiM|)iMiiitiil.

Ciii.-vr 1

Mix in a pint ol watei' anJ L;ive as a drench ; let the lioise
stan>l in the stable the next dav. This will L;eneiall\ stoji the

.shivei iiil;.

IHICKINING 01- Tin: rAKOTIl) GI.AiNl).

This is usnallv ealled ihiek i.;lands.

Causes. l"iL;ht reinini;-, or sonu'times it remains Ihiek alter dis-
tempir, or from iiillammat ion of tlu' inland.

Symr'toniS. .\ heavy Ihiikenini; beliind the jaw hone and
bi-Iow the I. ar.

Treatment. I>lislerin^ is the best way to i^el rid ol this.

llse llie I'ollowin;; mixture as a sweat blister:

l'ub<Ti/i'(l ( ',iliiiui<l(!.s, (ir S|iaiii.sli I'ly 1 ihaiii.

\',i.seiiii.', or lir.l I (Hmi:<\

.Mix thoroiiLihIy loi;ether ani.1 there will l>e eiuuii^-h to blister

the i^kuuls on both sities ol the tinoal. In puttinj^- this oi\ always

rub it in well, then lie his head up so he eannol rub his neek,

lea\e il tor three days, then grease ii with some lard and keep

"•reasiu'' every third dav till the blister is olV, and it bv t'lis time

the swelliiii.; has nol ^oae down it wiuiUl be advisable to repeat

the blister.

DI.SKASl'S AM) IKI'.AI >II;M ()!• 'UIK IIDKSi;.

INII.AMMATION ()!• IHIi PAHOIII) df.AND.

'I'his is lliL- s;ili\;uv )..;I;iikI siliKilcil lirlou I Ik- iiir .iiiJ iKiuecii
iIk' Ivirk |);iit d! tlii.' pivv bdiir ;irul iIk' ikcIc.

Causes. (iiMurally Ikmii .i liruisi' o\ sDitU' kind.

Symptoms. 'I'lun- is ,i lai^^i.', painnil suAliin;; just Ik-Idu the
lar, nil llu' alirt Iril j^larui ol (.■illicr sick-. it is so painl'iil llir horse
can liardly rat or diiiik, aiul lu- staiuls uiili his IkmiI pokid out.

Treatment. (iiv>' it lots o( hatliint; uilh \iin.-:;ar, hot uatrr
aiul sallpetrr; alur hathiii}^^, iiih dry, ami rul) will with white hiii-
iiK'Ht, then ap|)l\' a pouhii\- ol boded turni|")s and bran, or linsiicl
iiual and bian, about h.all and hall. C'h,.nt;r ihr |)ouitii.e tlireu
liiiK'> a ila\ , ami batlu' anil ml) with lininiint lai h tiiiu- t lu-
piuill ii e is ehaiiLjeil. This will theck it and drive it awa\'. II it
tines not eiie(k the iiillannnal ion the ;;land will lester, lorm matter
and eoine to a head. It is well lo kt it tome pretty well to a heati
I \:>:c r.llcmiilii)^ ti) open it. Ill' w.iy to ttll when it is reatiy to
!aii.v ;■■• open is, you lind a si)lt spot wluie the hair i;enerally (alls
out, and when you jiit'ss \o ,y iin;;.-r on the s[iot and lake it
oil the matter presses the --kin batl; lo its plate '.luleldy. Vou t:an
casib tell w In n it is lit t i L't. lake _\oin' kmie or lam'e ami f.^ivu
the skin over the soil spt)L a lillle iiii k, .\hlth may be iloiie with-
oiil an_\ dan^^or ol bleedin;.;. .\lltr this is tlone jmlss the matter
all out and keep on bathiiii.; ami poultitint,'- till the ' wellin;.^ has
eiilirelv L^tme down. .After it is healed up, ,ind d the ylaiid
remains a little ihiik, lilister with tlie lolltiwimj :

( ' Mil liaiidrtM, I V Spiiiiiuli l''ly I (hiiiii.

X'.iscjilli- t)1' l;Uii I iHilM't.

Mix thoroughly to^^et her and apply one half ol the ini.\ture,

I ub it well and tie the horse's hi , ail up so he cannot rub il, leave

till the third day then .'^■'rease with some l;iiil,"aiid keep on |L;reas-

iiiL,^ lor a lew ilays until Ihe blister L;ets lie.detl up, then t.ake sfjine

warm water and soap and wash the <.;rease oil and, alter dryini,'', ii.se

tlie other hall' of the blister same as first lialf. Durin-^'- the time

the animal is sick with this, leed and w.iter him lioiii a hi^'li

manL,^er. On account ol his tliro.il beiuL; so sore leed him iiiostlv

soft (eeil which v\i)ulil be i-asily sw;illo\\\tl. (ii\f him the lollow-

im; ]itnvilei lor a tonic and diureti<: to act i'<.\ tiie kidneys:

Nil rati; of I'oUihIi, or Salljii^t n: | poiitnl.

< imiiiiil ( ientiiin U'jdI i "

Mix loi^ether and j(ive a teaspoontui twice a day in his leed

it

i!

Ti

^■'1

or on his toiiyue.

72

niSKASKS AND TRRATMKNT Ol' TIIIC HOKSK.

PARALYSIS OF THE GULLET OR PHARYNX. '

This is a very serious disease, for the animal cannot swallow
neither food or water, but fortunately it is not often met with in the
horse.

Causes. Ft is Lifenerally caused by some injury to the throat.

Symptoms. The animal will take food into his mouth, chew
it and prepare it for swallowing-, and then spit it out, not making-
any elTori to swallow; he will try to drink, but ^annot make any
elTort to swallow it. If you examine the throa you cannot see
anything- wrong- ; no swelling, and it does not seem the least bit
sore ; the horse seems eager ;o eat and drink, but cannot ; he falls
olT greatly in condition, g-ets very weak and will soon tlie from
astrvation.

TrCillment. — If he is a very valuable animal and worth gting
to the expense, treat him with a tomach pump by taking
the juice got by boiling hay and making- gruels made out of
chopped oat.., new milk and eggs and pumping it down into the
stitmach ; in lliis way he is kept alire until the muscles of tlie
gullet liave regained their strength of swallowing. In g-iving- the
g-ruels put a teaspooniul o\' nux vomica in it three times a day.
This is a nerve stimulant, and will help the muscles tii reg-ain their
strength ; also hand rub the throat well around the g^ullet and
apply white liniment live or six linies a day until the animal
regains tlie powei of swallowing.

CHOKING WITH OATS.

This is generally found in old horses that ane very greedy
feeders and not used to getting- oats. •

Causes. Are g^enerally where a horse has been out at pasture
and brought in and given a feed of oats and he g-oes at it so
g;reedy he fills his mouth and tries to swallow it without chewing-
it properly.

Symptoms. The horse is noticed not to be eating his oats,
and if vou examine there is very little of the oats gone out of the
box and the horse is .dobbering at the mouth and coughing, and if
you watch him for a few minutes he will be noticed to gag and
and draw the muscles of the neck stiff and bend the neck down as
if he was trying to force it up out of his throat, then he will lake a
violent lit of coughing for a few minutes, and in >.ime cases he
will throw out a t'rothy substance probably mixed with a few outs.
He will keep on doing this until he gets relief

niSEASKS ANO TRRATMKNT OK TIIK HORSK.

73

Treatment. In some cases by drenchiii}^ liim with raw lin-
seed oil the oil will work around the oats and make it slippery and
lie will he able to cou};h it out or swallow it down. It is also well
to hand rub hiin alonj^ the neck, whicii will sometimes help to
start the oats down to the stomach, lie ijfenerally j^^ets entir'ly
over it in a lew hours. After a few hours, if he has not ^ol relief,
it is then best to put a twitch on his nose, put a gag' in his mouth,
and pass a probanj;' down his throat (the probang' is a lonj^'' tube
usetl for relievinj4' horses and cattle in chokin<^) ; relieve him with-
out usinf,' the probantjif you can. It is advisalile, alter brinj^'inj^-
a horse from pastvirc, when f^'ivinj^ him his fust I'ocd of oats, to
dampen it wit'i water, as he is not so api to choke when the oats
are damp. After a Iiorse !)as once choked he is more liable to
choke aj^ain, and to prevent this, scatter his oats well, and have a
few lar<jfe, round stones put in the feed box so he cannot j^'et
a lar!j;-e mouthful at a time. It is very seklom a horse will choke
on any kind of fruit or vefjetables, such as apples, potatoes and
carrots, but if he does, use the above treatment.

DILITATION OR ENLARGEMENT OF THE (ESOPHAGUS.

The Oesop!i;ii4'us is the name of the tube which carries the
liH)il from the i;uilet to the stomach.

Causes, from choking-, which causes the tube to become
enl.iii^'ed, forming;' a pouch or sack where the food olten becomes
lodi,'-ed and causes symptom.s of chokin<4'.

Symptoms. This enlars^cement can be seen if in the neck

.»!

' it
ff

Treatment, it can sometimes be relieved by rubbinjjf on the
enlargement with the hand, which causes the food to pass down
into the stomach, thus relieving,'- him. It also can be relieved by
drencliin<4- with raw Mnseed oil.

SWELLING AROUND THE HEAD AND THROAT.

This swellin<4" is noticed around the horse's liead and throat
just after he has been turned out to pasture lor a few days, and
KHik*. very alarmini;- when Iirst noticed.

Causes. It is caused by an increased l1ov.' of blood to the
head when "he animal has his head to the j^round and not beinj;
used to it.

Symptoms. It is loose swellinj;^ aroimu the jaws and throat
V I the horse. When you examine it, it is not at all painful, and
the animal seems perfectly healthy in every other way. If the

•il

,i '

A

rn-

74

DISEASES AND THKATMKNT OF THK IIORSK.

animal is brought in for a ni.t,''Iit, and is fed wliL-rc ho will hold up

his head, the swelling- will all disappear and will he all riyfht

in the morninjj;'. -

Treatment. In some cases he does not need any treatment at

all, but if the animal's blood seems very bad it would be well to

give him a few doses of the tbliowini,'- :

jS'it,r,ite of Potasli or Saltpeti'e j poimcl.

Sulphur } "

Mix thoroui^hly and i^-ive a tablespoonful in a little j^-rain
niirht and mornini>\

CHAPTKR 1\-.

DISEASES OF STOMACH AND BOWELS.

The stomach ofllie horse is ver_\- small in propiirtion to ihat
of other animals, and dij^estion takes place very quickly.

ACUTE INDIGF.STION.

This is onv of the most common diseases of the liorse.
Causes, if the horse is not used to beint"' fed ver\- heavv, and

e yets a Ian

filed of rich l"ood, such as bran, oat

or

av, it !s

apt to set up the disease; or eatini;- v»heal may brint^ on a bad case
of it; it is sometimes caused bv a horse beiui"' nut to u ork too soon

K 1'

aft

er a invsj-c meal

A ch

clianiv in tlv' iood will cause it, or even a

chanj^e of work-, such as a horse bein^' used to i,.ie i'arm and then
put on the road liiivinir. W'l

icn a horse is lurned in on a field of

of

clover, after a rain or frost, it is apt to brini,'' on a bad ca--
indii^restion.

Symptoms. -We will take a case as we often see it on a
farm. 'f!ie tanner intends to take a iourne\ of litieen or twenty
miles, and the nii^ht before he t^ivts the iiorse an «jxtra i:;oo<.\ feed,
and, if he is used to feeding" on cut f^cd he will probably change
the food tii h;iy. The next morning" he is up early and gives the
horse another good feed before starting" on his journey. The
horse starts off lively, but after
sweats freelv around the h. Il\- and cl

?w miles he becomes dull,
lesl, and is noticed to pass
manure in small cpiantities, and in --ome cases he will even
scour ; if he is stopped he shows >:gfns of cramps or pains in iiis
belly, and attempts to lie down, he looks around at his side, and
when you examine him he is slig'htly bloated ; as he is driven on,
he becomes duller and more bloated, but tinallv reaches his

DISEASES ANIl TREATMENT OK THE HORSE.

7.)

journey's end, and you can hardly unhitch him from the rij^, he is

111 such pan

As soon as ho is taken into the stable he sli

ows

\ioient symptoms by layins^- down and tryini,^ to roll on his back,
then lie will jump to his feet, look at his Hank, and aj^ain lie
down, and sometimes he is noticed to paw lirst with one foot then
the other, and keeps on rcpeatin<j these symptoms until he i,'ets
relief ; he perspires freely all over the body from the pain ; tappins^

his side it will produce a drum-like sound.

wi

Ih

vour nnirer on

sliowniij" that there is sras there

If

vou somid the stomach and

ho we Is wi

ill the ear \ou will not hear much noisi.

an\' more

tl

lan

the tinkling- of i^as. He is noticed to pass <;a> per anus, which is
.1 t;ood sii^n. The heat ot' the body, the let^s and ears are about
natural. This is a }4"ood point to note, for in inllammation oi' the
stomach or bowels, the leijs and ears are always cold and clammy,
his j-iulse beats from i')0 to 7') bjats per minute, and bealini;' mod-
oraloly stronj^-, whereas if there was inllammation it would be
beatini,'" very strong" and wiry ; he is also noticed to breathe hea\y
and quick, which is caused from the stomach beinj;' so distended

uns^^s. r>y placing" your ear to

with gas that it presses heavy on the 1
the bottom part of his neck you will hear him belching wind. This
disease g"enerally takes tVom twelve to twenty-four hours to nm
its course. In some cases, where the disease is not so bad as the
one mentioned, the symptoms wi

11 not be so distress

mi

ne WI

11

be noticed to lea\e his feed and commence pawing, then lie down
quiet, probably for a few minutes, then get upon his feet again.

tal

a few bites of feed, paw, and lie down airain.

In

some cases

he will seem easy for a few minutes, when the pain conies on

a>raiii.

If

vou examine his

lowels vou uu

hear them w

ovk']

"^

pretty well, bui will hear gas passing through them. The pulse

wil

not he ch;

un

much

robabh

;> Ol-

io beats faster than tliev

should be, and the heat of the body, and o( the ears and leg's will
be about natural. In a case oi' this kind, if the animal does not
get relief he will probably show these symptoms for days, or even
a week, before the s\mptoms will get worse. It is not v.ell to
allow the animal to suffer too lontr if he does not "jet relief

himself.

Treatment. -This disease is found more in heav\- horses that

in liir

ht,

an

d al

so IS m

ore fatal in the heavv horse. In some cases,

where the animal does not g"et relief in this disease, it will termin-
ate in rupture of the stomach, or inflammation. If you are driving

M

I >L

■■1

1 ♦

76 DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF THE HORSE,

or working;' the animal, the first thing- to be done is to stop
working- him and ^et him to the stable as soon as possible
and treat him as soon as you can. Give him the following :

Spirits of Turpentine I ounce or 4 tablespoonfuls.

Tincture of Laudanum I '' 4 "

Raw Linseed Oil 1 pint.

Mix, shake well and give as a drench. Give an injection of
hnlf a pail of luke-warm water and a little soap, with a teaspoon-
ful ot turpentine in it. Have his belly well hand rubbed and
apply a mustard plaster. Half pound of mustard, four table-
spoonfuls ol' flour and enough vinegar to make it into a paste,
apply this well over the stomach— also clothe the body according
to the season of the year, and do not allow the animal anything to
eat till he gets relief, for it will only make him worse. In bad
cases it is best to have some person stay with the animal to keep
him from hurting himself in rolling about ; also keep the animal
quiet as you can, and never, in any case, run him or keep him
walking around the yard, for it is best to keep him quiet as you
can. If he does not get relief from the above dose in an hour
and a half, give him the following:

Bitter Aloes 8 drams.

Sweet Spirits of Nitre 2 ounces or S tableapoonful?.

f linger 1 tablespoonf ul.

Common Soda 1 "

Dissolve in a pint of luke warm water, shake well and give
as a drench. If he does not get relief in two hours after this
drench, follow up every two hours by drenching with the
following :

Sweet Spirits of Nitre 1 oimce or 4 tablespoonfuls.

Ginger 1 tablespoonful.

Coniinon Soda 1 "

Dissolve in a pint of warm water and give as a drench every
two hours. Also give an injection every couple of hours, and
have the belly and legs well hand rubbed.

In severe cases take a half pail of salt, heat well and put in a
grain bag, tie half way down, and place it over the small of his
back, then cover him up with a blanket to keep the heat in ; keep
this changed by more hot salt every hour for heat is a good thing
to keep down the pain and keep inflammation from setting in.

In a case where the horse is only slightly affected, take him
from work and give him the following:

DISEASES AND TREATMKNT Ol- THIC IIORSK. 77

Bitter Aloes 8 drams.

Sweet Spirits of Nitre I ounce or 4 tablespoonfula.

(Common Soda 1 tubiespoonful.

(linger 1 *'

Dissolve in a pint of warm water and give as a drencli, and

follow up with the following drench :

Sweet Spirits of Nitre 1 ounce or 4 tahlespoonfuls.

Common Soda 1 tablespoonful.

(iinj^er 1 "

Dissolve in a pint of warm water and give as a drench every

four hours until the animal is relieved. Blanket him well and

allow him to stand in the stable for a few days, till the physic is

worked off. In all cases, wlutt he is recovering, feed on soft

food, such as bran mashes, arid give him all the luke warm water

he will drink. In all cases of stomach trouble, warm the drinking

water, as it has a good effect on the stomach. In severe cases,

where the animal is going to die, and the treatment does not do

him any good, he gradually keeps "getting worse, begins to

bloat very bad and breathe very heavy, and his ears begin to

droop over. If you examine the pulse, it is up to 90 or 100

beats per minute, and you can hardly feel it. The animal does

not lie down so mufh, but walks around his box, trembling very

much all over the body ; his legs, ears and nose gradually become

cold as death approaches, also the inside of his mouth is cold and

clammy, and he will be noticed to strain, as if wanting to pass

something, but nothing comes; he finally will stagger, fall and

die. All through this disease, the :'nimal will be noticed to make

water in small quantities, but often. You must not be misled by

this symptom, for it is caused from the swollen stomach and

bowels pressing on the bladder. The above disease is one which

.should be well studied, for it is met with so often in the horse.

RUPTURE OF THE STOMACH.

This disease is generally caused during the time the animal is
suffering from acute indigestion.

Causes. — A horse suffering from acute indigestion, will, from
the pain, sometimes throw himself down on his side, and the
stomach being so distended or swollen with gas will cause it to
become ruptured.

Symptoms. — The animal will be noticed all at once to become
very bad — much worse than before — the pulse will get very quick
and weak, he will perspire all over the body, and in a very short
time will show symptoms of approaching death by his bowels and

: «ui

'».

wm

Am

^

m

1

*:^

■i

78 niSEASKS AND TREATMENT OK THE HORSE.

stomach becoming' very much swollen, his legs, ears and nose
will begin to get cold, which indicates approaching death, and the
animal gLMicrally dies very quickly.

Treatment. TIkmc is no treatment that will give him relief,
but it is best to gi\e the animal an ounce of tincture of
laudanum to relieve his pain till he dies.

' CHRONIC INDIGESTION.

This disease is sometimes called dyspepsia. This is quite a
common disease among horses, especially about the time tliey are
shedding their teeth.

Causes, it may result from a disordered state of the bowels
or liver, or i'rom a young horse while shedding^ his teeth, not chew-
ing his food properly, from being very high fed, from feeding-
dusty clover hay, and from irregular feeding and watering-.

Symptoms. The symptoms of this case is not alarming, the
horse gradually falls oil in condition ;ind gets weak, sweats very
easily wliile at work, his coat is dry and dusty, and he does not
seem to have any ambition, his manure is oi' a dark clay color, he
is sometimes attacked with little fits of colic or pains in the
bowels, and he is noticed to be licking the walls and manger and
seems to have a craving appetite.

Treatment. —Give him a change in feed and a dose of physic
consisting of the following:

JJittor Aloes S diams.

Coinmou Soda I tableapoonful.

(dinger 1 "

Mix in a pint of luke warm water and gi\e as a drench, allow

the animal to stand in his stall in the stable until the physic passes

off ; feed on soft food and follow up with the Ibllowing mixture as

a tonic for him :

(W-omi.l (Gentian Root ] pound.

C'oiiiinon kSodii | "

(dinger j "

Sulphate of Iron .! "

Mix thoroughly and give a teaspoonful three times a day in

his feed or on his tongue with a spoon. This will build him up

and start him to gain.

BOTS.

These are found clinging to the inside of the stomach of the
horse, and we have rarely ever examined a horse's stomach but
what we found some in it. In some cases they are found in large
numbers, and in these cases they injure the animal.

DISKASl'S AND TRRATMKNT OK THE MORSE.

79

CsiUSeS. Hots are caused by the bot-fly stin^jfiiifj and layinjc
its C},''i,''s under the liorse's head, neck and left's. These flies, while
tliey are layinf^- their ejtf^s on the horse, seem to annoy him very
much, and lie will be seen to jerk his head as if they had stunj^
liini. These little ef,''^s are taken into the horse's mouth by him
bitiu}^ and rubbin}^ his lej^s with his mouth in the tall of the year.
They pass from the mouth down into the stomach, where they
iodt^e for the winter by hanj^inyf on to the lining membrane of the
stomach and develop and grow until spring comes, when they
will let go their hold, pass through the bowels and out with the
manure, where they soon become developed into a regular bot-fly,
and ily otY to bother the horse during the summer. This is the
way they reproduce.

Symptoms. The horse will be noticed not to be doing well,
and lias a ravenous appetite, but the feed does not seem to do
him much good. He will also be noticed to hold his head up and
bo moving and twisting his upper lip.

Treatment. (live him the following mixture :

Haw l^insfcil Oil 1 pint.

Spirits of Turpentine I ounce or 4 tablespoonfula.

Shake well and give as a drench. Crive this drench once a
week until llie animal seems relieved, allowing him to stand a day
after each drench; also give him a teaspoonful of ground sulphate
of iron in his feed twice a dav.

DISEASES OF THE BOWELS.

SPASMODIC COLIC.

This is a spasmodic contraction oi' the muscular fibres oi' the
coats of the bowels, or in other words, cramps oi' the bowels.
The small bowels are the ones usually alTected, but the large ones
might, too, be affected.

Causes. The priticipal cause is :i change o( lood, such as
giving a feed oi' roots when the animal is not used to it, and
especially when frozen, or a cold drink oi' water when the animal
is hot. Sometimes it comes on after giving the horse a physic.
A sudden change in the weather will sometimes bring it on.
Some horses become, as it were, subjected to this disease, more
especially if the stomach is not digesting the food properly. .Al-
though this disease is very painful while it lasts, it is not very

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80 DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF THE HORSE. .

fatal, and usually passes oflT quickly. If not attended to, the chief
danger is, that it will set up inflammation, which then becomes
very serious.

Symptoms. — The attack comes on very quickly, in some
cases the horse will begin to paw, cringe, look at his side, and
throw himself to the ground as if in great pain, will roll around
and try to balance himself on his back. If the weather is hot, he
will sweat very much. He may lie quiet for a few minutes, get
up, and may appear all right, may eat some, then the pain will
come on again, and act in the same manner. He will generally
pass manure in small quantities, and also make his water, which
is a good sign. On putting your ear to his side, the bowels will
be working just about natural, except when severe pain comes on.
The pulse, when he is at ease, is about natural, but when in pain,
it beats very much faster, probably 60 or 65 beats per minute,
while in inflammation the pulse gradually goes up and stays up all
the time. If you press on his bowels it seems to relieve him in
colic, while in inflammation it gives him more pain. As a
general thing i; does not last very long, probably two or three
hours, although, in some cases, we have seen it last as long as
ten or twelve hours, but the symptoms in that case would not be
so severe.

Treatment. — A student was once asked at a certain
veterinary college, what he would do if he were sent for in a
case of this kind. He said "he would go as fast as he could for
fear the case would be all over before he got there."

The favorite remedy for colic is :

Sweet Spirits of Nitre 1 onnoe or 4 tableapoonfula.

Tincture of Laudanum 1 " 4 "

Oinger 1 tablespoonf ul.

Common Soda I "

Mix in a pint of luke warm water and give as a drench. Also

another good remedy is :

Raw Linseed Oil 1 pint.

Spirits of Turpentine 1 ounce or 4 tablespoonf uls.

Mix and give as a drench. Another good remedy is:

Fleming's Tincture of Aconite 10 drops.

Whisky 1 wineglassful.

Mix in a pint of luke warm water or beer and give as a drench.
In cases of this kind it is best to have some person stay with the
animal for fear he would get cast on his back or hurt himself.
In severe cases have the belly well hand rubbed, and have cloths

chief
omes

some
!, and
round
ot, he
s, get
in will
nerally

which
sis will
nes on.
n pain,
minute,
rs up all

him in

As a

or three

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ould for

iifala.

:h. Also

fuls.

[ul.

drench.

with the

himself.

Lve cloths

f

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF THE HORSE. 81

\<rung out of hot water applied to the belly, or you may find good
results from a mustard plaster applied over the bowels. Any of
the above drenches, except the oil and turpentine, may be given
every hour until the animal gets relief. After the animal has got
over the pain, to get rid of the irritation in the bowels, or
whatever has caused it, give a dose of physic consisting of:

Bitter Aloea 8 dram*.

Ginger 1 tablespoonf ul.

Common Soda 1 "

Mix in a pint of luke warm water and give as a drench.

In each of the drenches mentioned it is well 'o put in a

tablespoonful of ginger and common soda.

WIND OR FLATULENT COLIC.

This and acute indigestion are a great deal the same. The
stomach is generally affected in this disease as well as in
indigestion.

CSiUSCS. — This disea ie is caused from a derangement of the
digestive organs, and the food in the bowels forms gas which fills
the bowels and causes extreme pain while it lasts; but in the
majority of cases it is caused from a change of some kind in the
food, and is also found chiefly in aged horses.

Symptoms. — The symptoms of this disease resemble acute
indigestion somewhat, only that the gas is formed in the large
bowels instead of the stomach. The animal lays down and rolls,
the belly becomes bloated with gas, and if you notice there will
be no belching of wind from the stomach as there is in acute
indigestion.

Treatment. — Give Injections freely of one-half pail of luke
warm water, a little soap and a tablespoonful of turpentine, and
for a drench give:

Spirita of Turpentine 1^ ounces or 6 tablespoon fuls.

Tincture of Laudanum 1 " 4 "

Raw linseed Oil 1 pint.

Common Soda 1 tablespoonful.

Ginger 1

Shake well together and give as a drench, and follow up with

the following drench:

Sweet Spirits of Nitre 1 ounce or 4 tablespoonfuls.

Ginger 1 tablespoonful.

Common Soda 1 "

Mix in a pint of luke warm water and give every hour until the

horse gets relief. It is best in this case to have someone to stop

with the animal to keep him from hurting himself or from getting

6

82 DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF THE HORSE.

cast. Hand-rub the beliy well, and in severe cases apply a
mustard plaster to the bowels, and also have one-half pail of hot
salt in a bag placed over the animal's kidneys ; this will have a
tendency to move the gas in the bowels and helps to keep down
inflammation. After the animal has been relieved, if it has been
a bad case, it is best to follow up with a dose of physic, con>
sistlng of:

Bitter Aloes 8 drama.

Common Sod* 1 tabletpoonfuL

OinRer 1

Dissolve in a pint of luke warm water and give as a drench,

and allow him to stand in the stable the next day. Feed on soft»

/light feed. This will generally prevent him from having another

attack of colic.

INRAMMATION OF THE BOWELS (ERTERITIS.)
This is a very common disease in the horse and is, perhaps^
one of the most fatal.

CJlUSeS. — The disease sometimes follows a severe case of colic,
where the animal does not soon get relief. It may be caused from
eating food which has clay or sand in it, which causes an irritation
ot the bowels. Eating pea straw will cause the disease some-
times ; drinking stagnant water, exposure to cold after along,
exhausting drive, the animal getting a chill which rushes the
blood in upon the bowels and sets up congestion, which is
followed by inflammation.

Symptoms. — The horse is attacked very suddenly, begins to
tremble, paws with one foot and then with the other, and turhs
the head around to the side, cringes and lies down, and does
not get a minute's ease as he does in colic, but will get up, walk
around, look at his side, and if his pulse is taken at this stage of
the disease, it will be found about 45 beats per minute, full and
bounding. His legs and ears will be hotter than natural. He
passes manui'e in small quantities, which looks slimy. The pain
keeps on increasing, the symptoms get worse, and he does not
get a minute's peace ; his pulse is up to about 75 beats, and it is
still full and bounding and does not vary as it does in colic, but
keeps getting higher as the disease advances. He sweats freely,
and the lining in his eyes becomes very muc^ reddened and angry
looking ; his legs and ears change from hot to cold, and the pain
keeps on increasing. At this stage his ears begin to lop over and

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF THE HORSE.

B$

irhaps,

if coUc»
sd from
ritation

some-
a long,

,es the
[hich is

he gets a very haggard look on his face, as if in extreme agony.
After a few hours he is a pitying sight to see. If you sound his
bowels at this stage there is not the slightest movement to be
heard, only a jerking and trembling all through his insides. He
begins to breathe heavy, and his ears and legs have a cold, clammy
feeling. He keeps on in very great pain, lying down, getting up,
and walking around his box, and, if seen to make water, it will be
red and bloody looking, and if there is any passage from the bowels.
It will be mostly slime. . If he does not get relief in the course of
eight or ten hours, mortiBcation then sets in, and the animal
becomes quiet and easy, but he still keeps sweating and breathing
heavy, and in some cases will try to eat and once in a while he
wiJI be noticed to walk around his box. In this stage he does not
lie down. The surface of his body, his ears, his nose, his lips and
legs get colder and have a death-like feeling. If you take his
pulse now, it will be up to 100 beats per minute, and so weak you
can hardly feel it, showing that his heart is just fluttering,,
and that was all ; the haggard look on his face becomes more
marked ; he will be noticed to strain a few tirties, as if trying to
pass something, .but nothing comes. He will keep on his feet as
long as he can, but will Anally stagger, fall and die. This disease
generally runs a course of from 10 to 15 hours, but in some cases
we have known them to live as long as two or three days, where
there was not much of the bowels affected.

Trefltment. — This disease, if taken as soon as the animal is
noticed sick, may be sometimes cured, but the treatment must be
quick and careful, for, if the disease once gets a couple of hours
the start, it is then a hopeless case. Give the following :

Tiucture of Laudanum 2 ounces or 8 tablespoonf ule.

Fleming's Tincture ot Aconite 10 to 15 drops.

Extract of Belladonna 30 to ^ drops.

Common Soda 1 tablespoonf ul.

Ginger 1

Mix in a pint of luke warm water, and give as a drench.
This drench is to relieve the pain and try and check the inflam-
mation. This drench may be repeated every hour until the animal
i.;ets relief. Apply lots of heat to the body in the form of large
woolen blankets, wrung out of hot water and held up to the belly,
and half pail of hot salt in a grain bag to the back. In every case,
after you are through using the hot blankets, apply a mustard
plaster, consisting of :

Mustard i pound.

Vinegar Enough to make it like paate.

mmmmnmmmmm

1

i.

1

' 'i

'■1

1
i

i

84 DISEASES AND TREATMENT OP THE HORSE. /

Rub this well over the belly. Do not give any physic or in-
jection in a case of this kind, for they only irritate the bowels and
make the case worse. It is always best to keep the bowels quiet
in this disease. Where the animal is in high condition it is well
to take a half pail of blood, if in the first stage of the disease, but
if you do this, do not give no much aconite. If the animal gets
relief, it is best to feed him on soft feed with flax seed in it, which
has a soothing effect on the bowels. The horse's bdwels will be
found, after death, to be black and thickened and full of watery
fluid.

CONSTIPATION OF THE BOWELS.

This is where the bowels become sluggish and loaded with
food and manure.

CjlttSes. — This disease is often a symptom of another disease,
as in liver trouble, or where the stomach is not doing its work
properly. It also may come after distemper or influenza, where
the bowels become weak and cannot do their work ; also paralysis
of the bowels, where the bowels are paralyzed ; sometimes from
eating over ripe and inferior food, such as pea straw or barley
straw. In some cases it is caused from a large tumor growing
on the inside and pressing on the bowels, not allowing them to act.

Sjnnptoms. — There will be very little manure pass, and what
comes will be in little hard balls. The animal will look unnaturally
full and show signs of pain, but not much. He is sometimes
noticed to lie down and roll, and look around at his sides. His
pulse is not much changed, and when listening at his side there
will be very little movement in the bowels. He does not eat
much and looks dull and dumpy, and his water is of a thick,
yellow color. If you examine his rectum or back bowel by oiling
your hand and passing it in through the anus, which can be easily
done without any danger, you will And it full of hard, dry manure.

Treatment. — To start with give him a good dose of physic,
consisting of :

Bitter Aloea 8 to 10 drams.

Sweet Spirits of Nitre 1 ounce or 4 tableapoonf uU.

Powdered Nux Vomica 1 teaspoonful.

Mix in a pint of luke warm water and give as a drench, then

follow up with the following drenches :

Sweet Spirits of Nitre 1 ounce or 4 tableapoonf uts.

Powdered Nux Vomica 1 teaspoonful.

Common Soda 1 tablespoonful.

(linger I "

'ili:'!

in-
and
[uiet
well
, but
gets

ill be
atery

i with

isease,
i work

where
iralysis
IS from

barley
rrowing
1 to act.
what

aturally

netimes
His

de there
not eat

a thick,
y oiling
3e easily
manure,
physic,

uU.

ich, then

[vAa.

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF THE HORSE. 86

Mix in a pint of luke warm water and give as a drench every
five or six hours until relieved of the pain. Twenty-four hours
after you give him the drench with the aloes in it. If the bowels
h.ive not begun to move, follow up with a drench of one pint of
raw linseed oil. Clean the manure from the rectum or back bowel
with your hand twice a day, and give an injection of one half pail
of luke warm water and a little soap. After the pain is relieved,
and the bowels working, it is well to follow up with the following
powders :

Ground Gentian Root ^ pound.

Ginger i J "

Common Soda |, *'

Powdered Nux Vomica J ••

Mix thoroughly and give a teaspoonful three times a day in

his feed. The powders will strengthen and tone the bowels and

start the animal to thrive. Feed the animal on soft feed with

plenty of flax seed in it, which will have a good effect on the weak

bowels. In cases of constipation, where the physic does not seem

to be acting right, a little exercise will often start it to work.

DIARRH(EA.

This is the very opposite to constipation, and is a disease where
the animal passes a large amount of fluid manure, which is due to
the congested sta'te of the bowels, and is seen most in horses of
weak confirmation, as narrow chested and gaunt looking horses.

Causes. — Where the animal gets a few feeds of rich food after
being used to poor food for a length of time. Sometimes from a
feed to( roots, such as turnips and carrots, especially if they are
frozen. Also drinking stagnant water, which acts as a blood
poison ; and we sometimes have very bad cases caused by an
animal feeding on a sandy pasture, where the grass is short, and
in grazing the short grass takes up sand with it which causes
an irritation of the hovels. An over dose of "physic medicine will
cause this, and when it is thus caused the diarrhcea is called
superpurgation. Diarrhoea is a disease very easily treated, as a
general thing, that is if the animal is in a healthy, strong condi-
tion. It is sometimes seen in nervous horses when they are put
in races and get excited. It is also noticed in excitable road
horses. In these cases it is due to excitement.

Symptoms. — This disease is very easily told. The animal
passes a lot of watery looking manure. If you examine the pulse
it will not be much afl^ected at first, but if the disease is allowed

86

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OP THE HORSE.

li m»

'fit

to run on it will become quick and weak. The animal does
not eat, and becomes very gaunt and weak looking, anu if allowed
to run on the te^s will become colder than - natural ; after a time
there will be slight pains, caused by the irritation and spasms in
the bowels.* When the animal begins to get in pain — if he is not
soon relieved — the disease begins to get more serious, for the con-
gested state of the bowels would soon run on to inflammation of
the bowels.

Treatment. — In many cases all you have to do is to change the
food, clothe the body according to the season of the year and give
a little medicine. Endeavor to find out the cause of the trouble,
and if it is caused by some irritation in the bowels, such as irritat-
ing food or sand, then give the following; :

Hiiw Linaeed Oil i pint.

Tincture of Laudanum 1 ounce, or 4 tablespoonfuli.

liinger 1 tableRpoonful.

Cnnimon Soda 1 "

Mix and give as a drench. In this case give the drench to

assist nature in throwing off the cause of the disease. Where

the disease is not caused from an irritation of that kind give the

following :

, Tincture of Catechu 1 ounce, or 4 table8))oonf uls.

Oinger 1 tablespoonf ul.

Common Soda 1 "

Mix in a pint of coffee about the same strength as what is

used at the table and give as a drench, repeat the drench every

four or five hours until the animal has relief. The animal will be

very dry ; give him the water luke warm, in small quantities, but

often, and in the water mix a handful of flour. Feed him on

dry feed and keep him quiet. In severe cases it is well to apply a

mustard plaster over the bowels and put a half pail of hot salt in a

bag and place it over the kidneys.

DURRH(EA IN YOUNG ANIMALS.

^Causes. — The causes of this disease in young animals are gen-
erally exposure to cold, or where the mother's milk is either too rich
or too poor, or where the young animal is allowed to lie out on the
damp ground in the spring or fall of the year. This chills the
bowels and set:^ up diarrhoea, or in some cases where the mother
is working hard and becomes heated and the foal drinks a large
amount of the hot milk. i

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OP THE HORSE. 87

Symptoms* — He will pass a large amount of fluid manure,
which will stick around his legs and tail; and will become weak
and sickly and very gaunt, and his coat will be staring.

Treatment. — if in a strong foal, give :

CMtor Oil I onnpe, or 4 UblespooaiuU.

Tinotur* of Laadaoam lo to 15 drops. y

If the mother's milk is weak try and improve it by giving

lots of nourishing food. If it is caused from drinking the milk

from the mother when hot, always milk a little out before the foal

gets to the mare. If this does not relieve him in five hours, follow

up with

TiDoture i>f TAUfUnnni 10 to 20 ilrnps.

Brandy or Wh'Nky ^ lo I ounce, or to 2 to 4 tabieapoonfuls.

Mix with some of the mother's milk and give as a drench

three times a day. If in severe cases keep the foal warm and

apply a light mustard plaster to his belly.

BLOODY FLUX (DYSENTERY).

This disease affects the lining of the large bowels, in which
large ulcers are formed, which bleed, causing the manure to be
streaked with blood.

Causes. — Often from a severe attack of diarrhcea, from pas-
turing'on wet, marshy lands, or from eating hay grown on such
lands, or using impure water.

Symptoms. — The passages from the bowels are streaked with
blood and have a bad smell ; sometimes slime comes away with
the manure. He does not feed much, and in some cases his
appetite is entirely gone. The pulse will be at about 50 beats per
minute and weak, and there will be colicky or cramping pains in
the bowels.

Treatment.— This disease is in some cases not treated with

success, and in bad cases is considered very serious. Give the

following :

Raw Linneed Oil ^ pint.

Ca«torOll i "

Tincture of Laudanum I ounce or 4 tabieapoonfuls.

Mix, shake well, and give as a drench ; then follow up with

the following drenches :

Tincture of Laudanum 1 ounce or 4 tahlespoonfuli.

Tincture of Catechu 1 •• 4 ••

Mix in a pint of luke warm water and give as a drench three

times a day — morning, noon and night — until he gets relief.

Clothe the body well, according to the season of the year ; feed

88 DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF THE HORSE.

on soft feed with lots of boiled linseed in it, and take the chill off
his drinking water for a few days. After the first symptpms
have passed oflf srme, follow up with the following powder : .

Ground Oentian Root | pound.

Sulphate of Iron J ••

Milt well together, and give a tablespoonful twice a day.

TWIST III THE BOWEL (VOLVULUS).

This is not a very common disease, although sometimes it is
met with.

Causes. — it may be due to colic, when the animal is in very
bad pain, and the. bowels cramped, and the animal rolling about.
It is generally noticed in young animals.

Symptoms. — it is very hard to be sure it is this disease, for
the animal shows similar symptoms to inflammation of the bowels ;
there is no passage on account of the twist in the bowels ; the
animal is noticed to sit upon his haunches, and \\e sweats, and
seems in great distress ; the pulse runs up and gets weaker and
weaker ; he is generally slightly bloated, on account of no passage.
In two or three hours the bowels, where the twist is, become in-
flamed and the animal stays in severe pain until he dies.

Treatment. — In. a case where you are sure it is this disease,
there is no treatment, except to relieve the pain by giving one
ounce or four tablespoonfuls of laudanum every hour. If tfie
animal is opened after he dies, there will be found a half hitch on
the bowel and for about a foot or so on each side of the twist it
will be black and inflamed.

INTUSSUSCEPTION.

This is where you have one part of the bowel to slip inside of
the other. This disease is generally found in foals living on rnillc.

Causes. — It is hard to say just what causes it, but it is sup-
posed to be due in some cases to cramps in the bowels.

Symptoms. — They are similar ta those of colic ; the animal

will have pains for a few days, will not eat ; the bowels do not

work very well, and after a few days in some cases the part of the

bowel that was slipped inside the other will begin to slutf and

pass off in the manure, the bowel will heal and the animal will

gradually recover. In cases where you suspect this, give to a

good sized foal :

Raw Linaee'I Oil ^ teaoupful.

Tincture of Laudanum 1 dram, ur 1 teaspoonful.

1
DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF THE HORSE. 89

Mix in some of the mother's milk and give as a drench.

The dose must be given in proportion to the size of the foal.

After this follow up with the following :

Tiooture of Laudannm 1 dram, or I t««apoonf iil.

SwMt Spiriti of Nitre 1 " 1 "

Common Soda. I toMpoonful.

Ginger 1 "

Mix in a little of the mother's milk and give as a drench
every four hours until the animal gets relief.

BALLS FOUND IN THE BOWELS (CALCULI).

They are chiefly made up 6f lime, and vary from the size of a
marble to twenty pounds. They generally commence by the
animal drinking or eating a piece of brass or iron, or anything
which will have a tendency to collect the lime.

Causes. — Generally from feeding the sweepings of a mill floor,
or such like. It may take the ball a long time to collect before it
^ets large enough to stop the passage, the balls are generally
found in the large bowels.

Symptoms. — The flrst symptoms of this are, for a while, the
animal is subjected to wind colic, which afterwards, sooner or
later, as the ball gets larger, terminates in a complete stoppage of
the bowels, which sets up inflammation and generally terminates
in death from twenty-four to forty-eight hours after the complete
stoppage in the bowels.

Treatment. — in a pure case of this kind nothing can be done,
only give doses of laudanum, 1 ounce or 4 tablespoonfuls every
couple of hours to relieve the pain while the animal lives. In the
first symptoms, give a good dose of physic, and in all cases
where you suspect this disease it is best to exarnrne the rectum or
back bowel by oiling ycur hand and passing it into the rectum,
and if you can feel the ball, remove it with your hand. ,

RUPTURE OF THE RECTUM OR BACK BOWEL.

This is a very serious injur)', but in some cases they will
recover, especially if the rupture ison the upper side of the rectum.

Causes. — Are generally from some foreign substance, such as
the shaft of a buggy in a runaway, or any other such cause,
entering in at the anus into the back bowel and rupturing it. It
has also been caused from what is known as mal-address. This
is when the stallion, serving a mare, enters into the wrong
passage.

90

DISBASBS AND TREATMENT OP THE HORSE.

I, 1, I

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i I:

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.1

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iiit

SyinptOlllS are generally stoppage in the bowels, and also

bleeding from the anus after the stallion has served the mare,

'or if a shaft in a runaway, this will be plainly seen. You can tell

the extent of the injury by oiling your hand and passing it into the

rectum and examining it.

Treatment. — in a case where it was done from any substance,

such as a stick or shaft, it is best to examine and see if there is

any sliver or piece of the stick left in the wound, and if there is

remove it and clean the manure out of the rectum by passing your

oiled hand up three or four times a day. After you have removed

the manure give an injection of a little warm water and soap,

which will have a soothing effect on the wound, and also help to

keep the bowels regular. Feed on soft food, and only allow him

to have a small amount of it, so as to keep the bowels ^pty as

possible, without starving the animal, and give him thr .ollowing

drench.

Raw Linseed Oil & pint.

Tincture of Laudanum 1 ounce or 4 tablespoonfuli.

Mix and give as a drench. After this, if the animal seems in
pain, it is well to follow up with 1 o;'nce or 4 tablespoonful
drenches of laudanum every four hours in a little luke warm water.
If the animal is very fleshy, it is well to give five to ten drops of
Fleming's tincture of 'aconite to keep down inflammation.

TUNORS OR ABSCESSES IN THE RECTUM OR BACK BOWEL.

This disease is not very common.

(^USes. — When the bowels are costive it has a tendency to
'cause this ; or from rudely inserting the hand or an injection pipe.

Symptoms. — The symptoms are noticed most at the time of
making manure. He will be noticed to be in severe pain when
passing anything, and in some cases he will lie down from the
pain. If the tumor or abscess is large you will notice the animal
straining, but pass nothing.

Treatment. — if it is an abscess, and you think there is matter
in it by feeling it, take a small knife or lance and pierce it, allow-
ing the matter to escape. If it is a tumor, and can be got at, then
remove it with a knife by cutting it out. In some cases the
ecraseur (which is an instrument with a chain that squeezes it off)
comes in very useful in removing tumors here. The after treat-
ment is giving raw linseed oil, and feeding boiled flax seed in
the feed to keep the bowels loose.

DIHBASRM ANI> TKBATMRNT OF THB HORSB.

91

PROTRUSION OF THE REaUN OR BACK ROWEL.

This is often met with and is a miserable looking; Ni>fht,
especially if it is left out lonj^ and it becomes swollen.

DtUSeS.- - From a horse jumping a fence and (fettin); cau),;ht
and lyint; on his belly half over the fence ; or in cases where
the animal gets very much bloated, as in wind colic or acute in>
digestion, and the bowels ^ct pressed out. It has been seen in ^
cases of diarrhoea, and one great cause of this is constipation of
the bowels, where the animal strains to pass manure and, in so
doing, turns the rectum out. It is turned out sometimes when
the mare is foaling, and sometimes in castrating an old stallion,
where he forces very much.

Symptoms. — Vou will see from three or four inches, and, in
some cases, two feet of the bowel. ,

Treatment. — Wash the bowel well with luke warm water, and
then place a twitch on the horse's nose and have one of his front
legs held up so he cannot kick ; have the tail held out of the road,
then take sweet oil and oil the bowel all over ; commence return-
ing the bowel at the anus, as you have to turn the bowel inside
out ; shove the parts well back in with the hand and arm, and
have someone to hold his tail down tight for an hour or so until
he quits forcing, after the bowel is replaced. It is also well to
liave his hind end raised, by means of straw or boards under his
hind feet. Give the following dose of medicine to work on his
bowels and relieve the pain :

Raw Linseeil Oil I pint.

Tincture of LaudRJuni 1 ounu« or 4 tahlesitoonfiila.

Shake well together and give as a drench. Feed the horse

on soft feed with lots of boiled linseed in it to keep the bowels

loose. If the case is caused by constipation of the bowels, give :

Bitter Aloes . . H dranm.

(linger I tah'esponnful.

Common Soda 1 •'

Mix with a pint of luke warm water and give as a drench.

PERITONITIS.

This is inflammation of the serous membrane found lining
the inside of the belly apd over the outside of the bowels.

Causes. — it is generally caused from exposure to cold after
some weakening disease. This disease is also noticed to come
after the colt has been castrated and he has been left out in a
cold rain or walked through a river when warm after castration,

B\

92 DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF THE HORSE.

or left standing in a cold east wind. It may also be caused from
the belly being bruised.

Symptoms. — The animal will be noticed to be in slight pain,
will lie down, stretch himself out and moan, sweat freely if the
weather is warm, then get up and move around and seems very
weak, breathes very heavy, almost as heavy as in a case of in-
flammation of the lungs. The' pulse runs up to 70 or HO beats
per minute. If he is not soon relieved his legs and ears become
cold ; his ears lop over, and he seems very weak — hardly able to
gel up when he is down. .By listening with your ear to his side
you will find his bowels do not work very much, and if you press
over the bowels it causes him pain. The animal refuses food, and,
in some cases, the manure will have a very glossy appearance.

TreRtment.— »Give the following :

Raw Linseed Oil 1 pint.

Tincture of Laudanum 1 ounce, or 4 tableapoonf uls. '

Fleming's Tincture of Aconite .') to 10 drops.

Mix and give as a drench. Apply lots of heat to the belly in

the form of woolen blankets wrung out of hot water, and follow

up afterwards with a mustard plaster over the bowels, and a half

pail of hot salt in a bag over his back. Feed on soft food with

lots of flaxseed in it to keep his bowels regular. After the first

drench, if the pain is not relieved, follow up with the following

drench :

Tincture of Laudanum 1 ounce, or 4 tablespoonfuls.

Fleming's Tincture of Aconite 5 to 10 drops.

Mix in a pint of luke-warm water and give every two hours
until the pain is relieved. Sometimes this disease is followed
by dropsy or a collection of water in the belly.

DROPSY OF THE BELLY.

*

This is a collection of a watery fluid in the belly around
the bowels, and is generally the result of inflammation of the
membrane mentioned above.

Symptoms. — The animal is very weak, the pulse quick and
weak, the muscles of the body soft and flabby, the belly looks
swollen, and if you press on it you can tell it is caused by some fluid
inside. The bowels are constipated, but in some« cases of this
disease the animal will eat pretty well.

Treatment. — Give remedies that will tend to absorb the fluid,
encourage his appetite by giving him lots of good food to eat.
Give the following :

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF THE HORSE. 03

Iodide of Potassium ^ pound.

Ground Cientian Root i "

Nitrate of Pot»8h or Saltpetre | "

Mix thoroughly together and give a tablespoonful three times
a day. Give the animal a little exercise every day. It is recom-
•iiended in bad. cases to tap the lower part of the belly with
a trocar and cannula, but this operation does not prove very suc-
cessful in the horse.

HORSE EATING TOO MUCH WHEAT.

This is a very dangerous thing, especially if the horse is not
used to getting wheat and eats a quantity of it. The wheat swells
and forms gas in his stomach and after a time gets like dough,
w hich sets up icute indigestion and often terminates in a vase of
acute founder.

TreatmeDt. — As soon as you have found out the horse has
eaten wheat, do not let him have any water or feed to eat for
twenty-four hours and keep him quiet, after that give him plenty
of luke warm water and soft teed. If acute indigestion is set up,
i,nve the treatment given for acute indigestion ; if it turns to
founder, give treatment given for acute founder.

LONG ROUND WORMS (LUMBRICI).

Symptoms. — The animal will not do well, will fall off in con-
dition, and every once in a while will pass some long, round worms
in his manure. Sometimes when they are in large quantities they
will set up spells of colic, and we have known cases where they form
a ball in the small bowels and stop the passage, killing the animal-
Treatment. — Get rid of the worms by giving :

Raw Linseed Oil ^ pint.

Spirits Turpentine , 1 ounce or 4 tablespoonfuls.

Mix and give as a drench once a week. As well as this give
a teaspoonful of sulphate of iron in his feed twice a day. This is
the best remedy known for the worms.

PIN WORMS.

These are short, fine worms about an inch or two long and
only affect the rectum or back bowel.

Symptoms. — The horse generally feeds well, but wil^ fall off
in condition. His coat will be dry and dusty ; he will rub his tail
and there will be a white, slimy stuff around the anus.

r f^

94 DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF THE HORSE.

Treatment. — if the animal is in good condition, give a physic of

Bitter Aloes 8 drami.

Common Soda . '. 1 teaapoonful.

(linger I "

Mix in a pint of luke warm water, and give as a drench.

After this clean out the rectum with your hand and inject the

following :

Quanta Chips ^ pound.

Kain Water 1 gallon.

Mix and boil down to one half gallon, then strain off the
chips and inject with a syringe. After the injection keep it in the
rectum one half hour by holding the tail down. Clean the rectum
out and give an injection once a week. This is a cheap and sure
cure for them. Medicine given by the mobth will not do much
good, for it will never reach the worms.

CHAPTER V.

DISEASES OF THE LIVER AND SPLEEN.

CONGESTION AND INFLAMMATION OF THE LIVER.

These two diseases are so much alike, having the same
cause.s, symptoms and treatment, that we will treat them both
together.

Causes. — It is usually caused from feeding very high and
getting little exercise, or an abscess in the liver will cause th'^se
diseases.

Symptoms. — The animal shows pain, looks around at his
sides, lies down, but does not roll as he dees in bowel troubles.
He will then get up and stand awhile, breathes heavy and quick,
the pulse is quick and the bowels, as a general thing, are costive
and the manure is black and slimy looking. The lining of the
mouth and eyes are of a yellow color, similar to jaundice.
Other symptoms are that he will be lame in the off front leg; and his
urine is green, resembling the bile of the liver.

Treatment. — if the animal is in good condition, give

Bitter Aloes 8 drams.

Hweet iSpirits of Nitre 1 ounce, or 4 tablespoonfuls.

Tincture of Laudanum 1 " " " *

Mix in a pint of luke v^arm water and give as a drench.

.'Vpply a mustard plaster well rubbed in on the under part of the

the belly and clothe the body well, according to the season of the

year. After this follow up with the following medicine : ,

<.\ I

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF THE HORSE.

95

Iodide of Pntanium, ^ pound

Nitrate of Potash or Saltpetre \ "

Mix thoroughly together and give a teaspoonful three times
a clay in his feed or on his tongue with a spoon. In cases where
the cause is from high feeding and little exercise, feed light, soft
food and give regular exercise.

YELLOWS (JAUNDICE.)

This is, perhaps, the most common disease of the liver.

Causes. — From inflammation of the liver, from gall stones
stopping up the tube which leads from the liver to the bowels,
from weakening diseases, such as influenza or distemper, from an
abscess forming in the liver or from any other disorder of the liver,
where the bile is not taken from the blood.

Symptoms. — The bowels become constipated and the manure
is of a dark clay color, the animal is dull and does not feed iveW,
the lining of the mouth and around the eyes is of a yellow color,
from which it gets the name, jaundice.

Treatment.— if it is in the spring of the year, by turning him

out on the grass it will often effect a cure itself, if not, and the

animal is in fair condition, give

Bitter Aloes 4 di-ams.

Calomel ^ dram.

Mix in a pint of luke warm water and give as a drench, or it

is sometimes mixed in the form of a ball (as to how to make a

ball refer to the receipts in the back of this book). After this

follow up with the following powder : ^

Iodide of Potassium | pound.

Nitrate of Potash or Saltpetre ^ "

Mix together and give a teaspoonful thrfee times a day.
Feed the animal on soft, nourishing food, such as boiled oats,
scalded chop stuff and bran, with plenty of boiled flaxseed, and
allow him gentle exercise every day, this will generally effect a
cure. V

BILE STONES (BILURY CALCULI.)

This disease is not so common in horses as it is in man, but
they may exist in great numbers, and if they do they stop the
flow of the bile out of the liver and cause the bile to be absorbed
back again into the blood, then it sets up jaundice. Persons liv-
ing high and taking little exercise are liable to these stones.
This same rule holds good in horses.

i:

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m

96

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF THE HORSE.

Treatment.— Give either a pint of raw linseed oil, or 8 drams
of bitter aloes dissolved in a pint of luke warm water to physic the
bowels, and give the following :

Diluted Hydrochloiic Acid ^ dram, or ^ teaspoonful.

Mix in a pint of water and give as a drench two or three
times a day. The action of this acid is to dissolve the stones and
get rid of them. Feed the horse light and give regular exercise

ENLARGEMENT OF THE LIVER (HYPEkTROPHY)

This is usually seen in old horses, and is caused by faulty
feeding. This disease is also seen in man, which is generally
caused from taking intoxicating liquors.

Symptoms.— The animal falls off in condition, sometimes has
diarrhoea, while again he is costive. This continues changing
from one to the other. There will also be yellowness of the lin-
ing of the mouth and eyes, and the animal will die a lingering
death.

Treatment. — There is no cure, but it may be helped sometimes
by regular feeding and regular exercise.

INFLAMMATION OF THE SPLEEN.

This disease is chiefly found in the southern parts of the
United States, where it is very warm.

Causes are unknown.

Symptoms.— Similar to colic, the animal is dull and languid
and has a tendency to hang the* head and lop the ears. He will
lie down and roll, get up, stand easy for a while, will not eat
much, and the pulse runs up and is quick and weak. This is a
hard disease to form a positive opinion before death.

Treatment. — If you suspect it is inflammation of the spleen,

give the following :

Raw Linaeed Oil 1 pint.

Tincture of Laudanum 1 ounce, or 4 tablespoonfuls

Shake well, and give as a drench. Apply a mustard plaster
over the left side of the belly, opposite the stomach and spleen.
Clothe the body well to keep him warm, and give the follow-
ing drenches :

Tincture of Laudanum 1 ounce or 4 tablespoonfuls.

Sweet Spirits of Nitre 1 " 4 "

Mix in a pint of water and give every two hours until the
animal gets relief.

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF THE HORSE.

97

^ CHAPTER VI.

DISEASES OF THE URINARY ORGANS.

INFLAMBIATION OP THE KIDNEYS (NEPHRITIS).

This disease is divided into two kinds — acute inflammation
and chronic inflammation.

ACUTE INFLAMMATION OF THE KIDNEYS.

Causes. — Exposure to cold or standing- out in cold rain storms,
such as we have in the fall and spring ; lying on the ground when
it is cold and damp ; by giving large quantities of medicine which
acts on the kidneys; from carrying a heavy weight on the back; or
in running horses, from violent exertion in racing.

Symptoms.— The animal seems feverish, the pulse is full and
bounding and runs from 60 to 80 beats per minute, the mouth is
hot and dry, he sweats freely and breathes heavy, he looks around
to the sides, and, in some cases, puts his nose right upon the side
opposite the kidneys ; the animal will sometimes cringe and lie
down easy, stretch out, and will be heard moaning, as if in great
distress ; sometimes he will lie for half an hour at a time, but will
lie quiet and will not try to roll on his back as he does in bowel
diseases ; also, by pressing over the loins it causes him more pain.
If you listen at the bowels you do not hear much movement or
rumbling in them, and there is very little passage from the bowels.
He will try and make water often, but passes very little at a time,
and it is generally of a red color and tinged with blood. If the
animal does not get relief after two or three days, all the symptoms
gradually grow worse, and when he tries to make water he passes
nothing but blood ; in this case he generally dies in a day or so.

Treatment. — The treatment must be quick if you want to

save the life of the animal. Give the following drench :

Raw Linseed Oil 1 pint.

Tincture of Laudanum 1 ounce, or 4 tabiespooDfule.

rieniing's Tincture of Aconite 10 to 1 2 drops.

Mix and give as a drench. Apply woolen blankets, wrung out
of hot water, over the small of the back and cover this over with
dry blankets so as to keep the heat in and cause the animal to
sweat. Always apply mustard plaster over the back after the
blankets are taken off. It is also recommended to apply a newly
flayed sheep skin over the loins and leave on for twenty-four hours.

7

' 98 DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF THE HORSE.

Keep him quiet as you can and, after the first drench, if he does

not ffet relief, follow up with the following drench :

Tincture of L'ltulatiuni 1 ounce, or 4 tablespoonfuls.

KxtiflCt of Bell'idonna ^ dram, or 30 dropf.

Fleniing'a Tincture of Aconite 10 drops.

Mix in a pint of luke warm water and give as a drench every

two hours until the animal gets relief. Now, always remember in

tbis disease never give any medicine to act on the kidneys, such as

saltpetre or sweet spirits of nitre, for the kidneys should be left as

quiet as possible. After the animal has relief give a teaspoonful of

common soda in his feed three times a day. Feed on soft food

with lots of boiled flaxseed mixed with it. If the bowels are very

costive it is well to give injections, two or three times a day, of

warm water and a little soap, which will help to regulate the

bowels.

CHRONIC INFLAMMATION OF THE KIDNEYS.

Causes. — This is caused by using too much medicine that has
a stimulating effect on the kidneys, or from eating food that has
a tendency to act on the kidneys, sucji as pea or oat straw.

Symptoms. — The horse is uneasy, lies down and gets up,
stands with his hind legs spread apart, as far back as he can get
them, and they are generally swollen ; his pulse is not much
affected ; he passes urine but in small quantities, sometimes quite
natural and sometimes streaked with blood ; he generally walks
stiff, and by pressing on his back he wi^l show signs of soreness.

Treatment. — Give a pint of raw linseed oil as a drench, and if
there is much pain it is well to put in one ounce or four table-
spoonfuls of Tincture of Laudanum and five drops of Fleming's
Tincture of Aconite, feed on soft food with lots of boiled flaxseed
in it, and give him a teaspoonful of common soda three times
a day in his feed. Place a half-pailful of hot salt in a bag over
his kidneys, keep this changed every hour until he gets relief.
After he gets relief give him regular exercise and follow up with
the following powders :

Nitrate of Potash or Saltpetre | pound.

(vi-ound Gentian Root J *'

Sulphate of Iron | "

Mix and give a teaspoonful three times a day in feed.

DIABETES.

This is where the food is converted into sugar and passes off
through the kidneys.

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF THE HORSE. 93

Causes.— Are from a weakened state of the system follovvingf
some weakening disease, and it may also be caused from eating
musty feed.

Symptoms.— There is great thirst, the animal drinks large
quantities of water. In one case an animal was known to drink
thirty-eight gallons of water in five hours. The horse is dull,
feeds poorly and passes an abundant amount of water or urine
which is of a clear color ; his coat looks dusty, and he becomes
hide-bound, and he will gradually pine away till he dies.

Treatment. — Change his feed, and if in summer time, let him
have a run to grass ; if in any other time of the year give him
plenty of cooked feed, such as boiled oats or scalded chop stuff ;
give him pure water to drink in small quantities, but often, and
give the following :

Tincture of Iodine i dram, or J teaspoonfiil.

Mix in a pint of water, give once a day for four or five davs,

until he seems better. After that follow up with the following

powders :

Sulphite of Iron J pound, «

(iround (ientian Root ^ *'

Mix and give a teaspoonful three times a day in his feed or
on his tongue with a spoon.

ISCHURIA.

This is where the horse does not pass urine or water.

Causes. — From the kidneys not acting^properly.

Symptoms. — The horse will not pass any urine.

Treatment. — Give one ounce, or four tablespoonful doses of

sweet spirits of nitre three times a day until he [makes water, then.

follow up with the following powder :

Ground Gentian Root ^ pound.

Nitrate of Potash or Saltpetre ,^ "

Mix and give a large teaspoonful three times a day in feed
until the animal is all right. We also have the disease in another
form, the kidneys secrete the urine or water all right, but it is held
in the bladder:

Causes. — Spasms or contraction of the neck of the bladder, or
calculi or bladder stones will cause it by working up into the neck
of the passage, or sometimes from a horse holding his water on
account of having no bedding under him, being afraid of splashing
his legs.

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100

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF THE HORSE.

Symptoms. — The animal attempts to urinate or make water
often, but nothing comes ; he groans with pain, stamps his hind
feet, and will sometimes lie down and get up. In the horse you
will notice him passing his penis in and out. In this case, if you
are not just sure of it, oil your hand and pass it up into the back
bowel or rectum, and by passing down towards the bladder you
will find it greatly distended with water.

Treatment. — if it is a case where the animal has no bedding
under him, always shake straw under him, and give the follow-
ing drench :

Tincture of Laudanum 1 ounce, or 4 tablespoonf ula.

• Sweet Spirits of Nitre ...1 '« 4

Mix in a pint of warm water and give as a drench. If after

half an hour the horse is not relieved and makes water, you will

have to take it away, which is very easily done in the, mare;

oil the hand and pass it in along the floor of the vulva about four

inches, when you will feel a small hole on the under side. In

some cases, by passing the finger about an inch into this hole, it

will cause her to strain and she will make water. If this does not

have the effect, then pass the catheter, which is a limber tube

made for the purpose, down into the bladder. In the horse, take

hold of tho penis, enter the catheter in the hole in the penis and

gently pass it up into the bladder and allow the urine to drain out

through the catheter. Put a little sweet oil on the catheter before

using it. Generally after taking the water away once it will be

all right.

INFLAMMATION OF THE BLADDER (CYSTITIS).

Causes. — The bladder is sometimes injured in difficult cases
in foaling ; Exposure to the weather, being out in cold rains, or
lying on the damp ground.

Symptoms. — The animal walks with a straddling gait, and
makes water often in small quantities, which is sometimes streaked
with blood.

Treatment. — Give the following :

Tincture of Laudanum 1 ounce, or 4 tableapoonf uls.

Raw Linseed Oil 1 pint.

Mix and give as a drench. Apply heat over the small of the

back in the form of a mustard plaster, also apply mustard around

the back part of the belly. Keep the animal quiet and feed boiled

linseed to act on the bowels. After the first dose, if the animal

has not relief in two hours, give the following drench :

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF THE HORSE. 101

Tincture of Laudanum 1 ounce, or 4 tobleapoonf uls.

Fleming's Tincture of Aconite 5 drops.

Mix in a pint of luke warm water and give as a drench. Give

this drench every two or three hours until the animal seems

relieved, and then give the following powders :

(iround 'jentian Root J pound.

Commia 8oda I "

Mix and give a tablespoonful twice a day in his feed. •

STONES IN THE BLADDER ^CALCULI).

These stones are found in the kidneys or in the tubes that
lead down to the bladder, or in the bladder, or may be found in
the tube that leads out of the bladder, but they are mostly found
in the bladder.

Causes. — Are generally from the kind of food and water the
animal uses, turnips being one of the worst, or drinking watef
that contains a great deal of lime.

Symptoms.— The animal is uneasy and has colicky pains.
He will be in more pain just after passing water. In some cases
where there are a number of these stones, the animal after making
water will pass blood, and for a few times after this he may make
water all right, and then will pass blood again.

Treatment.— Give lots of soft feed with boiled linseed in it to
loosen the bowels and give the following medicine :

Diliileil Hydrochloric AcicJ 4 dram.

Mix in a pint of water and give as a drench three times a day.
The action of this acid is to dissolve the stones. Continue the
use of this until the animal is better.

INVERSION OF THE BLADDER. "

This is only met with in mares, and generally at the time of
foaling, when the mare is straining violently.

Symptoms. — In straining, the bladder becomes forced back
and ,turns out through the tube, and hangs out of the vulva
inside out.

Treatment. — if it is noticed at the time it is done, before it
becomes swollen and enlarged, it can generally be turned back to
its place by pressing it in. with the hands and fingers. After you
have returned it, if the animal is in pain, give on^ ounce or four
tablespoonfuls c' tincture of laudanum every two hours until the
animal stop» straining and seems relieved.

102

UISI-ASKS AND TREATMENT OF THE HORSE.

:1P

DRIBBLING OF THE URINE OR .WATER (ENURESIS).

Causes. -Sometimes from an irritation of li)c bladder or from
the neck of the bUiddor becoming' paralyzed.

Symptoms. — The animal is noticed to have urine dribbling
away from it all the time.

Treatment. - Ciive a tcaspoonful of powdered nux vomica

twice a day. If the animal's water seems thick it is well to give a

tcaspoonful of nitrate of potash or saltpetre once v day in the

feed.

PARALYSIS OF THE BLADDER.

Causes. From a we.ikened state of the system or being ex-
posed to the cold, and is noticed most in animals that are very
poorly kept.

Symptoms.- In a pure case of this the urine or water is not
passed on account of the bladder not being able to contract, and
thus becomes very full, causing much pain. Hy oiling the hand and
passing it in the back bowel or^rectum and pressing it down you
will liiul the bladder to be very full of water.

Treatment. Draw the water off with a catheter (which is a

limber tube made for the purpose) every night and morning and

give the following :

I I'owderol Nux Vomica. i pound.

(irounil (ieiitiiui Kool | '•

Mix thoroughly and give a teaspoonful three times a day in
his feed until he has regained the strength to pass urine.

CHAPTER VII.

DISEASES OF THE GENITAL ORGANS OF

THE HORSE.

INFLAMMATION OF THE TESTICLES.

Causes.— Are sometimos from a kick or blow of any kind, or
from their swinging around and striking the legs in the trotting
stallion. In some cases they are bruised in lying down.

Symptoms. — The symptoms are very plain, the horse seems in
pain, and testicles become swollen and very sore to touch ; he
walks with a stiff, straggling gait and is generally noticed to stand.

Treatment.— Give physic drench, consisting of

llitU'i- Aloes 8 drains.

Flemings Tincture of Aconite .... 10 to 12 drops.

Tincture of Laudanum 1 ounce, or 4 tablespoonfuls.

niSKASliS AND TKKATMENT OF THE MORHK.

103

Mix in a pint of ]iii<e warm water and ^'ive as a drench.

Bathe the testicles with warm water and then apply a hot

poultice to them, consisting' of half linseed meal and bran. This

poultice can be hold to its place by means of cords over his back.

Change the poultice every two or threu hours and k^vp bathing

well with warm water. Also clothe llie body well .iiu!, if he wishes

to eat, give him plenty of soft fceii v. ith boilcvl iiax seed in it.

After the first drench, if he does not ^'et relief, give him the

following :

'I'iiicturo nf Laiulinum I mini o, or 4 taLleapoonfula.

•Sweet SpirilH of Nilri» I '* 4 "

Mix in a pint of kike warm water and give as a drench three
times a day. ^

DROPSY OF THE SCROTUM, OR BAG (HYDROCELE).

This is where there fs a large amount of lluid collects in the
scrotum and makes it look large and flabby.

Causes.-- It often follows a case of inflammation of the testicles.

Treatment. — Give iodide of potassium a teaspoonful twice a

ilay in his feed. In some cases it is recommended to draw the

fluid of}' by tapping the scrotum with a small trocar and cannula,

hut it is best to try and absorb it, anyway, by using medicines

mentioned.

INJURIES TO THE PENIS.

ICither in the stallion or in the gelding, by being kicked or
struck with a whip or stick while the penis is out of the sheath,
or it may be caused in the stallion by putting him to too many
mares, or handling the penis rough, or sometimes from becoming
frost bitten in very cold weather. /

Symptoms. — The penis will be swollen and the animal will not
be able to draw it back into the sheath, it hani.;-s out and, if you
press on it, it seems sore.

Treatment. — Bathe well with warm water until the swelling
seems to go down, also take a small pen-knife and tap the penis
where it is swollen a few times and allow the water and blood to
run out ; this will often reduce the swelling. After this, oil the
penis and try and pass it back into the sheath. After the penis is
put back, plug the opening of the sheath well with cotton batti/ig,
which generally holds it to its place for a few hours at a time, thus
giving the penis the natural heat of the body, which is very help-
ful to it. Bathe, oil, and replace the penis two or three times a
day until it regains its strength, and give the following :

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DISEASES AND TREATMENT OP THE HORSE.

(Ground Sulphate of Iron ^ pound.

Powdered Nux Vomica J •'

Mix and give a teaspoonful three times a day in his feed until
the animal can draw the penis back into the sheath himself.

SWELLING* OF THE SHEATH.

Causes. — This is generally caused from what is known as a
dirty sheath, also from bad blood and disordered kidneys.

Symptoms. — Swelling around the sheath and hind legs, his
water or urine is thick and yellow.

Treatment. — Take warm water and soap and wash out the

inside of the sheath and grease it with lard. Give the horse a

physic ball, or drench, mentioned in the receipts at the back of

this book, to clean him out, and give the following powders :

Nitrate of Potash or Saltpetre j^ pound.

Hiilphur I "

Mix thoroughly and give a teaspoonful three times a day in
his feed. Give the horse a little exercise every day and the swell-
ing wiH soon disappear.

GROWTHS ON THE END OF THE PENIS.

These growths are of various kinds and prove very trouble-
some and painful when the animal is urinating or making water.

Causes. — It is hard to tell the cause, but sometimes from a
slight injury not being treated the sore place will throw out
a growth.

Treatment. — If the growth is not very large wash it off with

warm water and soap, then touch the parts with a stick of caustic

potash, which will burn it ; after the scab falls off, wash, and

then burn again, repeat this until you have the growth entirely

removed. Dress it every day until it is entirely healed with the

white lotion.

WARTS ARlUND THE SHEATH.

We frequently see warty growths around the sheath which
can generally be got rid of by tying a small strong cord around
, the wart very tightly, which wi'! stop the blood circulating ; by
lea,ving the string tied tightly the wart will soon drop off. This is
the best way to remove them, if it can be done. Another very
good method of removing them is to cut them off with a knife
and burn the spot with a stick of caustic potash. Warts, as a
general thing do not bleed much.

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OK THE HORSE.

105

CHAPTER VIII.

DISEASES OF THE GENITAL ORGANS OF

THE MARE.

DISEASES OF THE OVARIES.

Enlargement of the ovaries is the most common disease we
have to deal witjp in connection with the ovaries.

Causes. — The cause is not known.

Symptoms. — The animal is noticed to be very irritable, falls
off in condition, and is continually in season, and if put to a horse
does not get with foal, and this is one cause of a mare being
barren.

Treatment. — if the mare is in good condition give her a physic

drench consisting of the following :

Bitter Alues S to 10 tlrttmfi.

( Jiiiger. 1 tabl«8|)oonful.

Common Hodn 1 • '

Mix in a pint of luke warm water and give as a drench, allow
the animal to stand in the stable a couple of days alter the drench,
and follow up with the following powder :

Todide of ''olassiuiii | pound.

Nitrate of I'oiash or Saltpetre 4 "

Mix thoroughly and give a teaspoonful three times a day.

WHITES (LEUCORRH(EA.)

This disease is met with mo^tly in old mares that are poor in
condition and that have ceased to breed. There is a white glary
discharge from the vulva behind, which looks like curdled milk.
This discharge has a bad smell, the animal fall^ off in condition
becoming thin and weak.

Treatment. — Oil your hand and pass it in behind with a cloth

or sponge saturated with hot water and soap, wash out the

passage thoroughly clean, or this can be done with an injection

pump and several pails of luke warm water and wash it out thai

way. After bathing, wash the womb with the following lotion :

Sulphate of Zinc 1 teaspoonful.

Sugar of Lead 1 "

Powdered Alum 1 "

Mix in a pint of luke warm water, and with a sponge rub the
inside of the womb with this lotion every second day till the dis-
charge stops, and give the following powders :

106 DISEASES AND TREAfl"MENT OF THE HORSE.

Sulphate of Copper } pound.

.Sul()hate of Iron \ "

Mix and give a teaspoonful twice a day in her feed ; feed lier

on rich food and g;ive regular exercise, and, as a general thing,

she will soon be all right. It is a very dangerous thinj^ to put

the mare to a horse while she has this disease, as the horse is apt to

catch it. If she is, and the horse catches, it is called clap or

gonorrhoea.

CLAP (GONORRHGEA.)

Causes. — From a horse being put to a mare that is diseased
in some way. ,

Symptoms.- The horse's penis becomes sore and swollen,
and there is a slight discharge of a mattery appearance. If the
horse is put to the mare while in this way, he will give the disease
to the mare he is put to.

Treatment. -See that the horse is put to no marcs until he

recovers from this disease. Wash the penis off with luke warm

water and a little castile soap and dry with a soft, cotton cloth,

then apply the following :

Snlpliato of Zinc 2 drams or I teaspoonful.

.Sugar of Li'iul 2 " 1 "

Dissolve in a pint and a half of luke warm water and shake

well ; saturate the penis well with the lotion by the use of a

sponge. Bathe and apply every day for a week or so until the

animal is all right. Also give the following powder :

Nitrate of Potasli or Saltpetre ^ pound.

Sulphate of lion .\ "

Ground (Jentian Root. . . j "

Mix and give a teaspoonful three times a day in his feed.

BARRENNESS IN THE MARE.

This is when the mare will not breed.

Causes. — From enlarged or diseased ovaries; from a contrac-
tion or closure of the neck oi' the womb, or from the neck of the
womb being twisted off to one side.

Symptoms. — The mare may be repeatedly put to the horse
without becoming in foal.

Treatment. — In a case of this, examine the neck of the womb
by passing your hand into the passage to the neck of the womb,
and, if you find it contracted, or closed, open it by w^orking your
fingers around in it until it dilates or opens. If it is a little hard
to dilate, saturate a sponge with extract of belladonna and carry

DISEASES AND TREATMEXT OF THE HORSE.

107

the .spont;"c into the neck of the womb with your hand .'incl squeeze
cnitthe medicine around the neck of the womb. Leave the mare
quiet for an hour after this, tlien pass in your hand and you will
find that the medicine has relaxed the fibres in the neck of the
womb and you can easily open it with yoiir finj^ers. After the
nock of the womb is dilated, or opened, put the mare to the
horse, and you will g^enerally find she jji^ets in foal. If it is a
^ase where the neck of the womb is turned off to one side, try and
straitfhten it wiili your hand and have the mare immediately put
to the liorse. If it is a case where the ovaries are diseased, there
can be nothing- done. Sometimes after you have put the mare to
one horse several times, and she does not get in foal, by chang-
ing the horse will often catch her. Mares will start to breed as
ycnmg as two j-ears old and will breed as old as twenty years.
Some have been known to breed older than this.

CHAPTER IX.

FOALING (PARTURITION) AND THE DISEASES

FOLLOWING IT.

The mare, after being put to the horse and gets in foal, usually

carries her foal eleven months, but some vary a few days less,

while others may g"o as long as twelve months. The co\ering

around the foal is called the cleaning, placenta, or after-birth, and

is attached to the inside of the womb to the little processes called

villi, connecting- the after-birth, and the foal is the navel string or

umbilical cord. Between the foal and the after-birth is a fluid

(llic use of which is to protect the foal from being injured while

its mother is moving around). This fluid is called the amoniotic

fluid.

HOW TO TELL WHEN A MARE IS WITH FOAL.

The mare becomes quieter in disposition, and thrives better ;
the belly g-radually becomes distended, and at the end of the sixth
or seventh month, after the mare has taken a drink of cold water,
the foal will move around. On a«:ount oi' the foal lying to the
left side, the moving of it can be noticed plainer on that side of
liie mare than it can be on the right side. Also, another way to
toll is by oiling the hand and passing it into the passage and find
out if the neck of the womb is sealed and tight. In some cases

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108

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF THE HORSE.

you can feel the foal in the womb, at the same time you are ex-
amining the neck. This is the surest method of telling, especially
if the mare is only in foal a short time and it is very small.
During the time of carrying the foal the mare does not come in
season every three weeks, although mares have been known to
take the horse and still be with foal.

THE WAY TO USE A MARE WHEN WITH FOAL.

Keep her in her natural condition as nearly as possible. Feed
fairly well, although it is not well to have her too fat. Keep her
out running around every day if it is fine, so as to have good
exercise. It does not hurt a mare to work her as long as the
work is light and steady, but never pull her too heavy or back her
up suddenly, for mares often lose their foal by doing this.

SIGNS OF mnEDIATE FOALING.

There is a falling away at each side of the tail very noticeable,
and, as a general thing, wax or milk will run from the teats for a
day or so before foaling. A few hours before foaling the mare
seems to be very uneasy ; labor pains come on, and with the
pains she is noticed to strain. Very soon the water bag appears,
and as it comes the pains become worse; she strains and lies down.
If the foal is coming as it should, the head and front feet will
make their appearance, after this the mare should be delivered of
it in a very few minutes. If the mare has much dif&culty, it is
well to pull upon the legs while she is straining. Generally the
cleaning comes away with the foal. The foal has known to be
smothered when the cleaning comes away without being broken,
so it' is better for someone to be around during the time the mare
is foaling, and if anything should occur like this, break the clean-
ing, or after-birth, and save the foal from smothering.

NAVEL STRING (UMBILICAL CORD).

If this cord does not break immediately after foaling, take a
piece of cord and tie it very tightly one inch from the belly, then
cut the navel string off an inch below where it is tied and leave
the string on until it drops off ; this is to keep it from bleeding.

THE NATURAL WAY FOR THE FOAL TO COME.

The foal should come with front end first, with the front feet
and head coming together.

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF THE HORSE.

109

DIFFICULTIES MET WITH IN A MARE FOALING.

Sometjmes the labor pains come on and the mare wants to
foal, but the neck of the womb remains closed. In this case, oil
your hand, enter it into the passage to the womb and, in some
cases, you can open the neck of the womb very easily by pressing
it open with your fingers. If it is hard to open, saturate a sponge
with extract of belladonna and rub it around the neck of the womb,
leave it for a little while and you will soon find it easily opened.
In a case where the front legs and head appear, and the foal does
not seem to come any further with her straining, use gentle force
by pulling on the legs and head, and if this does not bring the
foal you may come to the conclusion there is something wrong.
In this case, oil your arm, or take warm water and soap, so as to
make your hanr* and arm slipper}-, shove the foal back into the
womb and give it a thorough examination and find out what is
wrong. If it is a case where there is dropsy of the belly (that is
where the belly is swollen up with water), take a sharp knife and
pass it back in (guarded by the hand so as not to injure the mare)
to the foal's belly and then cut a small hole, large enough for the
water to run out, start the legs and head again into the passage
and she will soon foal if she is given a little assistance.

Sometimes the foal's head is enlarged with water on the brain.
In this case the foal will come out so far that only the legs and
the point of the nose will be seen. After using a'little force, and
it will not come, shove the foal back and feel the state of the head.
If it is enlarged take a sharp knife and cut a hole in the softest
part of the enlargement and allow the water to escape from the
brain. Now, by giving the mare a little assistance, you will find
it to come all right.

The foal may come in various positions. We sometimes
have a case where the head and one front leg comes out and the
mare cannot foal. In this case shove the foal back and bring the
leg that is not up, forward, and you will find she will foal all
right. The front legs sometimes come without the head, the
head being turned back. In this case shove the foal back, take a
small piece of rope, four or five feet long, make a noose and slip it
over the foal's head onto his neck, have an assistant to pull on the
rope while you use your arm and hand in helping to straighten
the neck and head, when this is straight, have the assistant to
pull on the rope while you pull on the legs, and you will find the

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110

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF THE HORSE.

foal to come all right. Sometimes the head and neck will come,
and the front legs are turned back, in this case shove the foal
well back and catch the front legs and bring them forward, then
pull on the legs and the foal will come all right.

Sometimes its four legs will come together and the head
turned back. In this case shove the front legs back into the
womb as far as you can wiUi your hand and arm, and then bring
the foal out backwards by pulling on the hind legs. Never,
under any consideration, attempt to bring the foal head first in
this case.

The foal sometimes comes backwards, and if the hind legs
come out first, ihe foal generally comes out all right. When the
foal is coming backwards, and the legs do not come out as they
should, and you feel nothing but the tail, rump and hips of the
foal, the hind legs being turned in under, it is a rather difficult
job, but it can be done all right by shoving the hind end of the
foal upwards and towards the front of the womb, then slipping
the hand down and getting hold of the foot of the hind leg and
lifting upward and backward until you can bring the leg out into
the passage, then reach down the hand and get hold of the other
leg and bring it out as you did the first one, then the foal will
come away backwards all right.

As well as different positions, we meet with what are known
as deformities, or freaks of nature. In cases of this kind, on
account of never meeting hardly two cases of the same kind, you
will have to make a thorough examination and use your judgment
as to the best way of getting out, and act on the plans given in
the different positions.

In case of having difficulty with twin foals always examine
the case thoroughly, and which ever foal is the nearest to the
back deliver him first, and as well as this, before pulling on the
legs, always be sure you are not pulling on a leg of each foal.
After delivering the first foal the last one comes very easily.
In any case where you have to shove the foal back into the
womb it is well to raise the mare's hind end up by making her
stand on manure or boards, as this has a tendency to help the
foal to go forwards. Avoid using hooks and knives, as you are
apt to injure the womb. It is always best to use your hands and
pieces of fine rope.

You may always make up your mind that if a mare is not de*
livered of her foal in half an hour, or thereabouts, after the water

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF THE HORSE.

Ill

bag has come out that there is something' wrong; for a mare, if
everything is all right, foals in a very few minutes. It is best
then, to make an examination, and, if anything is wrong, fix
it right away, for it is a great deal easier to do it then than after
the mare has been sick a couple of hours. If any thin j^ that is
wrong is attended to at once you often save the mare's life
as well as the life of the foal.

TROUBLES AND DISEASES WHICH FOLLOW

AFTER FOALING.

CLEANING PLACENTA OR AFTER-BIRTH.

In some cases we find that the mare does not clean properly,
and part of the cleaning remains attached to the inside df the
womb, and it will be left hanging out behind.

Treatment.' — Try the following medicine. Give her :

Raw Linseed Oil ^ pint.

Sweet Spirits of Nitre 1 ounce or 4 tablcspoonfuls.

Fluii«l Extract of Belladonna 25 to .30 drops.

Shake well together and give as a drench and place a half-
pail of hot salt in a grain bag over the kidneys, also throw a
blanket over this to keep in the heat, and keep the mare quiet for
a few hours and she will generally clean herself and save the
bother of removing it with the hand. If this does not cause^it to
come away, leave it for twenty-four hours after foaling, and have
the mare held by the head and also one of the front legs held
up so she cannot kick, have another assistant to hold the tail out of
the way, roll up your sleeves and oil your right arm and hand,
take hold of the cleaning with your left hand while you pass the
right one into where the cleaning is attached to 'the womb, com-
mence at the top, gradually forcing the cleaning off the inside of
the womb. When once you get it started, work it all off by gently
pulling, and the mare, as a general thing, will be all right.

AFTER PAINS.

These are the labor pains continued after the foal is out of the
womb.

Symptoms. — The mare will be in pain, lie down and get up
and strain some.

Treatment. — Keep the mare quiet, and watch her that she
does not force her foal bed out, and give the following to relieve
her pains : ,

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112 DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF THE HORSE.

Tincture of Laudanum 1 ounce, or 4 tablespoonf uls.

Sweet .Spirits of Nitre 1 " 4 "

Dinger 1 tablespoonful.

Mix in luke warm water and give as a drench every hour and
a half or two hours until the mare is relieved. Cover the body
well and place a half-pail of hot salt in a bag over the kid-
neys and give her a hot bran mash.

FOAL BED TURNED OUT.

This trouble is mentioned in connection with putting out of
the calf bed in the cow, where it is specially dealt with. The
causes and treatment are the same in both cases. This trouble is
rarely met with in the mare, but is very common with the cow.

RUPTURE OF THE WOMB.

This is generally a very serious trouble.

Causes. — From a mare while the labor pains are on, and she
is in great distress, throwing herself heavily on the ground or
floor. This is generally the way this trouble is caused.

Symptoms. — Sometimes, even before the foal is born, you
will find the mare's bowels hanging out, and, in some cases,
dragging on the ground, and the mare will be in severe pain.
While in other cases you will find the rupture while you are
examining around the foal in the womb, while again, if you sus-
pect rupture after the mare has foaled, you can find it by examin-
ing the womb, it may be large or small. In cases where the
bowels are hanging out and she is in severe pain, it is best to
destroy the animal to relieve her of her pain as soon as you can, for
there can be nothing done to save her life. In other cases of rup-
ture, after the foal has been taken away and you put in your hand
to see that everything is all right, you will find the womb to be
ruptured. It may be ruptured in any part, or of any size. This
is very serious, but cases have been known where they got better
when the womb was torn on the upper side.

Treatment. — Try and keep down the inflammation by applying

' .; it to the body in the way of blankets and hot salt in a bag over

• T 'lack, and it is well in some cases to apply a coat of mustard

o .\:i rhe belly and give the following medicine :

Tincture of Laudanum 1 ounce, or 4 tablespoonfuls.

Sweet Spirits of Nitre 1 " 4 "

Fleming 8 Tincture of Aconite 10 drops.

Mix in a pint of luke warm water and give as a drench every
six hours until the mare is relieved. It is well to change the salt

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF THE HORSE.

113

every hour, so as to keep up the heat. If she wishes to eat, feed
her soft feed with plenty of boiled flax seed in it to keep the bowels
loose. In regard to the treatment of the rupture, it is best to
leave it alone and let nature itself heal it up, because, in opening
up the passage and bathing the womb and putting in medicine, it
allows the air to pass through the tear onto the bowels, and also
the medicine and the water will leak through onto the bowels, and
with these things getting in around the bowels it does a great deal
more harm than good. If the bowels get costive, give raw linseed
oil in drenches of a pint, and also give injections of warm water
and a little soap twice a day until the bowels commence to work
freely.

RUPTURE OF THE PASSAGE.

Causes.— It generally occurs in foaling and is done by the legs
of the foal in coming out through the passage if not coming
straight, or where the foal is too large for the passage.

Symptoms. — In some cases, where the mare tries to foal her-
self, you will find the legs out — one out the natural passage,
while the other is out through the anus. In other cases, where
the mare has foaled and is apparently all right, you will first notice
the manure coming out through the vulva instead of its natural
passage. Oil your hand and arm, pass them into the vulva and
examine the passage thoroughly, and if it is ruptured you will find
a tear somewhere on the walls of the passage, and it will generally
be found on the upper side of the passage, between it and the
rectum.

Treatment. — if it is in a case where the foal is coming out,
and is caught with one leg in each passage, o'il your hand and
shove the legs back into the womb and then bring them both out
of the right passage. After this keep the mare very quiet and
feed on .soft feed with plenty of flax seed in it, and if it is in the
spring of the year let her have grass. If the bowels seem to be
costive, give her small doses of linseed oil, half a pint at a time,
so as not to make the bowels too loose ; also, if the mare seems
feverish and swollen behind, give one ounce or four tablespoonfuls
of tincture of laudanum along with each d6se of oil. Don't try
to stitch up the rupture, but simply inject the passage with a half-
pailful of warm water and soap with twenty drops of carbolic acid
in it. When this is injected in the rectum, it flows down through
the rupture and cleanses and helps it to heal ; repeat the injections

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114 DISEASES A\D TREATMENT OF THE HORSE.

twice a day and feed on soft food. In cases of this l<ind it is best

not to depend on medicine, but allow nature to do most of the

work.

INFLAMMATION OF THE WOMB (METRITIS).

This is inflammation of the substance of the womb.

Causes. — From diflicult cases of foaling, where there is a 'great
deal of force used. Exposure after foaling, lying on the damp
ground, or it might be caused from a mare getting a chill while
she is warm after foaling.

Symptoms. — it usually occurs three or four days after foaling.
There is uneasiness, pain, and sometimes straining, and in strain-
ing sometimes a dark red fluid will pass from her. She will also
be noticed to lie down and moan and will look around at her
flanks, her pulse is quick and wiry, her ears and legs will be hot,
and then change to cold, cold sweats will appear around her sides
and flanks ; the vulva will be swollen, and she will pass urine or
water in small quantities.

Treatment. —Give

Fleming's Tincture of Aconite 10 to 12 drops.

Tincture of Laudanum 1 ounce, or 4 tablespoonfuls.

Mix in a pint of luke warm water and give as a drench ; then
apply blankets, wrung out of hot water, over the kidneys; after
this is taken off, apply a mustard plaster. If the bowels are costive,
give injections of warm water and soap, and give a physic, consist-
ing of one pint of raw linseed oil. Wash the womb out once a
day with warm water with a few drops of carbolic acid in it, about
ten drops to a pint of water. Alter the first drench, if she does not
seem relieved, follow up with the following drench :

Sweet Spirits of Nitre 1 ounce/or 4 tablespoonfuls.

Tincture of Laudanum 1 " 4 '*

Fleming's Tincture of Aconite 10 drops.

Mix in a pint of luke warm water and give as a drench
every three hours until the animal seems relieved. Give her plenty
of warm water to drink, feed on soft food, keep her warm, and
see that the foal keeps her well sucked out. This disease some-
times terminates in leucorrhoea, or whites.

INFLAMMATION OF THE VAGINA AND VULVA, OR PASSAGE OUT FROM

THE WOMB.

Causes. — It generally comes after difficult cases of foaling.
Symptoms. — The vulva is generally very much swollen, and
the Inside of the lining is of a red color.

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DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF THE HORSE. 115 -

Treatment. — Give the animal a pint of raw linseed oil ta
loosen up the bowels, and keep them loosened up well by feeding
soft feed with lots of boiled flax seed. If in the spring of the year^
feed her mostly on fresh grass. Bathe the outside of the vulva
with warm water, and tap the lips of the vulva with a sharp knife
in a few places where they are swollen ; this will let the water run
out and bring down the swelling. Each time after bathing, three
times a day, apply the white lotion.

INJURIES TO THE HIPS DURING FOALING.

Symptoms. — The mare will be stiff, and there will be a falling
away of the muscles on the affected side.

Treatment.— Bathe the muscles of the hip where it is fallen
away, with warm water and salt every second day ; rub the parts
dry with a cloth and apply the acid liniment. Continue this
treatment every second day until the stiffness disappears, and the
muscles gain their natural size. During the treatment let her run
out to pasture as she needs gentle exercise. In this case, it
generally takes some time for complete recovery.

INFLAMMATION OF THE MILK BAG (GARGET).

This is inflammation of the glands which secrete the milk; it
is not so common in mares as it is in cows.

Causes. — it is caused from getting cold, by lying on the cold,
damp ground in the fall or spring, or from the foal not sucking
properly, or from an injury of any kind.

Symptoms. — The bag will be hard, hot and tender, and
swollen some, she will be noticed not to be feeding, seems feverish
and her bag is very sore when handled, and the milk is thin,
watery looking, and mixed with curdy looking, milk which will
come out in jerks when you are milking her.
Treatment. — Give as a drench :

Tincture of Laudanum 1 ounce or 4 tablespoonfula.

Nitrate of Potash, or Saltpetre 1 teasponful.

Fleming's Tincture of Aconite 5 drops.

Mix in a pint of luke warm water and give as a drench, but
if the bowels seem costive, mix in a pint of linseed oil instead of
water. Bathe the bag well with warm water and vinegar, if the
weather is warm, and apply the white liniment; weaken the
liniment down half strength with water ; after applying the
liniment oil the bag all over with goose oil. Do this three or four
times a day, and if the animal is in much pain do it oftener. See
that the bag is kept well milked out, either by the foal or by the

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116 DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF THE HORSE.

hand. In cases where it is not taken in time it ends up with
festerinj>; of the bag.' In this case the bag will continue to swell,
the milk dries up and the bag will be very sore ; matter will form
in the bag and it will come to a head. Treat by bathing with warm
water and vinegar and apply liniment and goose grease after-
wards. This will have a tendency to bring it to a head so it will
be fit to lance. The way to tell when it is fit to lance is to feel
around until you find a soft spot in the swelling, then open it with
a lance or sharp knife at the soft place so as to allow the matter
to escape. After this keep bathing with warm water and vinegar
four or five times a day and use, instead of the liniment, the white
lotion. In severe cases of this kind it is best to take the foal
away for a while as the milk is not good, and is apt to sicken the
foal.

SWELLING ALONG THE BELLY BEFORE FOALING (DROPSY).

This swelling commences at the bag three or four weeks
before foaling and continues gradually swelling forwards until the
swelling extends out between the front legs, but the mare does
not seem at all sick, eats and seems as well as ever.

Treatment. — if the mare is used to being in the stable, turn

her out and let her have lots of exercise every day and give the

following powders :

Nitrate of Potash or Saltpetre ^ pound.

Sulphur \ "

Ground Gentian Root | "

Mix thoroughly together and give a teaspoonful twice a day
in her feed until she foals.

This is not a serious disease, but it is well to look after it
before it gets too bad. It generally gets all right as soon as the
mare foals.

WARES LOOSING THEIR FOALS (ABORTION).

This is most often seen in mares before the sixth month of
being with foal, but may occur after that.

Causes. — From a slip; from drawing too heavy, or backing a
heavy load; or the smell or sight of blood will cause it.

Symptoms. — The mare will be very restless, get up and down,
walk around until the labor pains come on, which soon causes the
water bag to come out and break, then the front legs and head of
the foal will appear, and she will soon be delivered of the foal.

Treatment,— In case the foal should not be coming straight,
straighten it and take it away, then give the following :

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF THE HORSE.

117

Raw Linseed (),1 , . I pint.

Spirits of Turpentine I ounce or 4 tablespoon fuU.

Mix and give as a drench. In case inflammation of the womb
should follow abortion, refer to the treatment of inflammation of the
womb.

CHAPTER X.

DISEASES AND TROUBLES OF YOUNG FOALS.

CONSTIPATION IN YOUNG FOALS.

It is sometimes a troublesome thing in a very young foal to
get his bowels to move.

Causes. — Foals of a mare fed on very dry feed and foaling
early are often troubled in tliis way, or foals not getting their
mother's first milk.

Symptoms.— The foal will be noticed to be fuller than usual ;
he does not seem to care to suck ; he will strain as if wanting to
pass something but nothing comes. In some cases he will lie
down and look around at the side as if in pain.

Treatment. — Get a small syringe and give small injections of
iuke warm water with a little raw linseed oil in it ; give these in-
jections three or four times a day. In cases where the manure
balls are hard and large, it is necessary to oil the finger, pass it up
into the rectum and remove them. Be a little cautious not to
irritate the bowels too much. Do this every time before giving
an injection. Give him on his tongue a tablespoonful of raw
linseed oil and a teaspoonful of whisky mixed well together ; give
this three times a day until the bowels move and the colt seems
better. You will have to use your own judgment as to the
amount of oil and whisky given, according to the size and strength
of the colt. The above is for a colt a day or two old. Keep him
warm and comfortable, and keep the mare milked out so that he
will not get too much milk.

DIARRH(EA IN YOUNG FOALS.

Causes. — From allowing the foal to be out and lie on the
damp ground too soon after foaling ; exciting the foal, caused
from the mare being turned in with other horses and running
around a great deal; from the mother's milk being too rich or too
poor, or sucking the mother while she is hot, a^ter working.

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118 DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF THE HORSE.

Symptoms. The colt is noticed to pass a thin, watery dis-
charge from the anus which sticks around his tail and legs. He
does not suck much and soon becomes gaunt and dull, and in
some cases he will be griped.

Treatment. — Remove the cause if you can find it. Keep the

mare and foal very quiet, and if it is from the milk being poor,

feed the mare a little heavier, or if you think it too rich, feed the

mare .a little lighter. Give the foal:

Whisky 1 tpaspoonful.

Tincture of [..Hudiiium 2i» drop^.

Flour 1 teaspoonful.

Mix with a little of the mother's milk and give every four or
five hours until the foal is relieved. In all cases of this kind keep
the body warm, as it has a tendency to relieve the congested state
of the bowels. This is a dose for a small foal two or three days
old, so you must use your judgment in giving it to an older colt.

LEAKING OF THE NAVEL AND RHEUMATISM IN YOUNG FOALS.

Causes. — It is supposed to be due to a germ getting in at the
navel string, while others say it is caused from a cold, a chill or an
injury.

Symptoms. — The foal will be first noticed to be lame in one
hind leg, and some of the joints will be swollen and sore to handle;
when he goes to make water it will come out through the navel
string. The next day the swelling in that leg maybe moved into
one of the other legs. After the rheumatism has moved around
from leg to leg for a few days it will be noticed to settle in one of
the joints, then it will fester and break, and the matter that runs
away will smell very bad and seems to come from the bone. After
it ceases to run where it festered and broke, and is healing up, it
will be noticed to settle in another joint, break and run, and will
keep on breaking and running in different places until the colt is
so weak that he dies. In other cases the joints swell and do not
break, but there is a continual running from the navel, and on
account of this running so much he gets weak and soon dies.

Treatment.— When the leaking is first noticed, if treated
property it can be cured. Apply Monsell's solution of iron to the
navel with a feather four or five times a day, this will stop the
leaking; and rub the swollen joints four or five times a day with
white liniment, and give the foal half a teaspoonful of salicylic
jacid on the tongue three times a day. If this is taken in time,

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DISEASES AND TREATMENT OP THE MORSE.

119

before the joints be^in to I'un, this will invariably effect a cure.
After the joints break, bathe with warm water three or four times
a day, and apply white lotion. Sometimes we have a pure case
of leakinjf at the navel without rheumatism ; in this case, treat by
applying Monsell's solution of iron to the navel with a feather four
or five times a day until it stops lo.ikiny ; also keep the colt very
quiet and warm.

WEAKNESS IN THE LEGS AND JOINTS OF A YOUNG FOAL.

Bandage the legs to support and strengthen them, and also
give them a good hand rubbing. If he is down and cannot get up,
raise him up four or five times a day to suck, and give him every
chance to strengthen his legs.

CROOKEDNESS OF THE LEGS OF YOUNG FOALS.

In some cases they will be over on the knees, while in others
they will be crooked in the hind legs.

Treatment. — Leave the foal alone ; do not try to do anything

to the legs. Feed him well, and as he gets strong his legs will

straighten.
V DISTEMPER IN YOUNG FOALS.

This is frequently met with in foals, and is fully dealt with in
*' Distemper or Strangles."

CHAPTER XI.

CASTRATION, DISEASES AND TROUBLES
FOLLOWir4G IT.

The best age to perform this operation is at one year old — ■
during the months of April and May, those being the safest months,
after the colt has been turned to pasture for eight or ten days and
is shedding his coat.

PRECAUTIONS BEFORE OPERATING.

Never operate on a colt unless he is in good condition and
healthy. See that he has no distemper or any such disease ; also
have good weather — not too hot or too cold — and avoid east
winds and damp weather. Have your hands and instruments
thoroughly clean, by washing them in warm water, a little soap
and a few drops of carbolic acid. If the horse is older than a year
old, it is best to feed very light the day before the operation so his

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DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF THE HORSE.

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bowels will be empty, as it makes it easier on the horse when he
is thrown down and tied. Before throwing the colt down, satisfy
yourself by examining and asking if the colt has had any rup-
ture ; if he is ruptured he will have to be operated on differently.
It is also a good plan to examine if both testicles are down before
throwing the animal. In aged horses, if the sheath is dirty it is
best to wash it out and oil it well with lard a few days befpre
operating; it often prevents swelling after castrating.

THROWING OR CASTING THE ANIMAL FOR THE OPERATION.

There are various ways of Joing this — some use the belt
tackling, others use Farmer Miles' tackling — but the simplest and
most used in this country is the rope tackling, as shown in cut
below. This tackling consists of about forty feet of rope, | inch

rope will do if good ; make a loop by doubling it in the centre^
tie a knot and slip the loop over the head, pass the ends of the
rope back, one on each side, and run the rope through the ring
in the hind hobble, which is made out of heavy, thick straps, and
buckles on the hind leg below the fetlock, and has a ring in front of
it to run the rope through. This hobble is better than putting
the rope around under the fetlock, as the rope burns the leg.
Pass the rope forward after it is put through the ring in the
hobble up to the neck and through the loop at the neck. Have a
man hold the head while one on each side pulls on the rope, same
as seen in the cut ; this will throw the animal. Now tie him
securely so that he will not hurt himself, then proceed with the
operation.

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF THE HORSE.

121

The F"armer Miles' tackling is not used much for castrating
common colts, but is used to cut ridgling or rig colts. This is
where the testicles are up in the belly and cannot be found in the
bag. This is the only throwing, tackling that can be used in this
kind of an operation. The belt tackling is a good one, but it is
rather expensive for a man who does only a few colts.

OPERATING WITH THE CLAMPS.

The clamps are generally made out of cedar, and are about
from 4 to 5 inches long, hollowed out in the centre and loaded with
green salve, the receipt of which is at the back of the book. Tie
one end of the clamp with strong carriage trimmers' twine, leave
the other end loose. Now, take hold of the testicle with the left
hand and cut into the scrotum, or bag, with a sharp knife, close
to the median raphe. Always have your knife sharp, and make a
good large cut so as to allow the testicle to slip out, then take
liold of the testicle with the left hand and the clamp with the
right and slip it over the cord, draw the cord just moderately
tight and spread it out in the clamp then tighten the clamp at the
end that is not tied with a castrating pincers, also tie this end
good and tight with the twine mentioned. Now, lake off the
pincers and operate on the other testicle the same as the first one,
then cut off the testicles and part of the cord below the clamps,
leaving about half an inch of the cord below the clamps ; this will
help to prevent the clamps from slipping off. The clamps are
considered the best way to operate.

OPERATING WITH THE ECRASEUR.

This is a new method of operating, and has met with very
good results in most cases. There are no clamps used in this
method. Let the testicles out the same as if you were going to
operate with the clamps. Then slip the testicle through the chain
at the end of the ecraseur, and screw it up until it squeezes it off.
This closes up the end of the artery in the cord and prevents
feleeding. It is always best to operate on one at a time, although
some operators take off both at the same time, but there is more
danger of bleeding. Pour sweet oil, with a few drops of carbolic
acid, into the cuts and let the animal up. Use two drops of
carbolic acid to one ounce or four tablespoonfuls of sweet oil.

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DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF THE HORSE.

OPERATING BY SEARING.

This method is used in some places, and is performed by
letting the testicles out and putting on an iron clamp in the same
place as a wooden one. Cut the cord off" close to the clamp, and
have a hot iron, dip it in oil, and burn the, end of the cord and
artery ; this sears it and prevents it from bleeding. Now remove
the iron clamp and operate on the other testicle in the same way.
By oiling the hot iron it keeps it from sticking to the cord and
pulling off the scab. ,

OPERATING WITH LIGATURES.

This way is n9t much used for horses, but is a very good
method for bulls and boars. In this method the testicles are let
out in the same manner as in the other ways, and the cords are
tied with a strong piece of twine to prevent bleeding, and cut off
just below where they are tied. But of all these methods of
castrating we think the safest and best is the clamps. If the colt
is ruptured it requires a more careful operation, which will be fully
described in connection with scrotal hernia.

HOW TO TREAT THE COLT AFTER CASTRATION.

If the weather is chilly, damp or east winds, keep the colt in
at nights, in a box stall, clean and well bedded, turn him out
every day that is fine and let him have nothing but grass to eat.
If the operation was done with the clamps remove them the second
day, and in cutting them off cut the string on the front end,
spread the clamp well apart in the front so as to allow it to dropoff
the cord ; in doing this be very careful not to pull down the cord
out of its place. If the colt swells very much bathe the cuts with
warm water until you sofien them, then take butter on your
fingers and insert it into the cuts and open them up, allowing the
discharge to run out. A little swelling on the point of the sheath,
as long as i^ is not too large and the animal feeds well and has a
whitish discharge from the cuts, is not considered serious and
need not alarm you. These are natural results of castration.

BLEEDING FROM THE CORDS (HEMORRHAGE.)

The blood may come from the veins of the scrotum or from
the arteries of the cords. If it is coming from the veins you can
tell it by its dribbling away from the cuts and its dark color. If
it is from the artery of the cord it comes out in spurts, and is of
a bright red color.

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DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF THE HORSE.

123

Treatment. — If it is from the veins of the scrotum cast the
animal and plug the cut with cotton batting- saturated with
Monsell's solution of iron and leave the plug in twenty-four hours
when it will be safe to remove without danger of bleeding. The
batting can be removed by placing a twitch on the animal's nose
and take it out without throwing him down.

Bleeding from the artery of the cord is generally after the
operation has been performed with the ecraseur and it has failed
to close the artery of the cord, and when the animal gets up he
will be bleeding. In other cases it occurs from the Horse pulling
a clamp off by jumping a fence or catching it with his teeth.

Treatment. — Throw the animal and secure him, get hold of
the cord and place a clamp on the end of it good and tight, this
will stop the bleeding, then allow the animal to get up.

The question has often been asked if a one-year old colt would
bleed to death by bleeding from the artery of the cord ? The
answer is : Yes, cases have been known where animals have
bled to death by bleeding from this artery. The animal generally
bleeds some after castration, but so long as it does not bleed very
freely it need not alarm you, and by keeping the animal quiet it
will generally stop bleeding of its own accord.

RUPTURE (HERNIA).

This is where the animal has a small rupture that was not
noticed before the operation was performed; or, in some cases the
animal will rupture himself at the time of operation.

Symptoms. — The bowels will be noticed to be hanging out of
the cut; there may be only a little — two or three inches, or a foot,
and it has been known to be so much that the animal would
tramp it under his feet. If the bowel is out very far, and becomes
strangulated and inflamed, the animal will be in great pain and
act as if he had inflammation of the bowels. The bowel will be
oi' a bluish-red color, and after a time, if left out, will become
mortified. The way this generally occurs is: There will be no
sign of the rupture during operation, but in a few hours the
owner will go back to see the colt and find him in the above-
mentioned state.

Treatment. — if the bowels are out, and inflamed and bruised
with the hind feet, and he seems in great pain, there can be nothing
done but to destroy the animal. In cases where there is only a
"^mall amount of the bowels out, throw the animal and secure him, oil

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DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF THE HORSE.

your hand with sweet oil and force the bowels back through the
hole into their natural cavity, sew up the cut that was made to let
the testicle out and this will keep the bowels from coming- down;
keep the animal very quiet and feed on soft lood to keep his
bowels loose. Swelling will take place, and between the swelling
and the stitches it will keep the bowels in their place and the hole
will heal up, and there will be no more trouble with the rupture.
In a case ot this kind it is best to keep the clamp on a day or two
longer than you would if the animal was all right.

THE FATTY LINING OF THE BOWELS COMING DOWN A'TER

CASTRATION.

In some cases where there is a very slight rupture whicfh is
not noticed during castration, and after the animal is let up and
walks around, in a few hours the fatty lining of the bowels comes
out— it may be out from six inches to two feet.

Symptoms. — When you go to see the colt there will be
something hanging from the cut, generally of red color, and
when you feel it, it is of a fatty feeling and the animal does not
seem to take any notice of it at all ; he feeds away and seems in
perfect health.

Treatment. — Take a scissors and cut it off; there is no
danger of bleeding or any trouble, and watch that there is no
more comes out.

ABSCESSES FORMED IN SCROTUM AFTER CASTRATION.

This generally comes in a case where the animal is all healed
up and seems to be doing very nicely.

Causes. — Some dried matter; a dead piece of the cord or a sliver
being left in the scrotum after it is' healed. This causes an
irritation, starts it to fester and forms an abscess.

Symptoms. — There will be heat, pain and swelling around the
i scrotum or bag, and the animal will walk very stiff in his hind
legs.

Treatment. — Poultice and bathe well, rub with weak white
liniment. This will bring the abscess to a head, then lance it and
allow the matter to run out, or in some cases the poultice will
bring it to a head and it will break of its own accord.

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DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF THE HORSE.

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SWELLING AFTER CASTRATION.

As we mentioned before, a small amount of swelling is not a
bad sign, but when he begins to swell up very bad, especially
around the scrotum and cuts as well as in the sheath, the animal
seems very stiff and does not want to move nor care to eat; and
if the discharge from the cuts is of a red waterish color, the case
becomes more serious and needs immediate attention.

Causes. — From lying on cold, damp ground or standing out
in cold east winds or a cold rain and he gets cold in the cuts,
which sets up inflammation and swelling; or allowing the cuts to
heal up too soon and dam back the natural discharge; or it may
be from the cuts being poisoned from dirt on the hands of the
operator or on some of the instruments, or standing in a dirty
stable, or it may be from the colt's blood being very bad.

Treatment.— Keep the bowels loose by giving small doses of
raw linseed oil, bathe the cuts well with warm water and tap the
point of the sheath in a few places with a sharp penknife, allowing
tlie watery stuff to keep dropping out; this will help to relieve the
swelling. After you give him a good bathing and get the
swelling down some, put salty butter on your finger and open the
cuts well, this will allow any discharge that is formed above to
run out. After the bathing and the opening of the cuts, then
apply a poultice of hot linseed and bran, hold this poultice to the cuts
hv means of strings over the back. It will not be necessarv to
lap the sheath and open up the cut every time you dress the
swelling — once a day will be all that is necessary; but bathe and
put on hot poultices three or four times a day, this will allay the
inflammation, and if there is poison in the cut, the poultice and
hot water will draw it out. Feed the animal on soft food and
give gentle exercise, which has a tendency to take down the
swelling. As soon as the colt begins to eat, and there is a good
liealthy white discharge from the cuts, you may then consider him
as going to come all right.

SCIRRHUS CORD.

This is a growth on the end of the cord.

Causes. — From the cord being pulled down in taking off the
clamp, or from the colt when it is itching from healing, biting it
;ind pulling it down. The cord is pulled down through the cut
and if not noticed at the time and put back into the bag, the cut
heals tight around it and holds it down, and the cord being

126

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF THE HORSE.

exposed to the air becomes irritated and diseased, and a growth
is formed on the end of it.

Treatment. — if this is noticed right at the time it is very
easily checked by bathing it with warm water, which softens the
cut, then take your finger with some butter on it, break the cord
loose from the skin, shove it back into the bag and it will soon
get all right. I* it has not been noticed in time, and gets very
large, it will soon have to be operated on. Cast the animal and
secure him, break the skin from the cord, where it is healed to it,
with your finger and thumb, as much as you can ; the parts you
cannot break i your finger and thumb cut with a knife until
you get the cord a'' '' , place a clamp on the cord so you will be
able to cut all the ui.jeascd part oflF below the clamp, leave the clamp
on two or three -lays and remove it, same as after castration,
open one end and sprea J 't Ths cord may also be taken off with the
ecraseur instead of putting on a clamp, and in some cases it works
better than the clamp. After the operation, if the anirnal swells
much, bathe with luke warm water three or four times aday, and after
each bathing apply the white lotion. If the point of the sheath is
swollen much it is well to tap it in a few places with a sharp
penknife to let the watery stuff keep dropping out. Feed lots of
soft food with boiled flaxseed in it, and give the animal gentle
exercise every day. If the case has been allowed to run on until
the cord becomes diseased up through the ring in the rim of the
belly it is then a hopeless case.

PERITONITIS FOLLOWING CASTRATION.

This is inflammation of the lining of the scrotum and the
lining of the abdominal or belly cavity.

This disease is more fully described in connection with the
diseases of the bowels.

Causes. — From too severe medicine being used in the clamps ;
or from a bungling operation; from the animal standing out in
cold east winds or rains; or lying on the damp ground. The
inflammation first commences in the lining of the bag or scrotum,
and extends up through the ring in the rim of the belly and
spreads all over the serous membrane lining — the belly cavity.
This generally comes on about the third or fourth day after
castration.

Symptoms. — The animal is very dull, will stand around with-
out eating, and seems as if he was cold. The cuts are not

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DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF THE HORSE. 12T

swollen, but there is a bloody, watery fluid keeps dropping- away.

As the symptoms g^radually get worse the animal seems in pain,

will lay down, and keep getting up and down, breathes very

heavy, as if he had lung trouble. If in warm weather, he sweats

freely, his pulse is weak and fast — from 60 to 70 beats per minute ;

if he passes anything from the bowels it will be covered with

slime, and his water will have a reddish appearance. This is a

very weakening disease, the animal gradually gets worse for a

couple days, then he dies. <

Treatment. — -For a yearling colt give the following :

Tincture of Laudanum ^ ounce, or 2 tablespoonf uls.

Fleming's Tincture of Aconite 5 drops.

Raw Linseed Oil 1 pint.

Mix thoroughly and give as a drench. If this does not give

relief in three hours follow up with the following :

Tincture of Laudanum i ounce, or 2 tablespoonfuls

Fleming's Tincture ot Aconite 5 drops.

Mix in half pint of luke warm water and give as a drench
every three hours until he seems better. If he seems weak after
recovery give a wine glassful of whisky in a pint of oatmeal gruel
three times a day for a few days until he gains his strength.
Keep him good and warm by blanketing him, and apply a mustard
plaster over the bowels until he seems relieved, poultice the cuts
with a hot poultice of linseed meal and bran, which will start
;i healthy discharge to run from the cuts. Warm his drinking
water and feed on soft food. When once this disease gets well
started it generally proves fatal. .

LOCKJAW (TETANUS) AFTER CASTRATION.

This disease usually comes on from the ninth to the twenty-
first day after castration, and generally follows a case that you
think is doing extra well.

Causes. — The real cause is not known, but it is liable to
follow any kind of an operation, or even a very slight injury. It
is frequently noticed in colts that are exposed to the cold, walk-
ing or standing in a river for any length of time after being
castrated, or allowed to run in a wet, marshy pasture. For treat-
ment and further particulars of this disease turn to " Lockjaw or
Tetanus," which is dealt with more fully in the diseases of the nerv-
ous system.

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DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF THE HORSE.

BLINDNESS (AMAUROSIS) OCCURRING AFTER CASTRATION.

This disease is sometimes noticed to come on an animal after
he has been castrated, especially if he bleeds freely at the time.
This disease is mentioned more fully in connection with the dis-
eases of the eye.

CASTRATING ORIGINALS OR RIGS.

This is where the testicles do not come down into the scrotum
or bag-, but remains up in the abdominal or belly cavity. The
cause of this is not fully understood. In a case of castrating a
rig" it is advisable to have an expert who pays special attention to
this branch of castration to do it. If the testicles are not down
at a yearling- it is best to let the animal run over for a year or so,
for the testicles often come down themselves. In some cases one
testicle will be down and the other up, while again neither of the
testicles will be down.

THE DIFFERENT MEDICINES USED IN LOADING THE CLAMPS.

Some use biniodid of mercury or red precipitate — 2 grains to
an ounce of lard or vaseline, but the green salve, the receipt of
which is at the back of the book, is what we recommend and use.

• . CHAPTER XII.

RUPTURES (HERNIAS) AND THE MODES
OF TREATING THEM.

NAVEL OR UMBILICAL RUPTURE.

This is where the navel opening does not become properly
closed at the time of birth, and the bowels come down through
the opening in the rim of the belly and forms a pouch or sack in
the skin, the size of which varies from the size of a hen's egg to
larger than a goose egg. This is a miserable blemish and is best
to be treated in the spring of the year, when the colt is a year or
two old.

Treatment. — Prepare the animal by starving it twenty-four
hours, then throw and secure him, shove the bowel well back and
draw the skin well up and put a heavy stiff clamp on it, secure
both ends of the clamp with stout cord and run a few darning
needles through the skin below the clamp, this will keep the clamp

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF THE HORSE.

129

from slipping off, break off the point of the needles so they will

not catch in anything ; let the animal up and leave the clamp on

imtil it falls off of its own accord, which is generally from nine to

twelve days, by this time the hole will be healed up and the rup-

■ ture will not be seen any more. After the clamp falls off there will

ho a raw spot which will need to be watched in warm weather so«

that maggots do not get into it. In case they do wash it off well

with warm water and soap and apply the creolin lotion a few times.

Warning. — Be careful not to catch the bowel in the clamp

with the skin.

RUPTURE (VENTRAL HERNIA.)

This is a rupture anywhere in the rim of the belly, and may
vary from the size of a hen's egg to that of a man's head.

It is generally due to an injury from a kick of an animal, or
un injury of any kind which strikes and bursts the rim of the belly,
or it may be caused from an animal pulling very heavy.

Treatment. — The way to be sure if it is hernia is that you can
shove it up through the hole in the rim of the belly, and as soon
as you let go it will come out again ; you also can feel the hole
in the rim of the belly. These ruptures have often been tried to
be treated with the clamp and cutting in and sewing them up, but
the best plan is to leave them alone and get as much work out of
the animal as you can.

, RUPTURE IN THE BAG (SCROTAL HERNIA).

This is where the bowel and the fatty covering of the bowel
comes down along with the testicle.

Causes. — Some colts are ruptured at birth and they never get
all right. It is also caused by the colt running, jumping or any
other such violent exercise, or it may result at the time of castra-
tion in severe struggling.

Symptoms. — The scrotum has a swollen and enlarged appear-
ance, and you can press the bowel and covering up through the
hole into the belly, and when you let it go it will come down
atjain.

Treatment.— If it is in a colt that is not castrated, you can
ijl^ot rid of this very easily while you are castrating him. In a
case where you are going to castrate and fix the rupture at the
same time, have the animal well prepared by starving him a day
or so before the operation, then throw and secure him, shove the
bowel and fatty lining back into the belly, and in taking up the

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DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF THE HORSE.

testicle with your left hand, also allow the hand to rest on the
hole where the bowel comes out ; make a small cut large enough to
allow the testicle to slip out, and slip the clamp on over the cord j
also draw up the white covering or tunics you cut through in
letting the testicle out, and fasten this tight in the clamp as well as
the cord ; this will prevent the lupture from coming down. A day
^r so after the operation it will swell some and fill up the hole
where the rupture comes down and the rupture will entirely
disappear. After four or five days it will be all right to remove the
clamp, and there will bfe no danger of the rupture coming down.
In the stallion it cannot be treated except by castrating in the
same method as is mentioned above.

CHAPTER XIII.

DISEASES OF THE EAR.

^ DEAFNESS.

If it is of long standing nothing can be done for it, and it is
hard to detect it in some cases.

Causes. — It generally comes on horses that are used where
there is a great deal of noise, such as artillery horses, or
it may be caused by a diseased state of the drum of the ear or
nerve.

Symptoms. — The animal seems stubborn and cannot bp taught
to obey the word.

Treatment. — There connot be very much done to the horse
but place a twitch on his nose and pour a little sweet oil in his
ear every day; this sometimes helps them.

INJURIES OR CUTS AROUND THE EAR.

If the skin or cartilage is torn, put a twitch on the horse's
nose and take a needle used for sewing skin cuts and draw the
wound together with stitches of carriage trimmers' twine, bathe
it well with warm water twice a day and apply the white lotion
until it is healed. '

DISEASES OF THE CARTILAGE OF THE EAR.

Causes. — This disease is generally caused from an injury of
some kind.

Symptoms. — It will keep festering and breaking every month
or so at the place the cartilage is diseased.

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF THE HORSE.

131

Treatment. — Place a twitch on the animal's nose and with a
sharp knife split the skin and tissues open to the diseased part of
the cartilage, scrape the diseased part out and burn around where
the diseased cartilage is with caustic potash, which will generally
set up a healthy action, and it will heal up all right.

FROST BITES OF THE EAR.

This is generally caused by keeping the animal in a cold place
and allowing the ear to become frozen. This is not so common in
horses as it is in young cattle.

Treatment. — Bathe with cold water, and apply the white lotion
after bathing, three or four times a day. If it is taken in time it
will save the ear from dropping off. If the ear becomes dead, and
drops oflf, treat the same until it heals up. If you notice the ear
just at the time it is frozen, apply snow to it to draw out the frost.

CHAPTER XIV. .

DISEASES OF THE EYE.

Before studying the diseases of the eye it is advisable to study
the anatomy of the eye, found in Part I. of this book.

SIMPLE OPHTHALMIA.

This is inflammation of the outside covering of the eyes and
the lining of the lids.

Causes. — This is often the result of an injury of some kind,
such as being struck with a whip in the eye; or extreme heat or
cold will cause it ; being kept in a dark stable, or where there is
foul air around the stable, or from chaflf or any" other substance
getting into the eye.

Symptoms. — The eye is very dull and partly closed, and some-
times the eyelids will be swollen, and water running from the
corner of the eye. The eye is sore to handle and it hurts when
the animal is brought into the light, and on account of this he will
keep it closed. After a day or so there will be a scum gradually
come over the eye and it presents a very irritated appearance.

Treatment. — Examine the eye carefully and try and find out
the cause of the trouble. If it is a piece of chaff, or any substance
in the eye, remove it ; if it is the fault of the stable, get it fixed.
Bathe the eye well with new milk, just from the cow, twice a day
and, after bathing it, each time apply the eye wash, mentioned in

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the receipts at the back of this book, in and around the eye. Keep
on with this treatment until the animal is relieved. In cases where
the eyelids are much swollen it is well to bleed ; this is done by
taking' a sharp pen knife' and raising the vein below the eye by
pressing your fingers on it, then cut it and allow it to bleed until
it stops of its own accord, which takes about half an hour.

MOON BLINDNESS (PERIODIC OPHTHALMIA).

■ This is inflammation of the inner structures of the eye.

Causes. — Extreme heat and cold, poorly ventilated stables or
dark stables ; all these have a tendency to bring tliis disease on.
It also comes on hereditary, that is, where the dam or sire has
had this disease. It is very apt to follow up in his or her colts.

Symptoms. — They are generally well marked, and together
with the history of the case, you will have little difficulty in telling
if it is this trouble that is affecting the eye. The animal may be
put in the stable apparently all right at night, and in the morning
you notice the eyes to be running water, seems very weak, and
the eye partially closed. It generally affects one eye at a time,
although it may affect both eyes at once. It is also noticed to
change from one eye to the other. The disease gradually gets
worse for two or three* days, the eye gets weaker and assumes a
yellowish or reddish appearance. The animal can see but very
little out of the eye. In two or three days more the eye will return
back to almost its natural state, but may look a little bluer than
usual. It will appear all right again, but after the course of from
three to six months it will show again with the same symptoms.
This time it may be in the opposite eye, or in the same one.
It will keep coming on in spells like this from time to time,
each time leaving the eye a little more blurred, until in time it will
'completely blind the animal. In some cases the animal will go
blind in a year from repeated attacks, while in others it takes as
long as three years. The first time the disease attacks the eye
you may think it a simple case of inflammation of the eye, but
after it comes back a few times you may make up your mind it is
a case of periodic ophthalmia.

Treatment. — The treatment generally terminates very unsatis-
factorily in the end, as the animal goes blind, and when once you
have made up your mind it is this disease it is best to part with
. the animal, but you can he'p lO keep back the disease, when every
time the eve is noticed to be sore, to bathe them well with new

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF THE HORSE.

133

inilk twice a day and apply the eye wash in and around the eye.
This will help to check the inllainmation and keep the si^-ht in the
eye lonj,'-er, hut it finally terminates in cataract of the eyes, that is,
blindness. In some cases where the eye looks very irritated it is
well to bleed from the vein below the eye, but it does not g'en-
erally do so much good as it does in simple ophthalmia.

•

CATARACT OF THE EYE.

Cataract is a pearly white deposit across the sij^^ht of the eye,
artd it may be what is known as a complete cataract, that is
where it covers all the sight, or it may be a partial cataract, that
is where the animal can see a little.

Causes. "It is caused by repeated attacks of inflammation of
the eye, the same as we have in ophthalmia; or foals have been
born with cataracts on their eyes. This disease may effect one or
both eyes. There is a white deposit over the sight i^' the eye.

Symptoms. - If it is only partial cataract the animal can see
a little, but if it iis a complete cataract the animal cannot see at all.

Treatment. — Very little, if anything, can be done, unless by
an operation, and such an operation is not attended with much
success in the horse because you cannot regulate his sight with
glasses as is done in people. As for medicine, when the cat.'iract
is w^ll formed there can be nothing given to help him. The only
thing we can advise you is when you are buying a horse be sure
he is not affected with this disease.

STAR GAZER (AMAUROSIS).

This is paralysis of the optic nerve which gives sight to
the eye.

Causes. — Standing in a stable that is dark,, or by striking the
head against something. In severe cases of bleeding, horses
have been known to go blind, but as the blood returns he gains
his sight.

Symptoms.— The eye has a large, glassy appearance, and the
pupil of the eye is very much enlarged, and if he is taken out of a
dark stable into the light the pupil of the eye does not close up
the same as if it was all right, but remains large all the time.
The animal generally carries his head high and steps high.

Treatment, —if the case is of long standing nothing can be
done for it ; if it comes on from injury by striking the head
against something, or from bleeding, it can be treated all right.

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DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF THE HORSE.

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•Give the animal a teaspoonful of nux vomica in his feed three
times a day, this acts as a stimulant to the nerve ; wash the eye
with eye wash twice a day for a few days. In buying horses be
particular and watch the eyes closely for unsoundness, for some of
Xhe best buyers have been nipped in this disease.

CANCEROUS GROWTH IN THE EYE.

It first commences with an inflammation in the eye, after this
there will be a growth noticed to be coming out of the ball of the
eye, which gradually keeps on growing until it hangs out over on the
cheek, it looks red and angry, and the least little injury will cause
it to bleed freely, and gives the animal ^n unsightly appearance.
In some cases the bones around the eye become diseased, and
then it smells very bad. This disease is more often met with
in the cow than in the horse.

Causes. — The causes of this are like all other cancerous
growths — from cancer germs getting into the blood and settling
in the eye. ,

Treatment. -You may effect a cure in the first stages of the
disease by removing the eye, growth and all. Cast the animal and
secure him, and have his head held solid, cut around the eye
between the eye and the eyelid, and lift the eye up by sticking a
hook into it, then cut the structures off at the back part of the
eye and have a hot iron to sear it, to stop the bleeding, then allow
the animal to get up, and dress it the same as you would an ordinary
wound by bathing it with warm water and applying white lotion
three times a day. After applying the lotion, if the cut looks
angry, apply compound tincture of benzoin, or what is called
Frier's balsam, with a feather to keep it from growing again.

FILARIA OCULI.

This is a small worm, about the size of a pin, found in the
humors of the eye, moving around. It is liable to be found in
any part of the body; they have been found around the testicles
and bowels.

Causes. — From a microbe, and is mostly seen in horses that
pasture on low, wet land ; it is taken into the system through
water and feed, and from the bowels it gets into the blood and is
carried into the eye or various parts of the body through the blood.

Symptoms. This worm may grow from the size of one half
inch to two inches long, and it sets up considerable irritation in

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DISEASES AND TFtEATMEXT OF THE HORSE.

135

the eye. The eye has a hazy appearance and ssems very weak,
and by watching it you can see the worm sometimes in the front,
then it will move around to the back. If the worm is allowed to
remain in the eye it will keep the eye irritated.

Treatment. — The only thing that can be done to save the eye
is an operation. Cast the animal and secure him, have his head
held solid so that he cannot move, take a small lance or sharp pen-
knife and make a small incision or cut across the sight of the eye,
which will let the humors of the eye run out, and with it the worm
{generally comeij. Keep the animal 'quiet after the operation and
put him in a clean, dark box stall for a few days. Bathe the eye
with new milk twice a day and apply the eye wash after bathing
until the eye is healed. It generally takes a week or so for the
eye to heal and the fluid to form in the eye. After the course of
two or three weeks all that will be noticed is a slight scar, which
will gradually absorb away in time and the eye will get all right.

GLAUCOMA.

This is a hardening of the back humor of the eye.

Causes. — From a severe injury to the eye, or where the eye
is pierced by a stick or anything, and it injures the back part of
the. eye; or sometimes from natural decay in old animals.

Symptoms. — The horse gradually gets blind, and has high,
peculiar action in front, the same as seen in all blind animals.
If you look into the eye through the pupil you will see that the
eye has become hardened and is of a grayish color.

Treatment. - In a case where it comes on from an injury,
bathe with new milk three or four times a day, and apply, after
bathing, the eye wash. It is more frequently noticed in gray
horses than in others, and if it comes on in old age nothing
can be done to cure it.

INFLAMMATION OF THE HAW OF THE EYE (MEMBRANA NICTITANS).

This is the diseased or enlarged state of the cartilage in the
corner of the eye.

Causes. — Generally from chaff or something getting into the
eye and irritating it. This causes it to enlarge and stick out of
the corner of the eye and gives the animal a great deal of trouble,
and also looks very bad.

Treatment.— When it is first noticed remove the irritation, if
it can be found, and bathe with new milk 'or luke warm water two

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or three times a day, and after bathing apply the eye wash. The
cartilage will generally return to its natural size in a few days.
If this fails to remove the enlargement, place a twitch on the
animal's nose to keep him quiet, take a small pincers and catch
hold of the cartilage and draw it out of the eye some, then take a
scissors and cut it off. This is a very simple thing to do, for
it will not bleed and dCwS not hurt the animal very much, for it is
only a piece of cartilage. After you cut the cartilage off treat the
eye the same way as mentioned above, and in a few days you will
hardly be able to tell there was anything wrong with the eye.

INJURIES TO THE EYELIDS.

This is where the eyelid becomes torn or bruised.

Causes. — It may be caused in various ways.

Treatment — if the eyelids are torn, draw the edges of it
together by putting a few stitches in it with a needle that is used
for sewing up wounds, and use the carriage trimmers' twine. It
is not always necessary to throw the animal for this, but just put
a twitch on his nose, but if the animal is very wild it is best
to throw him down ; bathe the wound with new milk or warm
water three or four times a day; after bathing apply the eye wash^
in a few days the stitches will come out and the wound may open
up some and look worse, but keep on treating it and it will heal
up in a short time. In some cases, where the eyelid is torn and
the eye injured, the eye will fall out on the cheek, this may be
caused in a runaway. Wash the eye off and set it back to its
place and sew up and dress the wound as mentioned above.

INJURIES TO THE DUCTS OF THE EYE

WHICH CARRY THE TEARS DOWN TO THE NOSE.

When this tube becomes injured the tears will flow out over
the cheek. It is recommended to take a small syringe and inject
this tube or passage with warm water. The best way to inject
this is from below by putting the point of the syringe in the small
hole found in the bottom part of the nose and force the water up
through this until it runs out at the corner of the eye, this will clear
the passage out, and sometimes effect a complete cure, but if the
case is of long standing it is best to leave it alone, for the
horse might be able to work for years.

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF THE pORSE.

137

NEAR SIGTHEDNESS (MYOPIA).

This trouble is j»-enef-ally found in horses with, very full eyes.

Cause. — There is no particular cause for this ; the animal was
foaled with this disease.

Symptoms. — The horse has a very full eye, with enlarged
pupils, and will shy very much, as he cannot see objects along-
the road at any distance.

Treatment. — There is none, but always be careful in buying a
horse that he is not a shyer for it is a miserable thing.

CHAPTER XV.

CONTAGIOUS DISEASES AND FEVERS OF

THE HORSE.

I. — CONTAGIOUS DISKASES.
SMALLPOX IN THE HORSE (VARIOLA EQUINA).

This disease is not very often met with in America, but is
quite common in Europe.

Causes.— They are same as smallpox in people, it is con-
tagious, and spreads from one horse to the other by germs. The
way the disease is carried from one horse to the other is from the
scales, which contain the germs, getting on the groom's clothes^
the saddle or harness, and in this way it is communicated to
another horse, where it gets into the blood and sets up the
disease. This disease has to run a course, and it generally takes
from nine days to two weeks before the animal begins to recover.
This disease may be communicated from the horse to the man,
cows or other animals, so it is well to be careful when around a
case of this kind and not allow the scales or scabs, which fall off
the horse, to get onto you.

Symptoms. — There is more or less fever, the pulse quick and
weak, the animal is thirsty and does not care to eat much, red
patches appear upon the skin, with a small hole in the center of
each blotch, from which oozes a watery serum. These patches
vary in size and are apt to be found on any part of the body, the
^kin becomes very sore and lender, the mouth is sore and saliva
keeps running away from it, the tliroat also seems sore and it
appears difficult for him to swallow. In the course of nine to

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fifteen days the red spots dry up and the scales fall off and the
animal gradually recovers. It is these scales which fall off that,
when they are carried to other animals, spread the disease.

Treatment. — The treatment is simple : Keep the animal from
other horses, feed on soft food with lots of boiled flaxseed in it, if
in the spring of the year, grass is best. Give

Sulphur i pound.

Nitrate of Potash or Saltpetre ^ "

Mix thoroughly together and give a teaspoonful three times a

day on his tongue, which is all the medicine he will need

internally. Attend to the animal's general comfort, keep him

warm and do not expose him to the cold, for this would be liable

to kill the animal if it drove the rash in from the skin. Wash

him all over where the scabs are once a day with the following

mixture.

Creolin J ounce, or 4 tablespoonfula.

Rain Witer 1 quart.

Shake well together and apply with a sponge or cloth and

this will kill all the germs of the disease as they come out on the

scabs ; rub him once a day and this will keep the disease from

spreading. The only danger in this disease is letting the animal

get cold and driving the rash in from the skin, which poisons the

blood. After the animal gets better it is best to gather all the

straw and manure out of the stall he has been in and burn it,

then close the stable up and burn sulphur in a dish, which will

kill all the germs left in the stable.

GLANDERS.

This is a very contagious or catching disease in the horse,
and one of the most serious and loathsome diseases the horse is
liable to. It pccurrs in two forms, chronic glanders and acute
glanders. This disease has existed for thousands of years, and
has been treated by every kind of medicine known, and nothing
has ever effected a cure.

CHRONIC GLANDERS.

This disease was common in this country when it was being
cleared up, and is now sometimes found in back townships.

Causes. — It is due to germs poisoning the blood, and it is
thought that cases of catarrh and nasal gleet have terminated in
a case of glanders. Sometimes it has broke out in a severe form
while horses are on shipboard during the time of a storm, when
the hatches are shut down, but in a case of this kind there must

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF THE HORSE.

139

liave been one of the animals affected, ■ and when closed up
tii,'^ht the disease began to show itself. If it gets into large,
crowded cities where there are large numbers of horses kept in one
stable it is 'very troublesome.

Symptoms. — it is most often seen in old and debilitated
animals. In the chronic form of the disease it may exist for a
long time without showing severe symptom*>, and might be
mistaken for nasal gleet ; but if you take the temperature of the
animal, you will find it up to from 103 to 105 degrees, while in
nasal gleet the temperature will be normal about 98 or 91)
degrees. There is a discharge from the nose ; at first it is
rather watery, but afterwards it is of a greenish-yellow color and
very sticky; it sticks around the nose, and has no smell^ —
differing from nasal gleet. The discharge in this case will sink
in water, while in other diseases it will float. The eyes will have
a discharge from them. After the disease has gone on for some
time, the inside of the nose becomes full of patches of ulcers
which haye very little tendency to heal. The lymphatic glands
around the head and neck become swollen and hard. The animal
falls off greatly in condition; becomes thin and hide-bound, and
i^enerally pines away in a lingering death. Man and dogs will
take this disease from horses, but other animals are not subjected
to it. When it attacks man, it is a terrible disease; so you see
tlic necessity of handling the disease with very great caution.

Treatment. — As soon as there is any suspicion of this disease,
put him some place where other animals will not come in contact
with him; have only one pail and feed box for him, and allow no
other animal to eat or drink out of it ; also handle him with care
yourself, and be sure there are no cuts on your hands, or do not
allow your clothes to touch him, as you might carry the disease to
other animals. It is best to send for the veterinary government
inspector, and if he pronounces it a case of glanders, have the
animal immediately destroyed and burned, and have the stable
disinfected.

ACUTE GLANDERS.

This disease is mostly noticed in Euorpean countries, and not
often met with in this country.

Causes. — This is caused from germs getting in and poisoning
the blood, the same -as in chronic glanders, only that it runs its
course very much more quickly than the chronic form.

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DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF THE HORSE.

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, Symptoms.— Four or five days afjter" the germs have entered
the system the animal will be noticed to tremble ; his temperature
will run up as hig-h as 105 degrees or more, and he will run
freely at the nose, the discharge being similar to that of chronic
glanders, only it is sometimes streaked with blood. The lungs
become affected and inflamed, which frequently causes death.
All the other symptoms are the same as in the chronic form.

Treatment and precautions are the same as in chronic
glanders. •

II. — FEVERS OF THE HORSE.

They are four in number, as follows: Influenza, purpura
hemorrhagica (or what is commonly called button farcy), strangles
or distemper, epizootic cellulitis or pink eye.

INFLUENZA.

This disease received its name when, at one time, it was
thought it was influenced by the stars. It is vOry common among
the horses in America, and is a disease that is liable to affect anv
organ of the body.

Causes. — ^It is caused from germs floating in the air ; this is
how it spreads so quickly from one horse to another. It is more
common in the spring and fall, when the horses are shedding
their coats, than at any other time of the year. In 1874 and 187s
this disease broke out in the form of a regular epizootic, and
spread all over the country and caused a great deal of trouble.
Horses that are kept in badly-ventilated stables, especially those
that are underground, are more likely to catch this disease.

Symptoms. — The first symptoms are a dull, languid appear-
ance; sweats freely on the slightest exertion; the coat starry and
dirty looking; the mouth hot and dry, and there is a slight cough.
After these well-marked symptoms set in, by pressing on his
throat it seems very sore and causes him to cough. The pulse
will be quick and weak, and in some cases will go as high as 80
beats per minute. The horse will hang his head, and seems to be
suff"ering from severe headache and nervous depression ; and he
gets so weak you would imagine you could shove him over. At
this stage of the disease, he will breathe heavy and have a
peculiar rattling noise in the throat, which you can hear by
putting you ear to the side of his throat. His eyes look heavy
and red; his bowels become costive; and if you take his tempera-

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OV THE HORSE. 141

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Uire it will be up as high as 105 degrees. There will be a

discharge from the nostrils, and if it is of a yellowish white color,

it is a favorable sign. At this stage of the disease it is apt to

settle on the bowels, and cause inflammation and death ; or, it

may settle on the liver, when the symptoms will vary — sometimes

it will be diarrhcea and then costiveness ; or, it may settle

on the lungs and set up inflammation of the lungs; so ycu see the

necessity of careful nursing, not allowing the animal to get cold

during the disease. The animal generally persists in standing

all through this disease. The legs and sheath become swollen,

which is considered rather a good sign as long as it not swollen

to any great extent.

Treatment. — Clothe and attend to the general comfort of the

animal according to the season of the year. If the legs are cold,

hand-rub and bandage them, and allow the animal to have plenty

ol fresh air in the stable as long as he does not stand in a draft.

Support the system and assist nature to throw off the disease, for

iiilluenza will run its course in spite of medicine. Keep the

bowels loose by feeding on soft food with plenty of boiled flax

seed in it, but never, under any circumstances, give the animal a

physic drench. Give him the following medicine:

Chlorate of Pot'ish . \ pound.

Nitrate of Potash or Saltpetre h "

Powdered Digitulia .^ "

Mix thoroughly together and give a teaspoonful every six

hours on his tongue with a spoon. In feeding, give the animal

small quantities, so he will be able to eat it all without leaving

any in his manger ; but give it to him often. Allow the animal

cold water to drink in small quantities but often. " Rub his throat

well with the white liniment four or five times a day, and if his

lungs become affected, apply a light mustard plaster over the

sides of the chest every day; continue this treatment until the

animal seems relieved. In cases where the animal is \'ery weak,

tfive a wine glassful of whisky in a pint of oatmeal gruel three or

lour times a day as a drench, being careful not to choke the

animal ; this is a great thing to keep up the strength. When the

animal is getting better, the eye gets clear; he will take notice of

things about him; the pulse gets more natural — slower and

stronger — and the appetite gets better. After the disease has

passed off, arill the animal seems very weak and thin, give the

following mixture:

iiHii

142

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF THE HORSE.

ill: ,1

Sulphate of Iron \ pound.

Ground ( jentian Root | *'

Mix thoroughly and give a large teaspoonful three times a
day in his feed. Feed well and give gentle exercise every day.
This disease, if treated this way, and allowed to run its course
without getting cold, will terminate favorably. But above all
things never bleed, or give aconite or a physic in this disease, for
it only tends to make the animal weaker and the disease worse.

BUTTON FARCY (PURPURA HEMORRHAGICA).

This disease is not contagious or does not spread from one
animal to another. It is defined to be some putrid condition or
charbonous affection of the blood. The disease mostly affects the
capillary blood vessels of the skin, but in some cases it will affect
the lining of the lungs and air passages.

Causes. — It generally comes after some other disease, such as
influenza, distemper or any other weakening ailment, also in
horses that are overworked, thin and run down in condition.
When the system is in this state by turning the animal out cold
nights or allowing him to be out in a cold rain, and he gets a chill,
you need not be surprised to see this disease come on.' It is
noticed mostly in the spring and fall. The blood gets very thin,
almost like water, when the animal is suffering from this
disease.

Symptoms. — The disease generally comes on very suddenly,
the horse may be apparently all right at night, and in the morning
he will be literally covered with patches of swelling all over the
skin. In some cases it affects the animal more in some parts
than in others, for instance, we have seen cases where the eyelids
were so swollen the animal could not see out of them, his lips
will also be swollen so much he cannot eat, in other cases his
sheath and legs will be badly swollen, or little spots may be seen
all over the skin, especially on the sides of the neck and thighs and
over the back. The peculiarities about these swellings are that
they come on so quickly, and sometimes disappear from one part
of the body and come on in another. By giving the animal exer-
cise it will take them down, but afterwards the lumps will come
back worse than ever. Examine the lining of the nose, and if it is
affected watch out for lung disease. The general symptoms are
the animal will seem dull and breathe a little heavier than natural,
pulse not much changed, but weak, and he will generally try and

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF THE HORSE. 143

eat some. Cases have been known where the swelling got so bad

that patches of the skin would drop off and leave raw sores.

Treatment. — It runs its course in ' three to thirty days.

Place the animal in a comfortable box stall, attend to his general

comforts and keep him warm. Give him the following drench :

Raw linseed Oil \ pint.

Spirits of Turpentine 1 ounce or 4 tablespoonfuls.

Mix together and give as a drench, repeat this drench every
three days until the animal is relieved. Give him a teaspoonful of
chlorate of potash three times a day on his tongue with a spoon
until he is better. Feed on good, light, soft food with plenty of
boiled flaxseed in it to keep the bowels loose. Do not apply any-
thing externally unless the swelling breaks out ; if it does, bathe
three times a day, and after bathing apply the white lotion.
Never, in any case, attempt to open* any of these lumps, for it
only does harm. Bleeding is good in the early stages of the dis-
ease if the animal is strong enough to stand it. Be very careful
in nursing him that he does not get a relapse, /or it is liable to
cause death. There are cases known where the mouth and nose
have swollen so badly that the animal died from suffocation. The
after treatment is to build the animal up by regular exercise and
i^ood food. Give him the following tonic mixture :

Sulphate of Iron \ pound.

Ground Gentian Root | "

Mix thoroughly and give a teaspoonful three times a day in

his feed.

DISTEMPER (STRANGLES.)

This is very common among Canadian and American horses.
It receives the name of strangles from the peculiar suffocating
noise he makes in breathing. It generally attacks young animals
from the time they are foals until they are five or six years old,
but it may be found in older horses.

Causes. — it is due to germs in the blood, and all colts are liable
to be affected with it. It is seen most in the spring and summer
months of the year. These germs float in the air and are taken
into the system by the animal breathing.

Symptoms. — The animal is dull and languid, and a small
amount of work fatigues him. He will probably have a cough
and sore throat at first, and there will be saliva running away from
the mouth, the bowels are inclined to be a little costive or dry
looking, then there will be a little lump begin to form around the

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DISEASES AND TREATMENT OE THE HORSE.

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throat, sometimes under the throat and sometimes at the sides.
This lump jj^radually ^ets larjjer and causes, the animal to have
difficulty in breathinj^, he is dull, hangs his head and soon becomes
very gaunt. The disease generally runs its course in from six to
twelve days, the abscess or lump around the throat generally
breaks and runs, and he nearly always runs at the nose, which is a
good sign, in some cases there is more than one lump or abscess
forms, and if the poison is in the system it is best to have them
brought to a head and let the discharge out for this gets the
poison out of the blood.

Treatment. — This is very satisfactory in most cases : Always
allow the disease to run its course, give plenty of pure air, clothe
the body according to the season of the year, feed on good food,
such as boiled oats or chop stuff with plenty of boiled flaxseed in
it Jo keep the. bowels loose. This is a disease that does not re-
quire much medicine. Give the following powder :

Nitrate of Potash or Saltpetre ^ pound.

Sulphur i "

Mix thoroughly and give a teaspoonful three times a day on
his tongue with a spoon. Rub the throat and lumps well with
white liniment three times a day, apply a hot poultice of half lin-
seed meal and bran to the throat every night, this will draw the
abscess or swelling to a head and cause it to break, which is
better than lancing. In cold weather it is best to apply a mustard
plaster to the swelling instead of a poultice, for after the poultice
is taken oiT the animal is apt to catch cold. Never, in any case,
burn sulphur under the animal's nose, because it is apt to set up
inflammation of the lungs. In case the lump gets so large around
the throat that the animal's life is threatened by choking, you
may then perform the operation of tracheotomy, which is per-
formed by cutting into the windpipe on the underside about nine
inches down the neck from the larynx (Adam's apple). About
this part of the neck you will find that the windpipe is
almost bare— just covered with the skin — cut a hole through the
skin about two and one-half inches long, then cut across three of
the rings of the windpipe and have the regular tracheotomy tube
to put in the hole and keep the rings open so the horse can
breathe through this opening until the abscess or lump breaks
and the swelling goes down so he can breathe through his throat,
when this occurs take the tube out and draw the skin back to its

place
comm
ing, e
up.
out at

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DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF THE HORSE.

145

place by putting two or three stitches across it, then treat it as a
common cut by bathing two or three times a day, and after bath-
inj,', each time apply the white lotion, and the hole will soon heal
up. During the time the tube is in the throat it is best to take it
out and clean it once a day.

BASTARD STRANGLES.

This generally follows simple strangles or distemper.

Causes.— Is from the matter in the abscess or lump being
absorbed into the system and poisoning the blood.

S]miptoniS. — Abscesses of the same nature as the one which
forms in the throat from distemper are liable to fprm and break
out in any part of the body, sometimes around the shoulder, flank,
neck or hips, but the rest of the general symptoms are the same
as in simple strangles. These abscesses will keep forming until the
poison is out of the blood. '

Treatment. — The treatment is the same as in a simple case of

strangles. Give the same medicine, bathe, poultice and rub the

abscesses with white liniment and try and bring them to a head

so that thev will break themselves, or lance th6m to get the

poison out of the blood, for this is the only way to get rid of the

disease. The danger in this disease is that the abscesses may form

Inside on the lungs or bowels and cause the animal's death. We

have known of some cases where the animal would break out

forty or fifty times, depending upon the amount of poison in the

blood.

PINK EYE (EPIZOOTIC CELLULITIS).

The disease affects the cellular tissue under the skin, and like
the other fevers of the horse, runs a course which takes from six
to nine days, and, as a general thing, if treated properly, runs its
course favorably.

Causes. — This disease is due to germs in the air, and when
once it starts it spreads all over the country from one horse
to another. There was a great outbreak of this disease between
1875 and 1880, which sr-ead all over the country.

Symptoms. — The n becomes dull and feverish, and his
eyes are red and sv. ollen, and afterwards turns to a pinkish color,
from which the disease receives its name — pink eye. The animal
does not eat well; his temperature runs from a 103 to 105 degrees;
his mouth is hot and dry, and he falls off greatly in condition ; his
manure is hard and dry; there is a discharge from the eyes and a

10

146

mSEASES AND TREATMENT OF THE HORSE.

swellinfj^ of the limbs and belly, and in some cases he has a cough.

Treatment.— This disease is a very simple one to treat, in

most cases, if there is not too much medicine used. Allow the

disease to run its course ; keep the body warm ; have the iitable

clean, and allow the animal to have plenty of fresh air. Feed on

soft food with plenty of boiled flax seed to keep the bowels loose^

and give the following simple medicine to act on the blood :

Chlorate of Pot»«li J pound.

Nitrate of Potash or Maltpetre ^ "

Mix thoroughly and give a teaspoonful three times a day on
his tongue with a spoon. Never mix chlorate of potash and
sulphur together, as it will explode and is very dangerous. Give
the animal plenty bf cold water to drink in small quantities. In
cases where the animal is very weak give as a stimulant a wine
glassful of whisky in a pint of gruel three times a day, and never,
under any circurhstances, give a physic in this disease. It is well
to wash out the nostrils and eyes twice a day with luke warm
water. After a few days you will see the animal began to take
notice of things around him and gradually gets better.

CHAPTER XVI.

DISEASES OF THE SKIN.

CRACKED HEELS (SCRATCHES).

This disease is common among horses, and affects the heels,
the heels ot the hind legs being oftener affected than the front.

Causes. — Anything that will irritate the skin tends to produce
this disease. In the fall and sprit g, when there is wet and mudc'^
roads, washing and not properly drying the legs, standir"
badly kept stables, or by wearing boots on the legs. H
hairy-legged horses are more subject to it than light horses.

Symptoms. — The affected legs have a tendency to swell and
are stiflf and sore about the heels, the skin becomes cracked and
scaly-looking at the back of the heels, and in some cases, when
you are driving him, the heels will bleed.

Treatment. — The first thing to do is to feed on soft food and
give a physic drench consisting of the following:

B't'er Aloes 8 dram».

Ginger ... 1 tablespoonful.

Coiiiinun tioiia . . > 1 "

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DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF THE HORSE.

»

147

Dissolve in a pint of luke warm water and give as a drench,

allowing the animal to stand in the stable the ne^ct day. Alter

this give him the following powder :

Nitrate of Potash or Saltpetre } pound.

Sulphur i •'

Mix thoroughly and give a teaspoonful twice a day in his

feed, this will cool his blood and get him in good condition.

Bathe the heels with luke warm water and a little cnstile soap

night and morning, after bathing wipe dry with a soft cloth and

apply the while lotion. Before you take him out to work rub his

heels with vaseline or lard to keep the heels soft and protect them

from the dirt and water while you are working him. In cases

where the heels are very sore and swollen apply a hot poultice of

half linseed meal and bran to them every night for a while until he

seems better.

MUD FEVER.

This is inflammation of the skin of the legs and the under part
of the belly.

Causes are similar to that of scratches, and the disease is
seen mostly in the fall and spring during the wet weather, when
the cold, muddy water splashes over the legs and belly, cr wash-
ing the legs with cold water and not drying them properly.

Symptoms. — The legs are swollen and stiff, the skin is hot
and tender, and the hair falls off in patches.

Treatment. — Give the same medicine internally as that given
for scratches to cool and clean the blood. If the legs are dirty
bathe them off with luke warm water and a little castile soap andl
dry them with a soft cloth ; after this don't bathe, but brush off with
:\ sot' brush and apply the white lotion twice a day, which is sooth-
ed healing to the skin. Keep the animal out of the wet and
IS much as possible. If you have to work him, each time
b e you take him out, rub the parts affected with vaseline or
laid, which will soften and protect the affected skin.

GREASE.

e generally follows cases of scratches that are
ffects the glands of the legs, as well as the skin,
inmon in heavy, hairy-legged horses that have
'gs. It may be caused from bad blood and swollen
ore often seen in the hind legs than in the front
ones. It is aiso brought on by clipping horse's legs in cold, wet
weather. ' \

This dis

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round, fleshy
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148

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF THE HORSE.

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Symptoms. — There is a thickening and swelling of the legs,
the hair stands out on the legs, and thej^ are hot and tender, and
there is an oily discharge from around the h#els, which has a bad
smell in some cases. This is how the disease got its name, grease.
When the animal is working the swelling goes down, but comes
back again during the night.

Treatment. — it is hard to effect a complete cure, but you can
relieve the animal to a certain extent by giving a physic drench,
and powders, same as are mentioned in scratches, to cool and
clean the blood, feed on soft food, bathe the legs with warm
water and castile soap twice a day ; after bathing rub dry and
apply the white lotion with a few drops of carbolic acid in it to
destroy the smell, poultice the legs every night with hot bran and
linseed meal to soothe and draw the oily stuff out of them. This
will generally fix the legs up in good shape for some time. In
cases where it is very bad and in the "grapous" stage, and there is
little red growths around the heel, which look like a bunch of
grapes, burn them off with caustic potash or chlorate of zinc,
which is in the form of little sticks.

SIMPLE ECZEMA.

This disease is sometimes mistaken for mange, but unlike
mange, it is not caused by germs or parasites working in the skin.
It is mostl)' noticed in hot weather, when the animal is fed on
very hot food, which heats the blood, such as barley and other
hot foods.

Symptoms. — First there is a dryness in the skin around the
head, neck and tail, then little pimples will form, which will break
and run a watery-looking fluid. After the animal is brought in
from work he will be very itchy and rub himself against the
manger until the skin is almost raw.

Treatment. — You can relieve the disease at the time, but
when a horse once becomes affected with this disease it will gen-
erally break out every summer afterwards during hot weather.
Give the animal a physic drench and powders the same as are
mentioned for the treatment of scratches to clean and cool the
blood, and rub him twice a day with any of the following washes :
Corrosive sublimate, one dram to the pint of rainwater, mix
together and shake well before using ; creolin may be used, two
tablespoonfuls to the pint of water, mix together and shake well
before using ; tincture of iodine may be used, two drams to the
pint of water and shake well before using. Of the three receipts

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF THE HORSE.

149

mentioned, the cheapest and favorite one, and the one we use
mostly is the creolin, which will cost about two or three cents, and
acts as well as any. The way to apply the lotion is first to take a
fine brush and brush all the dust out of the skin and then apply
the wash by rubbing it all over the affected skin with a sponge or
cloth. Do this twice a day until he stops rubbing himself.

NETTLE RASH (SURFEIT).

CsiUSeS. — This is generally caused from feeding hot and over-
ripe food, or giving a drink of cold water when the animal is
heated, or from overheating the animal by driving him too
fast.

Symptoms. — Small pimples will appear in the skin around the
head, neck and shoulders, but may affect the skin in other parts of
the body. This disease is notic<^d at all times of the year.

Treatment. — Give the animal a physic drench consisting of

Bitter Aloes 8 to 10 drams.

Ginger 1 tablespoon ful.

Common Soda 1 "

Mix in a pint of luke warm water and give as a drench,

allow the animal to stand in the stable the next day, feed on soft

food, and follow up after this with the following powder :

Ground Gentian Root ^ pound.

Sulphur \ "

Nitrate of Potash or Saltpetre :j "

Mix thoroughly together and give a teaspoonful twice a day
on his tongue with a spoon until the pimples disappear.

WARTS.

Warts are thickenings or growths on the skin.

Causes. — it is ditBcult to say what is the tause, but some
animals seem to be more inclined to warts than others, and they
may be found on any part of the body.

Treatment. — If the warts have a neck to them they are easy
t,ait rid of by what is known as cording them, that is tying a
small, strong cord on the wart as close to the skin as you can tie
it ; by tying it very tight it will stop the circulation of the blood in
the wart and cause it to die and fall off in a short time. If they
have a large neck and you cannot cord them cut them off with a
sharp knife or scissors, and burn them a little with caustic potash,
which will kill the roots and stop them from growing again,
Tiiey are also nicely taken off with an ecraseur, if you have one.

Mi

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150

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF THE HORSE.

mw

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MELANOTIC TUMORS.

These tumors only affect gray horses, and are found mostly
to be around the tail, sheath, lips and ears, but may be found on
other parts of the body.

Causes. — The exact cause is not known.

Symptoms. — These tumors are generally small, varying from
the size of a bean up to the size of a pigeon's egg, and are in
bunches. They are not sore to handle, nor do they break out,
but simply grow until they cause trouble to the parts they are in.

Treatment. — As long as they do not interfere with the animal

in any way it is best to leave them alone, bu. as soon as you fear they

are going to cause trouble it is best to cut them off by using

a sharp knife and putting Monsell's solution of iron on

them to stop the bleeding ; or tie a tight cord around them

allowing them to drop off themselves the same as a wart; or take

them off with an ecrasure, which is an instrument for that purpose.

After they are off treat the part as a common wound by bathing

twice a day with luke warm water and applying white lotion each

time after bathing.

MANGE.

Causes. — This is caused from a germ or parasite working
down into the skin and setting up the disease. One horse will
catch the disease from another, also men and other animals will
take the disease from the horse, so you see it is best to be careful
if you think the animal has mange. It is most seen in animals
that are in poor condition, with long, dirty hair, but it will affect
animals that are in good condition. The disease is generally car-
ried from one horse to another by the groom's clothes, harness or
brushes.

Symptoms. — The insects burrow down into the skin and set
up an irritation which breaks and runs a watery discharge, the hair
falls off in patches, and the animal is extremely itchy. The dis-
ease generally commences around the mane and tail, and gradually
spreads over the body. To make sure of the disease being mange
examine a few of the scales under the microscope, and if you find
the small germs or parasites in it you will know that it is a case of
mange you have to deal with.

Treatment. — Apply something that will destroy the germs or
parasites in the skin. If the horse's hair is long, clip him, and
wash the body off with luke warm water and a little soap ; then
apply any of the following washes :

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF THE HORSE.

151

Tarbolic Acid ^ ounce or 1 tableapoonful.

Sweet Oil 1 pint. '

Mix and shake well together; rub it around his head, neck

and shoulders the first day; the second rub it around the chest,

belly and over the back ; and the third day put it over his hind

quarters and legs. It is best not to go over the whole body the

same day, as too much of the carbolic acid would be absorbed

into the system and might cause poisoning. Another very good

wash, and one we think better than the above, is :

Creolin 2 ounces or 8 tableapoouf uls. •

Rain Water 1 (juart.

Shake well and rub in thoroughly all over the skin twice a

week until the parasites are killed. This is by far the cheapest and

best remedy known ; you can cure a case for ten cents. To

prevent the disease from spreading to other animals, wash with

carbolic water, everything that he has conie in contact with, that

is, a few drops of carbolic acid in warm water; this will kill the

tjerms or parasites and prevent the disease from spreading. P'eed

on soft food and give a teaspoonful of sulphur in his food twice

a day. „

RINGWORM ON HORSES.

Causes. — It is caused from germs or parasites working in the
skin, but is not so common in horses as in cattle.

Symptoms. — it often attacks the animal around the eyes and
nose. The germs or parasites work in circles, which causes the
hair to fall off and leaves round, bald spots. If not checked, it
will soon spread over the body. Men are liable to take this
disease from horses and cattle, and horses and cattle are liable to
take it from men.

Treatment.— The best and cheapest remedy, "and never known
to fail in our experience, is crude petroleum oil as it comes out of
the ground. This can be bought at almost any store in the country
or city. The way to use this is to paint it over the spot where the
ringworm is working, and let it go a half-inch over the edge of
ringworm on to the good skin so as to check the disease from
spreading. Apply this once a day until the ringworm is gone.
If it blisters the skin, stop using it for a day or so and then
continue again. Another very good remedy is to paint the spot
where the ringworm is with tincture of iodine every two or three
days until the ringworm is gone.

phi 1

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152

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF THE HORSE.

LICE ON HORSES.

The lice may be common horse lice or hen lice. The hen
lice are very small and reddish looking, and travel very fast.
They get on the horso- from being too near a lousy hen
house, or from hens roosting in the stable. The horse lice are
larger than the hen lice ; they have a long, brownish body and
travel very slowly, and they are generally found on horses that
are turned out and have long, dirty hair.

Symptoms. — The horse's coat looks rough ; he does not thrive
well, and keeps rubbing his sides, neck and tall until he has the
hair worn off, and he seems in perfect misery. By examining the
hair closely you will see there is lice on him.

Treatment.-7-Kill the lice by washing the body off well with

luke warm water and soap, then dry him off by rubbing him with

cloths, and apply the following wash :

Creoline 2 ounces or 8 tablespoonf uls.

Rain Water 1 quart.

Shake well and apply all over the body every third day by
rubbing it well into the skin. Keep the treatment up until you
have all the 'lice killed. Another very good remedy is a plug of
" black-strap" chewing tobacco well cut up and steeped in a gallon
of rain water and rub well in all over the body every third day
until the lice are killed.

CHAPTER XVII.

DISEASES OF THE BRAIN AND NERVOUS
SYSTEM IN GENERAL.

INFLAMMATION OF THE BRAIN AND ITS COVERINGS (PHRENITIS).

This is not a very common disease, but is sometimes met
with. Congestion first sets up, whic ,s followed by inflammation.

Causes. — From a tumor growing around the brain ; or a severe
injury to the skull, with or without fracture; or continued
exposure to the heat bj- being out in the hot sun will cause it;
it is also sometimes caused after a case of distemper or strangles,
wliere there is an abscess formed in the brain ; also from other
causes we cannot account for.

Symptoms. — The first symptoms are marked dullness. If the
animal is standing in the stall, he will rest his head against the
manger; the pupil of the eye will be very large; his pulse will be

«

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF THE HORSE. 153

beating quite strong, but will beat slow sometimes — only twenty
times per minute — and there will be a peculiar snoring* noise made
in breathing. After this dullness passes off, then there will be the
reverse take place. The animal will be greatly excited — seems
perfectly mad, and acts like a mad horse; the pulse, in this
stage, becomes a great deal quicker, and the breathing louder;
the animal reels around in his box with his head very high, and
in some cases will rear up and put his front feet in the manger;
and at times he moves like a piece of machinery. Sometimes he
will be noticed to be walking around in his box with his head to
one side; this is caused from the brain being affected on that side.
In some cases, if you try to lead him he will fall down; but at
times he will have quiet spells, after which the exciting symptoms
will again return and be more alarming than at first. We have
seen cases wiiere the animal would twist his head down between
his front legs and hold it in that position.

Treatment.— 1 1 is dangerous treating an animal with this
disease, and you have to be careful in going around him. Give
him a good physic drench consisting of:

Bitter Aloes 10 to 12 drams. ,

("linger '. 1 tablespoonf ul.

Common Sinla 1 *'

Mix in a pint of luke warm water and give as a drench.

One hour after the above drench give the following:

Rroniifle of Potassium 2 drams or 1 teaspoonful.

Fleming's Tincture of Aconite 10 drops.

Mix in a pint of cold water and give as a drench every two

liours, and apply cold water cloths and ice to his head until he

gets relief ; cover his body up nice and warm with blankets.

In a case where the animal is in good condition, and you notice

the disease coming on, bleed him ; take a half or three-quarters

ot" a pail of blood from him. If you bleed him, follow up with the

;ibove treatment, but only give him about eight to ten drams of

bitter aloes and not so much aconite.

SUNSTROKE.

This disease is common to all animals, and more especially to
man. It generally attacks hard-working horses in the hot months
of summer. It is a congested state of the blood vessels of the
hrain, with loss of power and feeling.

Causes. — Exposure to the hot sun, as a general thing, and
especially so if the horse has been high fed and kept in a poorly

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154 DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF THE HORSE.

ventilated stable. It is often seen in taking a horse out of a
pasture field and giving him a hard day's work in the sun when
he is not used to it.

Symptoms. — The first symptoms are dullness and dryness of
the skin, and if the horse is working he will not be sweating as
much as he should; he will also be noticed .not to take his food
very well, and have a staggering gait when he is walking. These
symptoms may be noticed two or three days before the disease
sets in. If he is working he will finally stagger and fall down, he
may then struggle for a short time, but, finally, will lie quiet, with
complete loss of power and feeling ; if you prick him with a pin or
knife he does not feel it, the pupil of the eye is very much enlarged,
the pulse quick and weak, he breathes heavy, and when you try to
get him up he will not be able to help himself at all.

Treatment. — Apply cold, wet cloths and ice bags to the head
around the brain, and keep these on until he gets relief, and also give

vSweet Spirits of Nitre 1 ounce or 4 tableBpoonf uls.

Whisky 1 wineglassful. •

Mix in a half pint of cold water and give as a drench. Repeat

this every hour and a half or two hours until he gets relief. Be

'careful in drenching him while in this state for fear of choking him.

As well as the above drench give a dose of physic consisting of

Bitter Aloes 8 to 10 drains.

Conimoa Soda 1 teaspoonful.

Ginger 1 "

Mix in half pint of lake warm water and give as a drench.
If the animal seems to take notice to things around him and wants
to eat, give him soft food with boiled flaxseed in it, and give
plenty of cold water to drink, in small quantities at a time, but
often. If the horse lays for any length of time turn him over two
or three times every day, this will prevent his lungs from becom-
ing affected, and he will lie easier. Keep the body very warm
with plenty of blankets, this will have a tendency to draw the
bloOd away from his head. In this case, as in others, when the
animal is down keep plenty of dry bedding under him. As soon
as he wants to get up, and seems able, help him to his feet.

CONCUSSION OF THE BRAIN.
Causes. — it generally occurs in a horse when he is running
away and strikes his head against something, or in rearing up
and falling back and striking the pole of the head. In some cases
he gets better quickly, while in other cases he may die very
suddenly.

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF THE HORSE. 155

Symptoms. — in a pure case of this the animal looses aH
motion and feeling, he becomes completely paralyzed, and may
lie without much signs of life. The pupils of the eyes will be very
large, his pulse will be very weak. If there is no sign of fracture
of the skull bones there is hopes of recovery. He will first begin
to show signs of consciousness by trying to get up, but will rise
on his hind legs first, and it may be some time before he will be able
to rise on his front legs. In some cases the aniftial gets better
quicker than in others, according to the amount of injury to the brain.

Treatment. — Same as that given for sunstroke.

' STOMACH STAGGERS (MEGRmS).

Causes. — It may be caused in various ways. Anything that
will interfere with the flow of blood to the brain, such as heart
disease ; from indigestion ; from horses working in a tight collar;
or from a small tumor growing and pressing on the brain.
Very nervous animals are more subject to this than others of the
opposite temperament.

Symptoms. — The horse will be attacked suddenly ; he
staggers and becomes unmanageable and falls to the ground.
These symptoms may pass off in a few minutes, and the animal
apparently seems as well as ever. A horse once affected with
this disease is unfit to use for single driving, for he may take one
of these fits at any time and fall down without showing the slight-
est sign before it.

Treatment.— Dash cold water on his head until he comes to,
and afterwards give him a physic drench consisting of

Bitter Aloes S to 10 rlrama.

Common Soda ... I tablespoouful.

Ginger 1 "

Mix in a pint of luke warm water and give as a drench. If
there is anything wrong with his stomach this will generally re-
lieve him, and it might be he would never have another attack of
it. If it is from a tight collar, put a large one on him. In some cases
it is recommended to give after the physic a teaspoonful of bromide
of potassium in his feed twice a day, for a while, to act on his nerves.

INFLAMMATION OF THE SPINAL CORD AND COVERINGS (SPINITIS). "
Causes.— It is sometimes caused from the animal injuring its
back by falling over a bank while running away, by severe exer-
tion from nervous excitement. We have seen a case where a colt,
running in a pasture field, fell and hurt himself. It may also be
brought on by throwing an animal.

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156 DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF THE HORSE.

Symptoms. — At first the symptoms may not be so well marked,
but they gradually come on. The animal seems very feverish and
weak, has a staggering gait, and will sometimes be noticed to
strike his hind fetlocks in walking, and, in some cases, if you go
to turn him around he will fall down, and, as a general thing, if
the disease is allowed to run on, it soon causes paralysis and death.

Treatment. — Give a physic drench of

Bitter Aloes S drams.

Common Soda 1 teaapoonf ul.

( iinger 1 "

Mix in a pint of luke warm water and give as a drench ; also,

give the following powder : (

Powdered Nux Vomica ^ pound.

Ground Gentian Root ^ "

Nitrate of Potaah or Saltpetre. | "

' Mix thoroughly «nd give a teaspoonful in his feed or on
his tongue with a spoon every night and morning. Keep the
animal very quiet in a comfortable place and blister him along the
back with a mustard plaster — quarter of a pound of mustard and
enough vinegar to make it into a paste, put this plaster on every
day for a few days. When the horse is getting better and his
back very sore where you blistered him, oil his back with sweet
oil, lard or goose oil. Feed the animal on soft food with plenty of
boiled flaxseed in it to keep his bowels loose. If the animal gets
down always assist him in getting up, for when onoe he gets off
of his feet entirely there is very little hopes of recovery.

PARALYSIS.

Paralysis may be in the complete or partial form. Complete
paralysis is when there is loss of motion and feeling all over the
body, and in cases of this kind death soon comes on. Partial
paralysis is where there will be one part of the body affected, such
as the hind quarters, or he may be paralyzed in one side. If the
spine is affected all of the parts behind the affected part will be
paralyzed.

"^ Causes. — From an injury to the brain or from tumors grow-
ing around the brain or spinal cord. Nervou- excitement and
intoxicating liquors cause this disease in man. In stallions it
is caused by being pat to too many mares, or Irom a horse get-
ting cast in the stall and hurting his back ; throwing an animal
for an operation may hurt him ; in hunting horses, or (nher horses,
it may be caused from slipping and straining the muscles under
the spine, or from a fracture of the spinal bune. Sometimes,

■j '\:k\

111

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF THE HORSE.

157

when a horse has fractured his ribs he cannot get up. This
disease is more often seen in cows than in horses.

Symptoms. — If it is a case where the paralysis affects the one
side of the body, the animal cannot walk straight, but goes
around in a circle, and has not the proper use of that side. In a
case where it affects the hind quarters, the animal, when he lies
down, cannot get up ; he will raise on his front legs, but cannot
get up on his hind legs, and if you do not help him onto his feet,
he seems very uneasy; but during the time he is down he will eat
and drink fairly well. . If you prick him with a pin in his hind
part he cannot feel it. In cases of complete paralysis, when he
cannot move at all, he soon dies.

Treatment. — if you think that he could bear his weight on
his legs if he was up, raise him with pulleys or slings. Apply a
mustard plaster over his back if the weather is warm, but if the
weather is very cold, instead of applying mustard, put a half-pail
of hot salt in a bag over his kidneys and blanket him so he will
be hot, for what you need is heat to the back in these cases. In
cases where the animal can stand fairly well, when he is up, keep
him on his feet as much as you can, for a horse can stand a
couple of weeks without hurting him. If you allow him to get
down, and he cannot get up, he will only flounder around and
may hurt himself. Give the following drench :

Bitter Aloes 8 drams.

Sweet Spirits of Nitre I ounce, or 4 tableapoonfuls.

Common Soda 1 tablespoonful.

Ginger 1 "

Mix in a pint of luke warm water and give as a drench ; this
will get the bowels and kidneys acting; then give him the follow-
ing powders to strengthen the nerves :

Powdered Nux Vomica ^ pound.

Nitrate of Potash, or Saltpetre ^ "

Ground Gentian Root j "

Mix thoroughly and give a teaspoonful three times a day on

his tongue with a spoon, or in soft food with plenty of boiled flax

seed in it, and if he is able to walk give him gentle exercise every day.

INFLAMMATION OF THE BRAIN AND SPINAL CORD AND THEIR
COVERINGS (CEREBRO-SPINAL MENINGITIS).

This is congestion of the brain and spinal cord and their
coverings, and if, in this state, they do not soon get relief, it
turns into inflammation. This is, comparatively, a new disease,
and is not known in any other country but on this continent.

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^iii^?^

158 DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF THE HORSE.

Causes. — From horses being kept in a crowded stable that is
poorly ventilated and badly drained, or from eating certain kinds
of grasses that contain too much narcotic properties, such as are
grown in swamps.

Symptoms.— They vary according to the parts most affected.
There will be trembling noticed in the different parts of the body;
the animal seems very dull and does not feed. As the disease
goes on, the animal will have a peculiar jerking in the limbs, and
then he will stagger, fall down and be unable to rise; the pulse
will be quick and weak; the bowels usually costive, and his water
is of a dark . brown color. At first he generally lies in a dull,
stupid manner, breathing heavy, and sweats freely if it is
very warm. After a time the dullness passes off and the
animal becomes delirious. If you give him water to drink, he will
try, but he cannot, as there is paralysis of the gullet. These
symptoms gradually get worse until he dies. Wherever you see
one horse affected there is apt to be more affected, for the same
cause that brought it on him will bring it on the others.

Treatment. — if noticed before the animal is too bad, there is

hope of recovery; but if the animal is down and cannot swallow

before he is noticed to be sick, the chances are against him. As

soon as the disease is noticed, take one half-pail of blood from

him and give the following drench:

Bitter Aloes 8 drams.

Sweet !Spirit8 of Nitre 1 ounce or 4 tabloBpoonfuls.

Common Soda 1 tablespoonf ul.

Ginger 1 "

Mix in a pint of luke warm water and give as a drench, then

follow up with the following powder:

Powdered Nux Vomica J pound.

Nitrate «>f Potash or Saltpetre .J "

Hyposulphite of Soda j "

Mix well together and give a teaspoonful on his tongue every

three hours until he gets relief. Apply a mustard plaster and hot

cloths along his back and cover the body warm. If the animal gets

down turn him oyer from side to side three times a day, and be

very careful while drenching for fear of choking him. ^eed on

soft food, with plenty of boiled flax seed in it, and give ^.lenty of

cold water to drink.

CHOREA.

This is an affection of the nervous system, where the horse
loses the power to back up.

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF THE HORSE. 159

CsiUSCS. — It is due to some injury to the spinal cord, and
sometimes comes on a colt after castration, but we think he must
have been injured while throwing him.

Symptoms. — The horse will be useful, and as long as he is
going ahead he will be all right. He can pull or do anything in
the shape of work until you go to back him up ; as soon as you
try to, you will find that he cannot back ; the muscles of the hind ,
quarters will begin to shiver, his tail will rise up, and, no matter
how much you force him, he cannot back up. This disease is
more common in nervous animals.

Treatment. — if you notice it when it is coming on, give:

Powdered Nux Vomica ^ pound

Nitrate of Potaah or Saltpetre I "

Mix thoroughly and give a teaspoonful three times a day in

soft food. Rub him over the back and hips with the white

liniment twice a day. If he is in good condition, give him a

physic drench of > .

Bitter Aloe* 8 drams.

Ginger 1 table8p<^onf ul.

Common Soda 1 **

STRINGHALT.

This receives its name from the way the animal acts.

Causes. — This is caused from some affection of the nerves
which go to supply the part afiFected, but really what parts of
the nerves affected has never been found out. This disease is
more often seen in highly nervous animals, and is caused from
applying severe blisters to the legs, which irritates the nerves, or
clipping the legs and having him out in the cold. It is noticed to
follow after castration, either from the burning of the rope on the
fetlock or the irritation of the cutting.

Treatment. — If this disease IS once well established it is

incurable, but if noticed at the time it is starting give the animal

a physic of

Bitter Aloes 8 to 10 drams.

Common Soda 1 tablespoonful.

Ginger 1 "

Mix in a pint of luke warm water and give as a drench.
Leave the animal in the stable the next day, and follow up with
the following powder, which acts on the nerves : Bromide of
Potassium, two drams or a teaspoonful, twice a day in his food,
or on his tongue with a spoon.

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160

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OP THE HORSE.

»'

HYDROPHOBIA (RABIES) IN HORSES.

disease never occurs in a horse unless he has been
bitten by a mad doj^ or cat.

Symptoms. — He shows restlessness, will bite and rub where
he was bitten. These symptoms are followed by brain distur-
bance, and the animal will act somewhat as if he was suffering-
from inflammation of the brain ; but in this disease the animal is
wicked, and will bite at you in a peculiar way, just like a vicious
doj;". The animal becomes more excited, turns round and round
in his stall until he gets weak and falls down, and gradually keeps
getting worse until he is relieved by death.

Treatment.— If the horse is showing the above symptoms,
and he has been bitten by a dog, have him destroyed at once ;
but if you were called to see a. horse after he was bitten by a mad
dog, and before he shows the above symptoms, take a sharp
knife and cut away the flesh around the bite, then burn it with a
stick of caustic, potash or nitrate of silver. If you have not these,
burn it well with a red hot iroq or anything to destroy the poison.

LOCKJAW (TETANUS).

This is purely a disease of the nerves and receives its name
by the way it acts on the muscles of the jaw. Sometimes they
become so set that you could not pry the animal's mouth open.
There are two forms of this disease, one is known as the trau-
matic form, this is where the disease follows an injury or opera-
tion, which can be seen ; the diopathic form of the disease comes
on the animal without any visible injury or operation. In this
case it is thought to be brought on from worms or bots in the
stomach or from being exposed to extreme cold.

Causes.— The general causes of this disease are when a nail
runs in the horse's foot, it may follow a stake or cut just about
the time the wound is healed up, and comes on from eight to
twenty-one days after being injured. It may also come after
wounds which seem to be healing extra fast. It follows opera-
tions, such as docking, nicking a horse's tail or castration ; it
sometimes occurs after very severe blistering. In referring to the
disease following castration, it is more apt to come on when a
horse is allowed to run through a river or spring creek, or being
left out in cold winds. As an example, twenty-four horses were
castrated and bained in cold w^ter a few days after, and sixteen

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF THE HORSE. 161

out of the twenty-four died of lockjaw. This shows you the
necessity of havinj^ the operation done in fine weather and the colt
kept away from damp places. The disease is noticed to come on
just about the time the colt is healed up, the same as in other
wounds.

Symptoms.— There is not much dilliculty in tc'llinjj a case of
this kind. At first there is a peculiar stiffness of the body, and
he walks with his neck hi^h and his head stuck out as if he was
suffering' from sore throat, he has a peculiarly hig'h action, and if
lie is on pasture he cannot j^et his head down to eat, except in a
very mild case of the disease. The horse, in most cases, will try
to eat if he can, especially at the commencement of the disease.
If you walk up to him and suddenly excite him he will almost
jjfroan, as if in pain, his head will fly up and the haw of the eye
will fly over the eye so that you can hardly see it. When he is
excited his tail will raise up and the muscles all over his body
seem hard, drawn and set, and the animal will almost fall down.
In a case of this kind examine the mouth and you will find that it
can only be opened a little. If it is a severe case these symptoms
will gradually grow worse, and in a few days he will get off his
feet and will be unable to raise them ; he will have fits of severe
struggling and be in terrible agony, and the only thing that gives
him relief is death, which soon comes.

Treatment. — in a very light case of the disease, if in the

spring and the animal is able to get down and eat grass, it is best

to leave him out in a level pasture field where there is nothing to

disturb him. In a case of this kind do not go near him to give

him medicine, but watch him to see that nothing" turns up that

you are not expecting, because catching a wild colt in the pasture

to give him medicine would only excite him so much that it would

do more harm than good. There has been all kinds of treatment

tried for this disease, but the best is to give the animal, as soon

as noticed, a dose of physic consisting of

Bitter Aloes 8 drams.

Common Soda 1 tablespoonf ul.

CJinger 1 "

Sweet Spirits of Nitre I ounce or 4 tablespoonf uls.

Mix in a pint of luke warm water and give as a drench, being
direful not to excite the animal much while giving it to him. In
case it is caused from a nail in the foot, pare the hole out well
where the nail went in and poultice with hot linseed poultices,

11

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DISKASIiS AM) rKICAIMKNT HI' IIIIC lU^USi;.

chanj4'iii!jf thotn often In keep them hot. Keep the foot poiihitiHl
until Ihi' animal seems reliovcil. If it is from a wound batlic well
with hiUe warm water three or four times a clay, anil paint the fo(>l
o\\'\- witli lluiil extract ol belladonna after each bathinj^. Keep
the animal in a oomlortable stable, free fn>m noise or anythini,'
that will excite liim, as perfect ipiietness is what is wanted in
treatin},'" this disease, (iive one ilram, ov one teaspoonful, of lluid
extract oi belladonna on his tongue with a spinii three times
a ilay, and feeil on soil, easy chewed food, such as j^^ruels of ciuip
stull wi'h boiled llaxseed in it make the j^ruel so he can drink
it down if in the spring' give him grass, if in other times of llu
year scuUl his hay and make it as soft and easy to eat as you can.
It generally takes from three weeks to thirty days for the disease
to run it^ course. It is best 't to rely loo much on medicine,
lor it takes time for it to run iis course, (lood nursing is better
than medicine in this disease. As .i general thing, before the end
ot llie third week, he begins to get belter.

CH.APTKR XVIH.

DISEASES OF THE LYMPHATIG SYSTEM.

WHED IN THE I HG (LYMPHANGITIS).

This disease also gets various other names, such .as walei
farcy, big leg and Monday morning fever. This is .a ver\
common (.lise.ise now in this country, and is li.ible to be more so,
on accoiuU o( horses being better i\:i\ anti cared for th.in they used
to be. The disease generally jdVects the hind legs, but soiiietinies
alVects the front legs.

Cuuses. It is common in hard-worked and highly-fed horses,
by letting them stand in the stable lor a few days w'ithout exercise
after being accustomed to working every day and feeding them
the s.ame as if iliey were working; this is why it is seen so often
on Monday morning. The direct cause o( the disease is from
horses getting too nuich nutriment in the blood, which over
stiinulates and sets up inflammation in the lymphatic glands in
the legs; then when these glands are inllamed they do not absorb
the lymph and carry it ofV as they should when all right, thus the
leg becomes very largely swollen with lymph. It is also caused
by a horse getting a prick of a nail in the foot, and the soreness
extends up the legs ami afl'ects the glands and sets up intlamma-

iit

'!
;((',

nJSICASKS AM) TKtCATMKNT Or TlIK MOKSK.

163

(i(in in them. It is also cniisod froin a horse havin}^ bad blood
will) too much librinc! in it. I ksivy horses with sliif^j^Msh cireula-
tiDii are more liable to it than lif,'hter horses.

Symptoms. The first sij^ns are thr animal will tpiit leeilinf^,
tumble and be Ceverish, which is followed by lameness and swell-
iiiLT alonj;' the inside ol the le^' usually the hind le^;' just inside
;lu' thif,'!!. The swellinj,-', at lirst, will be alonj; the line of the
lymphatic vessels in the shape of a hard cord ; if y«)u press your
lianti on this cord the animal will immediately throw his le^' out
,iiul up and seem very stilf and sore ; after this staj^'e the le^ be-

(. nines t^'reatly swollen all the way down and around it, m some
ses as lar^'e as a stovepipe, and it will be very sore to handle,

I' a

:iiu! Is so painful that the horse will lift it from the floor and look
,uound at it. 'i'he symtoms of a case in the front lej^' are similar,
only the swellin};' starts at the chest and extends down the inside
nl I lie front le}^. The ptdse will be ijuickened, antl the animal

lirealhes heavier

than

natural

Aft

er an animal has (Mice been

allected by this c.isease he is more liable to have it aj^ain, and
atler he has been afflicted with it several times it terminates in

wiia

t is U

own ;is elephantiasis, or big' lej,"".

Treatment, (let rid of the nutriment of the blood as soon as
possible, by bleed ini; ; lake a half pail of blimd from him it th^

animal is stronj^- and fat, and j^ive him

a phy

SIC drenc

h

'.iltcr

AI'u^H H to 10 (Irarnt*.

I '(iiiiiiKiii Siida
(iiiigt-r

Uili

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ihil.

\ oil

Mix in a pint of hike warm water and }^'ive as a drench ; if
bleed, just ijive J^ drams oi aloes, and give tiie folIov\ing

innvders

N ill ate of I'oliisli or Saliii^'re.

SiiIdI

[)tHir
nil

< ir iiinl licnliivn

Fioot ,

i

po

iiind.

his t

Mix thoroughly and give a teaspoonful three times a day on
ongue with a spoon or in his fi od. Vend on soft footl, with

plenty o( boiled flax seed in it, to keep his bowels loose. r»athe

I.I

le leg with hike warm water, as warm as vou ca

n b

ear vour

hand

in it, with some saltpetre and vinegar in the water, for

lU'arU an hour ;il a time, three times a dav, and after wi

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ipin^'
rub well with white liniment weakened dcnvn nearly one-half
adding more water to it. If in very cold weather, bandag'c the
to keep him from g'elting' cold in it after the bathing'. Allow
to stanc (.juiet for three or four days until \'ou get the

iV>'.

I 1

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164 DISEASES AND TREATMENT 01> THE HORSE.

inflammation checked in the ji;"land, then commence to exercise
him some every day, and ijradually brinj^- him back to his natural
habits ag-ain. The more he is bathed with warm water the
sooner he will i^'et relief.

BIG LEG (ELEPHANTIASIS).

This is a thickened state of the lej^- from repeated attacks of
lymphanf^itis or weed in the 'eg. The swellinj;- becomes orjjfanized
and you cannot effect a complete cure in any case.

Treatment. — Give the animal regular exercise, also give him
a good physic drench once in a while to keep his bowels right,
■consisting of

Bitter Aloca S to 1(» drams.

Common Soda 1 lalilcsiiooiiful.

<iinger 1 "

Mix in a pint of luke warm water atid give as a drench, tlKii

give him the following powder to act on his kidneys and blood:

Nitrate of Potash or Saltpetre ■} poimd.

Siilpluir ,\ "

(jt.'iuud (ientian Root | "

Mix thoroughly together and give a teaspoonful in his food
twice a day, this will help him more than anything you can do f c r
him. Any time you notice the leg swelling repeat the above
treatment, and by keeping his blood in good condition he may
make a good work horse for a long time.

SWELLING OF THE LIMBS (ANASARCA).

Causes. - This is cau- 2d from the lymphatic glands of tlu
legs working sluggish and not carrying the lymph off. It
generally occurs in the hind legs, and is conmionly called stockins^
of the legs. The most common cause we have is where a horse
is accustotned to standing in the stable during the winter months
and then putting him to hard work in the spring before he gets
used to it. After resting during the night his legs will be swollen
the next morning. Or, it may be caused from giving a horse a
long journey when he is not used to it; the next morning his leg>
will be swollen. Also a horse's blood being in bad condition will
cause it.

Symptoms. There is swelling of the legs during the night,
and in the morning when he is taken out the swollen legs will be
quite stiff. This swellirg will go down after he is kept movini,'^
for some time, but will return again the next night, perhaps
worse than before, if this disease is not attended to, it is apt to
terminate in a case of scratches or grease.

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF THE HORSE. 165

Treatment. — Keep the animal from work for a few days and
give him a physic consisting of

Bitter Aloes H drams.

Common Soda 1 tablespoonful.

ftinger 1 "

Sweet Spirits of Nitne A ounce or 2 tablespoonfuls.

Mix in a pint of hike warm water and give as a drench.

Feed on soft, light food, and allow the animal to stand in a stable

a few days after giving the drench. In case the animal is very

weak, and you think it is not safe to give him the aloes, give him

Raw Linset'd Oil 1 pint.

Sweet SpirilH of Nitre h ounce or 2 tablespoonfuls.

Mix and give as a drench,, and use him the same as if you

i,Mve him the aloes ; then give him the following powder to act

on his kidneys and blood and builu his system up : /

Nitrate of Potash or Saltpetre \ pound.

Sulphur I

• I Mtnd <;enlian Root \ "

Mi^. thoroughly and give a teaspoonful every night and morn-
ing in his feed. After he stands a couple days put him at gentle
work, not too liard, also hand rub his legs at night ;ind bandage
ilicni, which will keep the snclling down and strengthen the leg.
Never leave the bandage on longer than three hours, for if you
('o it will do more harm than good.

CHAPTKR XIX.

DISEASES OF THE HEART, ARTERIES AND

BLOOD.

I.^HEART msEASES.

These diseases are very uncommon in the horse, but
sometimes we have what is known as rupture of the valves and
palpitation of the heart.

RUPTURE OF THE VALVES OF THE HEART.

Causes. It is hard to toll just what the cause is, but the
valves are diseased in some form before the rupture takes place.

Symptoms. When rupture takes place the horse dies almost
instantly, for it stops the circulation in the system. In some
cases the horse may be subjected to weak spells before rupture
takes place, while other times this symptom will not be noticed.

Treatment. -There is none; and the only way to tell if this
caused death is to examine the heart, which wi!! he clotted with

i -'i'

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166 DISEASES AND TREATMENT OK THE HOKSE.

blood, caused from the rupture of one of the valves in the heart,
and also you will see the ruptured valve.

PALPITATION OF THE HEART.

This is weakness of the heart.

Causes.- It g-enerally comes after weakening diseases, such
as the fevers of the horse, lung troubles, or dropsy of the heart.

Symptoms. The animal will be very weak, and you can hear
the heart thumping in its cavity; the synii oms will be greatly
increased when the animal is excited. His pulse will be very
quick and weak, and in this state the animal will be unable to do
any work.

Treatment. — Keep the animal quiet and strengthen the system
as inuch as you can by good foou, and give him the following
tonic medicine which acts as a tonic to the heart and system in
general ;

Tulvcri7,<^(l Digitalis J pound.

f iro'iiiil ( lentiiin llool i "

Powdered Nux Voniioa | "

Ground Sulphate of Iron •. | '•

Mix thoroughly and give a teaspoonful three times a day in

his feed or on his tongue w ith a spoon.

II. — DISEASES OF THE ARTERIES.

TUMOR (ANEURISM).

This is a diseased state of the walls of an artery.

Causes. The causes are unknown.

Symptoms. This disease often goes on in the artery unknown
until the diseased part of the artery will give way ; if it is intern-
ally, and a large artery, he will bleed to deatli very quickly ; if it
is a small artery in the muscles he will not bleed to death, but you
will notice a large swelling appear suddenly around the diseasn.!
part of the artery, and the artery will bleed until it is stopped by
clotting and pressure from the muscles and skin. The animal will
be a little weak, hut the swelling will not be sore, and pressing on
it you can tell there is a fluid in it.

Treatnient. Allow the fluid to remain in the swelling two or
three days, until you are sure the artery has stopped hleediiiL;,
then, with a sharp knife, open into the lower part of the swelling ;
make a big cut into it, and remove all the clotted blood, then take
a large syringe and wash out all the blood with luke warm
water with a few drops oi' carbolic acid in it. After this, bathe

DISEASES AM) TREATMENT OF THE HORSE.

167

the parts well with luke warm water twice a day, and inject in the

hole each time, after bathing-, with the white lotion. Keep the

-uiimal quiet and it will heal up in the course of two or three weeks

all right.

RUPTURE OF AN ARTERY.

Causes. — It is sometimes caused fi:pm stfaininij while the mare

is foaling; d'-awing heavy; severe exertion of any kind; or a severe

bruise.

Symptoms. — Same as a tumor or aneurism of an artery, only
you will not find the artery diseased.

Treatment — This disease is treated the same as tumor or
aneurism of an artery.

lU. — niKEASKS Ol- THE VEINS.
INFLAMMATION OF A VEIN (PHLEBITIS).

This distase is mostly noticed in connection with the jugular
veins.

Causes. — Usually from bleeding a horse with a rusty fleam ;
using a rusty pin or your hands having dirt on thi,m while putting
in the pin (so you see the necessity of havinjf everything clean
wlien bleeding); sometimes from a horse rubbing his neck against
something after bleeding; from turning the horse out to grass
right after bleeding and allowing him to have his head down,
lliis interferes with the circulation of the blooc}, causes swelling
and clotting of the blood, which sets up inflammation.

Symptoms. -There is swelling along that side of the neck you
hied him from, and it he is allowed to have his iiead down that side
o\' his head will also be swollen. The swelling will be hard and
painful when you touch it, and, ir. a few da\s,.th'j clotted blood
lormed in the swelling will start to fester anu break out in little
boils or abscesses along the side of the neck.

Treatment. Keep the anim il's head well lied up and bathe
the sides of the neclc with warm walur and \ iiK-gar four times
i day for half an hour at a lime, and eacli time, after bathing
appl\ white liniment. If the neck heals or festers, open the
places up with a knife and allow tiu matter to escape. Wiicn
you do this, change the treatment to white lotion instead of lini-
ment. Oo this until you get all the swvi r,g and inflammation
out and the healing places .all herded up, then blister, using the
following :

;.-<ii

168

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF THE HORSE.

i!

Vaaeline, or lard 1 ounce.

I'ulverized Catharides, or Spanish Fly 1 i drams.

Mix well together and rub the blister along the swollen part

of the neck. Tie the horse's head short so he can not rub it.

Rub the blister in well and grease the place where you blistered

in three days after ; allow it to remain two or three weeks>

or until it heals up, and if the swelling is not down, blister again

and follow out the same directions in this as in the first blister.

In after treatment do not turn the animal out to pasture for ;i

year or so, for his head will swell up on account of his not having

the use of this vein ; keep him in the stable and feed him out of a

high manger, and by doing this he will be just as useful as ever,

for after a while the other jugular vein will enlarge so it will do

the work of both the veins. In buying a horse look at both sides

of his neck to see that the veins are all right.

IV. — DISEASES OK THE BI.OOD.
BAD BLOOD.

This is when the blood gets very impure and the horse does
not thrive well.

Causes. — From working very hard and feeding very high, ov
from turning the animal out to a straw stack and allowing the
system to run down.

Symptoms. Ihe animal will get weak, and will not thrive
well, anci ^4. hide bound. Tlie hair will be rough, dry rmd
scrufly; and, it the blood is hot, there will be pimples form over
the body; and w' en he stands in the stable over night his legs
will swell ; and if .le is out in wet weather scratches will come on ;
and the animal is dull and unfit for work, and no matter how
much you feed him ho will not th ive.

Treatment. — Get his blood in good shape by giving a physic

drench to start on, consisting oi :

Hitter Aloes H drHniH.

(iinger 1 talilesj.'oonful.

Common 8oda 1 "

Mix in a pint of luke warm water and give as a drench.

Allow the animal to stand in the stable a couple of days, and feed

on soft food with plenty of flaxseed in it to keep the bowels loose,

then give the following powder:

Nitrate of Potash or Saltpetre \ pound.

Sulphur k

^

mn

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF THE HORSE.

169

Mix and g'tve a large teaspoonful twice a day in his feed,

after you have given him this, follow up with the following tonic

powder to make him strong:

Ground (lentian Kool :J pound.

.Sulphate of Iron i "

Mix well together and give a teaspoonful twice a day in his
feed ; if in the spring of the year and you can turn the horse on
grass, bleed him, taking half a pail of blood, then turn him out,
and this will cure him as quick as anything. When you are
treating a horse for bad blood, if you have him in the stable,
give him a little exercise every day.

AZOTURIA.

This disease, at one time, was not very common, but is
•^--etting more so all the time.

Causes.- From allowing a horse to stand in the stable and
(ceding him well for a few days without any exercise, the blood
i^^ots too full of albumen, and then, by taking him out and driving
him, brings on the disease. When you drive the horse the blood
i^ets heated and he takes in a great deal of oxygen from the air
into the blood, which unites with the allnimen in the blood and
changes it into acids, which are known as hippuric and urea
acids ; these acids stop the action of the kidneys and tiien act on
the muscular system, and cause the muscles of the back and hips
to become swollen and pandyzed. This is the only disease that is
noticed to come on a horse very soon after starting on a drive,
it is more common in the winter months, on account of the
animal standing in the stable more, but is liable to come on at any
lime of the year.

Symptoms. -On taking a horse out of the stable, he will go
off full of life for a quarter of a mile to a mile, or even a longer
distance in some cases, then you will notice him break out into a
sweat; he becomes stiff' in the hind quarters and not able to trot.
If you examine him he will be breathing heavy, his pulse quick
and weak, and will be trembling about the flanks. Look ovev the
back and hips and you will notice the muscles swollen and as hard
as a board. If you attempt to drive him still further, he will get
so stiff^ he will not be able to go, and will fall down and not be
able to rise, and all the symptoms mentioned above will be
increased greatly. His urine will be of a dark red color and very
little at a time, for the kidneys are not acting much. If you

a

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170 DISICASES AND TREATMENT OF THE HOUSE.

catch some in a dish, and allow it to stand, the acids will come to
the top. In severe cases the leg's and ears are very cold.

Treatment. — As soon as the symptoms are noticed, stop
driving' him and take him to the nearest place, for if you keep on
driving- him he will only fall down and be a grfeat deal more
bother to you. When you g^et him into the stable, cover him well
with blankets and let him have a g-ood sweating; this will relieve
the kidneys, give him a good rubbing all over the back and hips
with white liniment; if you have not got the liniment along with
you apply a coat of mustard and vinegar over the back, or even a
half pail of hot salt in a bag would be good, for you must get heat
to the kidneys to start them to act. Give the following :

(Sweet Spirits of Nitre 1 ounce, or 4 tablespooufuls.

Bitter Aloes S drams.

Common Soda 1 tcaspoonful.

Ginger 1 "

Fleming's Tincture of Aconite 10 drops.

Mix' in a pint of hike warm water and give as a drench ; this

is to get the bowels and kidneys acting. As a general thing, if

this treatment is given as soon as noticed, he will be able to work

in three or four hours. If it is a severe case, and the horse does

not get relief in three or four hours, follow up with the following

drench :

Sweet Spirits of Nitre 1 ounce, or 4 tablespoonfuls.

Common Soda 1 tablespoonful.

Heming'.s Tincture of Aconite 10 drops.

Mix in a pint of luke vvarm water and give every three hours

until the animal gets relief; also, keep the heat applied to the

back. If the animal is so bad he gets down, turn him over from

side to side, twice a day, and as soon as he able to get up, help

him to his feet. It is well to use slings for a short time every

day after he begins to get strong. We saw one case where a

hotse had lain nine days and afterwards got up and was all right

again by means of the above treatment without the slings. Feed

on soft food and give all the luke warm water he can drink ; tend

to his general comfort, such as a comfortable stall with good

bedding. Watch if he makes water, and if he does not, tal'e it

awa} with a catheter. When the animal is getting better give the

following powders to get his kidneys working:

Nitrate of Potash or Saltpetre ^ pound.

(iround Centian Root ^ "

Mix and give a teaspoonful twice a day in his feed. After an

animal has suffered from this disease once he is more apt to be

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OK THE HOKSE.

171

troubled again. Watch that his kidneys are in good shape, and
have the animal exercised every day. If you have tear of a horse
becoming attacked with this disease when you are going to drive
liim let him walk easy for the first mile or so, imd then he will be
all right.

CHAPTER XX.

DISEASES OF THE BONES.

BIG HEAD (OSTEO-POROSIS).

This disease is more comii)/)n in some localities than others;
it is not met with much in Canada or Great Britain, but is fre-
quently seen in the United Slates and Mexico. It is a disease
which attacks horses from one to four years old, and rarely
attacks old horses, and it gradually comes on as the animal
grows, without any signs of soreness, only the bones of the head
;ind legs get larger and lighter and become very brittle, that is,
easy to break. Thus it gets the name "big." It more often affects
the bones of the head than those of any other part of the body.

Causes. — It is difficult to say what is the real cause of this
disease, but it is supposed to be caused from an animal feeding on
pasture land deficient in the salts of lime. Some think it is
wholly caused from animals grazing on low-lying, swampy land,
where the grass grows long and does not contain the full amount
oi' nourishing substances.

Symptoms. — At first the symptoms are not very well marked,
but the animal is noticed to be dull, fall off in condition, and his
muscles get very soft. The animal may run along this way for
four to six months, then the true nature of the disease will show
itself. The animal will seem stiff in traveling, his belly becomes
very gaunt, and the bones of the head will be noticed to be getting
larger than natural; then, after this, the bones of the legs may
also become enlarged, and as the disease goes on the bones will
continue getting larger, and the animal keeps gradually going
down in condition until he dies. In some cases the bones become
so brittle that while he his walking along one of his legs would
break and he wt uld have to be destroved.

Treatment. — The treatment is not very successful, and if the
disease has been running on for any length of time it is best to
destroy the animal. If in the early stages, and he is on low

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172

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OK THE HORSE.

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pasture, move him to a good, high pasture field, and give a tea-
spoonful of sulphate of iron in some oats twice a day to build the
system up and overcome the disease.

SPLINTS.

This is a bony enlargement on the inside of the leg, between
the knee and fetlock, and is sometimes noticed to affect the out-
side of the leg, and it is noticed to affect the bones of the hind
legs, below the hock joint, either on the inside or outside. Any
enlargement of the bone along the places mentioned comes under
the name of splint.

Causes. — Certain breeds of animals are more liable to splints
than others. For instance, horses with small, weak bones below
the knees, or colts that are very fat, and heavy on their legs, are
the most liable to splints. Driving or riding colts on hard roads,
or working them on hard roads. Horses that are driven on the
pavements of large cities are very apt to have splints, from shoe-
ing too heavy; or from the animal striking his foot against the
other leg in traveling. In all of these cases, whether it is due to
hard roads, or from striking the leg with anything, inflammation
will set in between the bone and the covering of the bone, then
there is a deposit of bony matter, this is what causes the enlarge-
ment and soreness. When the splint affects both sides of one leg
it is called a double splint.

Symptoms. — At first it is a little hard to detect, but when the
splint gets any size it is very easy to tell what is wrong, and when
a young horse goes lame on the hard road it is well to examine
for splints. The lameness has a peculiarity about it, when the
animal is walking he walks perfectly sound, and he also stands on
the leg as if nothing was wrong, but when you come to trot him
he will be very lame, and he will drop and raise his head to a
great extent. Always bear in mind that when a lame horse is
trotting his head goes down when he strikes his weight on the
sound leg, he does this in trying to favor the lame leg, and in all
cases, no matter how sure you are about the part the horse is
lame in, examine the foot to see there is no nail in it.

Treatment. — As a general thing it is successful. Keep the
horse from work as much as possible, and if in summer time
bathe the leg in cold water with a little salt in it ; do this a couple
of times a day, and after rubbing dry, apply the white liniment ;
keep at this treatment until you get the inflammation and sore-

IliiiiLi;

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OK THE HORSE. 173

ncss out of the splint, after this blister to remove the enlarj,''ement.
Use the following blister :

Vaseline or lard 1 ounce.

IMniodid of Mercury or Ued Precipitate 1 dnvii).

Powdered Ciinlliarides or Spanish Fly 1 dram.

Mix thoroughly together and there will be enough to blister
an ordinary splint three times. If there is much hair on the
splint clip it off and apply one-third oi the blister ; the more you
rub it in the better the blister works ; tie his head a little short for
a few hours so he cannot get down to bite the blistered part ; let
this stand for three days, then grease the blistered part with
vaseline or lard, then let it go for two or three weeks after the
first blister and blister again, and follow out the same directions
as in the first blister, and, if it is not all gone, blister the third
time in two or three weeks more.

SORE SHINS.

This is inflammation of the covering of the shin or
metacarpal bones and nearly always affects the front legs, but some-
times affects the shin or metatarsus bones in the hind legs. This is
more common in some parts of the country, and is generally seen
in young race or trotting horses that are put to severe exertion.

Causes. — it is from hard and continual driving in training
young horses for races ; from a continual steady strain on the
legs, it sets up an inflammation in the covering of the shin bones ;
or from taking a colt out of the pasture field and putting him to
too hard work when he is not used to it; or from running and
striking the front of the shins against anything.

Symptoms. — They are very plain. The colt is very lame at
first, and in examining him, if you run your hand down over the
shins, you will find them very sore and hot. . He will flinch and
jump away from you when you press on the parts affected ; and
in trotting he drops his head similar to splint lameness. If it is
allowed to run without being treated, a thickness will soon appear
in front of the shin bones where the soreness was.

Treatment. — Give the animal as much rest as you can. If in
the summer, bathe with cold water and salt. If in the winter,
bathe with warm water and salt. After bathing twice a day, rub
dry and apply white liniment. After you get the soreness and
inflammation out by bathing and using the liniment, blister him to
take down the enlargement. Use the same blister and same
directions as is given in treatment of splints.

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174

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OP THE HORSE.

SIDE BONE.

This is ossification, or turning into botte, of the lateral
cartilages of the foot ; these are two cartilages, one situated on
each side of the foot, and by pressing on them at each side of the
foot, just above the hoof, you can move them in and out, that is
when they are in their healthy state, but when they become
diseased or changed into bone, they become enlarged and you
cannot move them at all. This disease is more often met with in
heavy breeds of horses, but it is sometimes met with in light
horses, when it is harder to treat and more of a detriment to them
on account of being used for fast work.

CftUSes. — From hard work, as a general thing.

SjnnptOins. — in heavy horses, they are not lame in some
cases, just the enlargement at each side of the foot, just above
the hoof, but in severe cases there may be lameness. In light
horses, used for drawing, the fir^ symptom noticed is lameness,
afterwards followed with the enlargement at the sides of the foot,
just above the hoof.

Treatment. — Rest the animal as much as you can, and, if in

the summer, bathe ihe foot well with cold water and salt twice a

a day; after bathing each time, wipe dry and apply the white

liniment. If it is in the winter, bathe with warm water and salt,

and also poultice with half linseed meal and bran; put the

poultice on as warm as you can without burning the animal, and

each time after bathing and poulticing, rub with white liniment,

the same as mentioned above. After you get the soreness and

lameness out by the above treatment, blister, with the following

receipt :

Biuiodid of Mercury or Red Precipitate 2 dram*.

Vaseline or Lard 1 ounce.

Mix well together and there is enough in this receipt to

blister a small side bone four times. Apply quarter of the blister

and rub in thoroughly, leave it for three days and then grease

with lard, and allow it to go for two or three weeks, then wash

the parts clean with luke warm water and soap, and blister again,

just the same as the first time; repeat the blisters until the

lameness is entirely gone and the side bone stops growing. In

buying a horse always examine him closely for side bones,

especially if it is a heavy horse. In cases where you want to

work the animal shoe him with a bar shoe.

DISEASES AND TRBATMl^T OF THE HORSE.

176

RnfGBOlfE.

There are two kinds of ringbones — the high-up ringbone and
the low-down ringbone. The high-up ringbone aflfects the pastern
joint, the low-down ringbone affects the coffin joint. A ringbone
is a bony growth around the pastern or coffin joints. They may
affect the front legs, but are more often found on the hind ones,
and there are cases where the whole four legs were affected at the
same time.

Causes. — Like most other bone diseases, it runs in some
breeds of horses to be affected with ringbones, that is to say it is
hereditary, so you see the necessity of breeding sound animals.
But there are other well-marked causes, such as hara or fast
work ; or an injury or severe sprain of the joint will bring it on.
A common cause in colts is allowing their feet to grow too long;
or, in foals, by allowing them to follow their mother when she is
working, which is very hard on foals; sometimes by a horse
running a nail in his foot, and if it runs up far enough to wound
the coffin joint, it will c%use the joint to become diseased and
throw out a ringbone; or it may come on by a horse standing on
one leg while he is very lame in the other.

SyiCptOms. — They are very plain. There is lameness, fol-
lowed by an enlargement around whichever of the joinre are
affected. Now, if it is the pastern joint, the enlargement will
be about half way between the fetlock joint and the hoof; this is
the form known as high-up ringbone. If it affects the coffin joint,
the enlargement will be noticed bulging out around the top of the
hoof, and this form of the disease is known as a low-down
ringbone. The parts around the ringbone will be hot, and the
lameness will increase as the disease goes on. The peculiarity of
ringbone lameness is that the animal takes a' longer step on the
affected leg and puts h\k heel down first ; also, that he is more
lame when starting off than after he is driven a piece and gets
warmed up.

Treatment. — The treatment, in some cases, is not attended
with very great success, although, in others. It is very successful,
depending, of course, on how much disease there is going on in
the joint. The treatment is similar to spavin — the main object
being to set up what is known as anchylosis of the diseased joint,
that is, to have the bones forming the joint become united solid
to each other. As soon as this takes place, the lameness and

pr*

176

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF THE HORSE.

soreness leaves, and this is what is called a cure. Of course,
after it is cured, the motion of that joint is gone, and the anmial
does not have quite as free action as before the leg was affected,
but will be very useful for years after. In order to get a real
good idea about this, examine some ringbone, after a horse dies,
that was cured, and it will give you an idea how the bones unite.
In all cases first have the foot pared down to its natural shape,
and have the toe cut off very short and keep it cut .short after-
wards ; this throws the strain off the joint. Cut the hair off the
enlargement, if it is long, and blister with the following:

Biniodid of Mercury or Red Precipitate 2 drams.

Vaseline or Lard 1 ounce.

Mix well together. There will be enough in this receipt to
blister an ordinary ringbone two or three times, according to the
size of it. Apply one-third of the blister and rub in thoroughly —
the more you rub the better it will work — and grease the third
day after blistering, and keep on blistering every three weeks
until it is cured and follow out the same directions as the first
blister ; each time before you blister wash off the parts with warm
water and soap. If, in the course of a few months, this does not
help him, "fire" him. Use the same kind of a firing iron as that
used in firing a spavin. Place a twitch on his nose and have one
of his front legs held up, and when your irons are red hot burn
all around the ringbone in streaks — running up and down — three-
quarters of an inch apart ; don't burn too severe, just enough to
leave white seam where you run the iron. In doing this take your
time and do not lean heavy on the iron. After you lire, leave it six
days and blister the same as above mentioned and follow out the
same directions. If the horse will not stand, throw him the same
as you would if you were going to castrate him. Don't get dis-
couraged if he does not get better right away, for it generally
takes from six months to a year, and even longer in bad cases.
In colts the treatment is just the same, only not quite so severe,
and will vary according to the size of the animal.

BONE SPAVIN.

A spavin is a disease affecting the bones of the hock joint,
and generally throws out a bony enlargement on the inside of the
hock joint. When the spavin is inside of joint and does not show
itself outside in the form of an enlargement i*- is then called an
occult spavin. They are divided into high-up spavins and low-
down, or what is commonly called jack spavins.

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF THE HORSE.

177

CSQSeS. — The same as in ringbone, certain breeds of horses
are nearly all spavined, for it come$ on in a hereditary form, that
is where the dam or sire is affected with spavin and their colts be-
come affected with spavin, and so on for generations of horses.
A great many horses have spavins in this way, therefore you will
see the necessity of breeding good, sound horses, although when
a spavin comes on from some well marked cause, such as from
hard work, or from a severe sprain of the joint or an injury, such
as a kick from another horse, it is all right to breed' from these.

Symptoms. — Are very plain and easily noticed as a general
rule. Inquire into the history of the case ; how long the animal
has been lame and how he acts when travelling. If the horse .
steps shorter than natural and strikes the toe first in putting
down the foot. If he is noticed very lame in starting ofT after
standing for a while, or from being kept in the stable over night, and
i;ets better after he goes a mile or so, and the further he goes the
less he shows the lameness, then look for a spavin ; if there is an
enlargement you can easily see it, but if it is an occult spavin
there will be no enlargement, just heat and soreness in the parts.
When the above symptoms are present you may be sure it is a
spavin." After a time the muscles of the hip on the side he is
•lame on will waste away from not being properly used. You
must not let this symptom mislead you as to where the lameness
is. As the enlargement grows the lameness will increase.

Treatment is the same as in ringbone. Try and get the
diseased joint to become united and form what is called anchylosis
of the joint, then the soreness and lameness will disappear ; but
on account of there being no movement in the joint, the animal
will not have as free use of the leg as he had before he got the
spavin, but may be very serviceable for a number of years after
being cured. High-up spavins are very much harder to cure than
the low-down or jack spavin, for they affect the largest articula-
tion in the hock joint, but they are treated just the same. It is
always best to first try a blister on spavins before firing, for in
some cases a blister will cHre them all right. Blister with the
following receipt :

Biniodid of Mercury or Red Precipitate 2 drams.

Vaaeline or Lard 1 ounce.

Mix thoroughly together. There will be enough in this

receipt to blister an ordinary sized spavin twice. Apply half of it

over the inside of the hock where the enlargement is; rub in

13

178

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OP THE MORSE.

thoroughly and grease the parts three days afterwards. If it is
an occult spavin, or if the enlargement goes right through the
joint, put all the blister on at once, that is, half on the inside and
half on the outside of the joint; then let it alone for three weeks
and wash off the parts with warm water and soap, and blister
again just the same as the first time. Repeat the blister a feu
times, and, if not somewhat better, fire it with the feather iron,
the same as shown in the cut. Have three of these irons and get

KKATHKR IRON,

them red hot, then place a twitch on the horse's nose ; also have
one of his front legs held up, and proceed to fire. Draw the lines
the same as seen in the cut, and always have them a good half-
inch apart each way. Run the iron lightly
over the lines (same as shown in cut) until
there is a white line appears, then that is
plenty deep enough. The best place to heat
your irons is at a blacksmith shop, and it
the horse is very ugly you may have to
throw him in the same way as if you were
going to castrate him, and then fire. Keep on
firing and blistering until you effect a cure;
•t may take from six months to a j'ear or
two to eff'ect a complete cure. After firing
do not blister for six or seven days. It is
all right to work the animal a little between
times, T it will help on with the cure, but
when you are working the horse, shoe him
with a high healed shoe, this helps to throw the strain off the
hock joint. After firing and blistering, always keep the animal
out of the water, for getting the leg wet scalds the hair and skin
and makes it very sore.

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF THE HORSE.

179

CHAPTER XXI.

WOUNDS AND TREATMENT.

Wounds are of various kinds, as follows :

(1) An Incised Wound. — This is a wound caused by a clean
cutting instrument where its length is greater than its depth.

(2) A Punctured Wound.— This is a wound caused by some
sharp or blunt instrument, and its depth exceeds its length.

(3) A Lacerated Wound.— This is a wound where the flesh is
both torn and cut, as in a case where one horse kicks another.

(4) A Contused Wound. — This is a wound where the skin is
not broken, but the tissues under the skin are very much bruised,
as, for instance, a man with a black eye. This is one of the best
examples of this kind of a wound.

GENERAL TREATMENT FOR ALL KINDS OF WOUNDS.

If the wound is bleeding, stop it in any of the followintjf ways:
By applying cotton batting over the wound and a tight bandage
over the cotton batting, and leave it on for twenty-four hours; or,
by putting on astringent medicine. The best medicine for this is
Monsell's solution of iron ; apply it with a feather. Another very
i^^ood way is to tie the end of the artery tightly with a small
string, that is, if you can get hold of the artery. A common
sewing needle that is used for sewing up wounds comes in very
handy in some cases, by just running the needle in under the
artery or vein that is bleeding, and tie up some of the muscle along
with the artery, and leave it tied until it comes off of its own
accord. If the wound is deep, and you cannot catch the artery,
plug the hole with cotton batting and leave ^it in for twenty-four
hours, then examine the wound to see if there is any pieces of
stick or anything left in it. If it is a lacerated wound, sew it up
after washing the wound out with a little luke warm water to
make it nice and clean. The best way to sew the wound is to
place a twitch on the horse's nose and have one of his front legs
hold up, and put in the stitches with a common sewing needle"^
used for sewing wounds, which can be got at any wholesale drug
store, and use the small carriage trimmers' twine to sew it up
with, which can be got at any hardware store. Before starting to
sow up a bad cut, examine as to where you should put in your
lirst stitch, so as to bring the edges of the wound evenly together.
Put in the stitches one-half inch apart, tying each stitch separately

IHO

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OP THE HORSE.

until you hnvc the whole wound sewed up. Just draw the stitches
moderately ti^^fht, they will stay in lon^^er than if they tvere drawn
too tight. In case it is a wild animal, throw him down the same
as if you were going to castrate him, then sew it up. After
stitching up the wound, bathe well with luke warm water twice a
day until the stitches come out ; after bathing each time apply the
white lotion, this is to keep down the inflammation and swelling.
Allow the stitches to gradually rot out of their own accord, then
the wound will open up again ; still continue to bathe and apply
the white lotion. After applying the white lotion each time after
the stitches come out and the wound is opened up some, paint the
wound with compound tincture of benzoin or Friar's balsam ; this
will keep any proud flesh from growing in the wound. When the
wound is just about healed up, and is hard, then change the
treatment. Quit bathing and apply the lotion and benzoin.
After this, use the green salve twice a day, every night and
morning. The best way to apply this salve is to melt a little of
it in a spoon by holding it over the lantern blaze until it is thin
enough, and then apply it with a feather all over the wound.
The idea of using this salve is that it not only heals, but it keeps
the skin soft around the wound, and allows the edges to draw
well together, and makes the wound look nicer when it is healed.
If the wound is deep, and there is not a very large hole in the
skin, do not sew it up, but treat it just the same way as you
would after the stitches have come out of a wound you have
sewed up, only work the medicine up into -the wound by using a
feather or a syringe. The main thing in this kind of a wound is
to get it to heal from the inside flrst. If you have a wound
where the skin is not much torn, mostly bruised, give it lots of
bathing with luke warm water two or three times a day. After
bathing each time, wipe dry and apply the white lotion to take
down the swelling. If you have a case where the wound is of
long standing and does not seem to heal, burn it a little with
caustic potash, and then treat it the same as an ordinary wound.
Sometimes, in treating a wound, the matter forms a pocket and
does not run out. In this case you must cut a hole at the bottom
of the pocket or sack, where the matter is lodged, and allow it to
run out; after this treat, and you will Bnd it will heal up all right.
The above treatment will do for wounds on any part of the body
except around the eyes or feet. You will find separate treatment

DISEASES AXD TREATMENT OF THE HORSE.

181

for these wounds giv^n along with the diseases of the parts.

Look in the index.

nODES OF HEALING WOUNDS.

There are two ways of healing : 1st, "Healing by the first
intention;" *Jd, " Healing by the second intention." Healing by
the first intention is the way which is mostly used by the medical
doctors. This is when the wound is nicely brought together and
kept in an antiseptic state and heals from the start without suppurat-
ing or running matter. Healing by the second intention is the
way that wounds are mostly treated in veterinary practice, for you
cannot keep the horse quiet, and the wound soon becomes irritated
and begins to run matter, which is a good sign as long as the
discharge is of a nice white color. .'Vfter the wound begins to run
matter it gradually becomes knit together. In all cases of wounds
keep the horse quiet and feed on soft, light food with plenty of
boiled flaxseed in it, this will keep his bowels regular while he is
standing so quiet. If there is a thickening left after you have the
wound healed up give it a light Mistering with the following :

Pulverized Ciitharidcs or .*^pHni8h Fly IJ (IraiiiH.

Lard or Vaseline 1 ounce.

Mix thoroughly and apply a little of it, according to the size
of the enlargement, rub it in well and let it go for three days and
then grease the blistered part. In the course of two or three
weeks, if it is not gone completely down, wash the parts with
lake warm water and soap, then dry and apply more blister.
After blistering treat the same as above mentioned ; keep on blist-
ering till you get the thickening all out.

INFLAMMATION OF A WOUND.

This generally follows deep punctured wounds, but might
follow other kinds of wounds.

Symptoms. — The wound becomes very much suollcn and
tender, the animal seems feverisli and in pain, ;iik1 the cut dis-
charges watery-looking blood.

TreatmenL — Keep the animal c|vilet ;ind wiirm, and give a
teaspoonful of nitrate of potash or saltpjtre in his feed twice
a day, also feed on soft food to keep his bowels loose. B.tthe
the wound three times a day with hot vinegar and water half
and half— bathe for half an hour or more, rub dry and apply the
white lotion. Swab out the wound by means of a sponge or
syringe with the following : Carbolic acid, •_''> drops to 1 pint
of water. Swab out each time after bathing.

182

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OP THE HORSE.

Ill

BLOOD POISOIfllfG.

Causes.--*- From a wound bein^ handled with dirty hands or
dirty or rusty instruments, or anything that will poison the
wound.

Syiuptoms. — The wound becomes very sore, and commences
swelling' and festering, and he is apt to break out and run matter
in different parts of the body.

Treatnicnt. — Give the animal
Hypoiulphite of Smla 1 teaaponnful.

Give three times a day on the tongue with a spoon or in his
feed. This is to kill the poison in the blood. Bathe the wound
with hot water three or four times a day* and poultice between the
times of bathing with hot linseed meal. Swab the wound out by
means of a sponge or syringe with carbolic acid and water — 2.')
drops to 1 pint of luke warm water. This is to clean the wound.
Any place that the animal breaks out treat it same as the wound.

CHAPTER XXII.

INJURIES AND DISEASES OF THE HEAD, NECK,
SHOULDERS, BODY AND HIPS.

I. — INJURIES TO THE HEAD AND NECK.

POLL EVIL.

It gets its name from affecting the poll of the head.

Causes. — It is caused by an injury of some kind, as a horse
striking his head against the top of a low doorway when going in
or out of it, or from pulling back on his halter. It is also caused
by putting on a heavy poke to keep the animal from jumping.

Symptoms. — Are swelling and soreness of the parts, and the
horse carries his head stiff, for it hurts him to move that part of
his neck. Now, if he does not get relief soon, matter will form
and work down around the bones, and then the bones themselves
become diseased.

Treatment. — If it is treated as soon as it is noticed it is easily
done. Just remove the cause and bathe the parts well with warm
water and a little vinegar twice a day, and after bathing rub dr}',
and each time apply the white liniment; also, keep the animal
very quiet and feed him out of a high manger. This is to keep

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OP THE HORSE.

183

the sore parts as quiet as possible until the soreness and swelling
is all ^one. In a case where matter forms open it with a knife
at the lowest part so i^s to allow the matter to run out. Afte**
opening bathe well twice a day and melt green salve and pour it
into the cut each time after Sathing. In a case where the bones
become diseased you will have to throw the animal and cut into it
and scrape out the dead bone before it will heal, then treat the
same as above mentioned. In case whore poll evil gets very bad
it generally leaves the horse's neck stiff, and he will not be able
to eat off of the ground. In cases of this kind, if the animal is
ugly to handle, always put a twitch on his nose while you are
dressing it. After you get the parts healed up all right, and if it
is thickened, sweat it down by rubbing the parts with the acid
liniment, apply every third day after bathing with warm water and
salt until the thickening has gone down.

INJURIES TO THE MUSCLES OF THE NECK. ,

Causes. — Are from pulling back on the halter, or from getting
cast in the stall. In some cases it is caused from having been bit
by another horse.

Symptoms. — Are stiffness of the neck, also swelling and sore-
ness of the parts. In some cases he will carry his neck to one
side.

Treatment. — Is to bathe well with warm water and salt two
or three times a day. After bathing wipe dry and apply the white
liniment until the soreness and swelling is all gone. In cases
where matter forms open it at the bottom of the lump and allow
it to run out, and afterwards treat it as an ordinary wound by
applying the white lotion.

FRACTURE OF THE BONES OF THE NE^K.

Causes. — Are generally from falling on his head while running
away, or in stumbling. It may be done in other ways, as jump-
ing over anything that is high and falling on his head. It may
also occur while throwing an animal and allowing him to fall on
his neck.

Symptoms. — if the fracture causes the bones to press on the
spinal cord it causes death immediately by stopping the heart's
action. If it is only a piece off of one of the bones the horse will be
very sore around the part, and will carry his head to the side the
fracture is on. If you go to straighten his neck he will almost
fall down.

,*

184

DISEASES AKD TREATMENT OF THE HpRSB.

TrCAtmCDt. — Keep the animal as quiet as you can and feed
him out of a high manger. Bathe the parts well with warm
water twice a day and apply the white liniment each time after
bathing, and the bones, after a time, will unite together. If it does
not heal together the part broken will fester and form matter in
it, then open up the parts with a sharp knife and remove the piece
of broken bone, then treat as a common wound and you will find
it will <<oon heal up. *

SORE ON THE TOP OF THE NECK FROM THE COLLAR.

Causes. — Are from a bad fitting collar irritating the neck, or
from sometimes taking a horse that is not used to a collar and
working him too hard before his neck is hardened to the collar,
causing his neck to become scalded and sore.

Symptoms. — Are very plain, the top of the neck beciies sore
and raw looking, «ind the horse is afraid to let you handle that
part of his neck.

Treatment. — is to wear a nice fitting collar on him and have
a regular pad for the top of the neck ; dry and clean it every time
after using it; clip off the mane around the sore and wash it every
night with cold water and salt, then dry it well and apply the
white loiion, also apply the lotion every morning, without washing,
before you take him out to work ; sometimes it is necessary to lay
him off work for a few days to get it healed.

II.

-INJURIES AND DISEASES AROUND THE SHOULDERS AND WITHERS.

FISTULOUS WITHERS.

This disease resembles poll evil, and also gets its name from
the part it affects.

Causes. — Are from riding a horse with a poor-fitting saddle,
which bruises the withers; from a horse rolling or getting cast on
his back, and in this way bruise the withers and bring on this
disease.

Symptoms. — Are swelling and soreness of the withers, and if
allowed to run on without being treated soon forms matter, which
will burrow down around the bones ; if it is not attended to soon
after it affects the bones the matter that comes from it will have a
very bad smell, and little pipes will form which will run down to
the bones.

OISRASBS AND TREATMENT OP THE HORSE.

185

Treatment. — If you notice it as soon as it begins to form
matter, bathe well two or three times a day, and each time after
bathing rub the parts with white liniment ; if matter forms, open
the swelling up at the very lowest part so as to let the matter run
out, then bathe, as above mentioned, and pour hot green salve
right into the hole. In a case where the discharge of mattftr
smells very bad, and you think the bone is diseased, throw the
animal, cut down to the diseased bone and scrape it, thet>treat with
green salve by pouring it into the cut twice a day after bathing.
Both this disease and poll evil, in bad cases, are tedious to treat.
In dressing the wound always put a twitch on the horse's nose if
he is very ugly. If there is a thickening after you have the parts
healed up, rub the parts with acid liniment ; apply the liniment
every third day after bathing with luke warm water and salt until
the thickening is all gone down.

SWEENY (SHOULDER SLIP).

This is a common occurrence in young h'' ses.

Causes. — it is more likely to occur in young horses than in
old ones. It may be caused in ploughing, when the plough
strikes solid against anything, causing a sudden jerk ; or in
horses that are used o\-^ a tongue and the wheel passes over a
stone or rough piece of ground, swinging the end of the tongue
around, causmg the neckyoke to jerk and bruise the shoulder.
Anything that will bruise the muscle of the shoulder will bring
it on.

SyinptoniSi — THj^- are well marked. As soon as the horse
receives the injury there will be a slight swelling and soreness of
the part, afterwards there is a wasting away of the muscles that
are injured. It is generally the muscles lying-over the shoulder
blade that become affected with this disease, and in some cases
the muscles fall away until there is a large hollow over the
shoulder blade. In some cases the horse is not very lame, but
goes a little stiff.

Treatment. — if the animal is at very heavy work, change it
to light work, and if you can allow him to run without work so
much the better. Bathe the parts well with cold water and salt
every night if in the summer; after bathing, wipe dry and hand
rub and pull the skin out on the hollow; this is to get the skin
loose from the muscle. Every third day after bathing apply the
acid liniment in and around the hollow part of the shoulder ; this

I

'4

■m

>*''

186

i>i$;eases and tkeatment of the horse.

is the best remedy known. Continue this treatment until the

muscle becomes its natural si/e and the shoulder is filled out.

It sometimes takes the muscles a long time to fill out to their.

natural size, but, as a general thing, it gets all right in the course

of time. If you can, turn him out to pasture, then blister in and

around the hollow place with the following :

Pulverized Cantharides or iSpimia'i Fly . . . IJ drams.

Vaseline or Lard 1 ounce.

Mix well together and rub it all in to the parts, and grease

three days after with lard, and repeat blister every three weeks

until cured.

SCALDED OR GALLED SHOULDERS.

Causes. — Generally from the collar getting hard from the
sweat drying on it ; or from a bad-fitting collar — either too big or
too small. Sometimes, in the spring of the year, when the horse's
shoulders are tender and not used to work ; by putting the horse
to hard work scalds and makes the shoulders sore.

Treatment. — Use a good-fitting collar, and keep it clean by
brushing or scraping the dirt off it before using. While you
are working your horses, if you are going to allow them to stand a
few minutes, raise the collars so as to allow the air to get to the
shoulders, also keep the mane (rom getting under the collar.
Every night, after working, bathe with cold water and salt, and
after wiping dry, if they are sore, apply the white lotion ; this will
heal and harden the skin.

BRUISES OF THE SHOULDER.

Causes. — This is caused from a bruise of any kind.

Symptoms. — A swelling appears aroUnd the bruised part soon
after it is done, and when you come to examine it, it is found to
contain water, or serum.

Treatment. — Cut into the swelling at the bottom part of it
and allow the water to run out ; make a hole large enough for you
to put in your finger ; after opening, bathe well with luke warm
water twice a day; after bathing, wipe dry, and apply the white
liniment around the swelhng, an J, as well as doing this, dress
the inside of the swelling, to get it to heal from the inside, with
compound tincture of benzoin or Friar's balsam, or you might use
green salve instead of the benzoin to put in the wound ; insert it
up into the hole with a feather.

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF THE HORSE.

187

TUMORS OR LUMPS ON THE SHOULDER.

Causes. — From the animal receiving a bruise of any kind on
the shoulder, and not being properly treated afterwards, it turns
into a hard, callous lump.

Treatment. — The best treatment is to take a sharp knife and

skin the lumps right out; alter this, sew up the skin with a needle

and twine, and treat them as a lacerated wound. There is not

much danger in cutting around the shoulder, for there are no

large vessels where these lumps are generally found.

SHOULDER JOINT LAMENESS.

This Is a very bad lameness, and the seat of the trouble is
_i,'enerally situated where the large muscle of the shoulder passes
down through the pulley-shaped part on the bones on the front of
the shoulder joint.

Causes. — From a severe sprain of the joint, and is generally
caused by "a horse becoming cast in his stiill ; or from going
through deep snow ; or from falling on his shoulder ; or from a
kick from another horse ; and sometimes it is caused from a kind
oT rheumatic inflammation settling in the joint.

Symptoms. — When the animal is trotting he will step short
on the affected leg, and will often strike the toe and stumble, on
i'ccount of not being able to lift the leg up properly. In standing,
he will bring the foot well under him, resting on the toe, allowing
the knee to bend forward ; this is to give the shoulder a rest. If
you pinch him around the shoulder, he will flinch from soreness.

Treatment. — if the case is allowed to run on for a long time,

and the bone becomes diseased, it is incurable ; but if taken in

lime, you may effect a cure by bathing tiie shoulder with luke warm

water and salt twice a day. After bathing, wipe dry and rub well

with white liniment. Keep the animal in the stable and keep the

shoulder as quiet as you can. After the soreness is pretty well

out,«blister with the following blister :

Powdered Canthdridea or (Spanish Fly ... 1 i drams.

Vaseline or Lard 1 <junce.

Mix and apply half of this mixture around the front and side
of the shoulder joint ; rub in well and allow it to stand for three
days, then grease with lard. After two or three weeks, if the
animal does not seem better, wash the shoulder off and blister
again, following the same instructions as given before.

188

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OP THE HORSE.

i 5 '

'J\l

m

SORE BACK.

Causes. — From a bad-fitting harness ; or from the backing of
the harness rubbing on it.

Treatment. — In all cases remove the cause, and, If in the
summer time, bathe with cold watcg* and soap; if in the winter,
use warm water and soap; do this twice a day. After bathing
each time, wipe dry and apply the white lotion.

CHRONIC SORES ON BACK Ok SHOULDERS (SIT-FAST).

Causes. — From working and neglecting a sore shoulder or
back.

Symptoms. — The sore spot has no tendency to heal and keeps
raw all the time while working.

Treatment. — Burn the sore with caustic potash and afterward

treat by keeping the animal from work, bathe with luke warm

water, and, after bathing, apply the white lotion twice a day until

it is healed.

BROKEN BACK.

Causes. — From an animal receiving a fall of some kind.

Symptoms. — if the break is near the front of the bones of the
back it will cause instant death, but if it occurs further back it will
cause paralysis of the hind quarters.

Treatment. — There is nbne but to destroy the animal.

INJURIES TO THE MUSCLES OF THE BELLY.

Causes. — Sometimes when a horse steps on a sharp piece of
stick it turns up and catches the muscles of the belly, or from the
hook of a cow, or from the kick of another horse.

Treatment. — if it is a lacerated wound, stitch it up, and treat
it same as given for lacerated wounds ; if It is a punctured wound,
and only has a small hole in the skin, examine to see that there is
nothing in it, and then use the same treatment as that given for
punctured wounds. If the wound is severe enough to allow the
bowels to come out, then it is a more serious case. If the bowels
are out to any great extent, and are injured by the horse tramping
on them, it is best to destroy him at once, but if the bowels arc
only out a I'ttle, and are not injured or blackened, throw and
secure the animal, and wash the bowels off with a little luke warm
water and shove them back into their place, then stitch up the
wound good and tight, afterward bathe the wound twice a day
with luke warm water and apply the white lotion each time after
bathing. If the opening is very large it is well to wrap a bandage

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF THE HORSE.

189

of factory cotton around the body to help to support the stitches.

Keep the animal quiet and feed on soft food until the wound

heals up.

STAKED.

This is a very common occurrence among horses.

Causes. — The animal steps upon a piece of stick and it
turns up and catches him, or from jumping a fence and
j,'etting caught, or running against a stake sticking up in a field,
or a plow handle or anything that the animal will run against.

Treatment.— Pull the stake out if it is still stuck in the
horse, and examine it to see that there is no pieces o( the wood
left in the wound. There is never much feeding in a case of
this kind, but if it does, stuff the hole with cotton batting and
leave it in for twenty-four hours ; after this time it will be safe to
take it out, then treat same as for punctured wound. Keep the
animal quiet until it begins to heal, and feed on soft food with
plenty of flaxseed in it to keep his bowels loose.

HIPPED.

This is when the point of the hip bone is knocked down.

Causes. — From running through a narrow doorway and
striking the side of it, or from falling on hard ground, or anything
that, will strike the point of the hip hard enough to break a piece
off the bone.

Symptoms. — At the time it happens there will be swelling and
soreness around the point of the hip. After it gets well you will
notice that the injured* hip is not as large as the other, and it is a
nasty eye-sore on a horse.

Treatment. — The only thing to be done after it is knocked
clown is to bathe and apply the white liniment after bathing until
you get the swelling and soreness out, then leave it alone. If it
is a case where the hip swells up and begins to fester around the
broken piece of bone, cut into it and take the piece out, then treat
same as lacerated wound.

FRACTURE OF THE HIP BONES.

This is generally caused from a horse slipping and falling on
ice, or may be done in any other way when the animal receives
injury enough to fracture the bones.

Symptoms. — There is severe lameness, and if you examine
closely by twisting on the bones you will hear the broken ends of

190

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF THE HORSE.

the bonps grind on each other. In a short time the parts around
the fracture become greatly swollen.

Treatment. — if the fracture is very bad it is best to destroy
the animal, but if you want to try to save it, all that can be done
is to keep the animal very quiet and bathe the parts well with luke
warm water and vinegar, after rubbing dry, rub well with white
liniment twice a day, and in some cases this will aiTect a cure in
the course of a few weeks.

FALLING AWAY OF THE MUSCLES OF THE HIP AFTER FOALING.

Causes. — The muscles become injured, while the mare is foal-
ing, by throwing herself down or striking herself against any-
thing and bruising the muscles on either hip.

Symptoms. — The mare will be noticed to be stiff and sore
after foaling, and after a few days there will be a falling away of
the muscles of whiciiever hip was injured. The lameness varies,
in some cases it is worse than others.

Treatment. — The best and only treatment for this is to let the

mare run out and apply a fly-blister to the wasted muscles. Use

the following blister :

Pulverized Canlharides or Spanish Fly lA drama.

X'aseline or Lard 1 ounce.

« Mix well and apply all over the wasted muscles, rub in well
and tie the mare so she cannot bite or rub the blistered parts for a
few hours, then turn her out and grease in three days afterward,
allow it to go for a month, and if she is not better blister again,
and keep on blistering every month until she is better.

SORE TAIL FROM THE CRUPPER.

Causes. — From reining the horse too high, which draws the
crupper too tight, or from the horse sweating and allowing it to
get dry and hard on the crupper, or anything that will irritate
the tail.

Treatment.— By not using the crupper under his tail for a few
days you will have removed the cause, and to heal it wash the
parts otT with luke warm water and soap ; after bathing it once
apply the white lotion twice a day, without bathing, until it is
healed up.

FRACTURES OF THE BONES OF THE TAIL.

Causes. — Usually from a horse rearing up and falling back on
his haunches.

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF THE HORSE.

191

Treatment. — Keep the animal quiet, and if it is the season /or
flies, cover the animal so it will not have to use itS tail in trying
to keep them off ; if the tail is much swollen rub with white lini-
ment twice a day until the swelling' is gone down, then leave the
animal quiet until the bones unite. If there is not much swelling
bandage moderately tight and leave the bandage on a few days at
a time, while the bones are uniting.

HIP JOINT LAMENESS.

This is a sprain of the round ligament in the hip joint.

Causes. — The way this disease generally occurs is from a
horse stepping on a small, round stone, and the stone turns and
throws the leg forward, or from slipping on ice, or fallmg in other
nays and striking the hip.

Symptoms. — The horse steps short on the affected side, and
in trotting he goes kind of three-cornered, and every time the^
horse raises his leg the hip raises with it, showing that he is try-
ing to keep the hip quiet ; he will also flinch when you press
around the hip joint. If the disease is allowed to run on for some
time there is a wasting of the muscles around the part.

Treatment. — If it is an old standing case, and the joint is dis-
eased, it is incurable, but if taken in time the animal may be cured
hy keeping him quiet and bathing the parts well with hike warm
water and salt twice a day; after bathing, each time, wipe dry and
apply the white liniment. Keep on with this treatment until you
i,'^et the soreness and -swelling out, then blister with the fol-
lowing :

Pulverized Cantharitlea or Spanish Fly IJ drams.

Vaseline or Lard. . . 1 ounce.

Mix well and there will be enough to blister the hip three
times, each time rub the blister in well, allow it to go for three
days, then grease with lard ; let it go for three or four weeks,
then blister again ; repeat the blister this way until the animal is
over the lameness.

SPRAIN OF THE MUSCLES OF THE HIP.

This is more common than hip joint lameness, and is usually
caused in heavy horses by slipping while pulling a heavy load;
or while driving light horses, you pull them up suddenly, causing
them to slip, and in this way they sometimes sprain the muscles
of the hip.

192

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF THE HORSE.

m

if 1:1

Symptoms. — There is swelling and soreness of the muscles,
which will be^best noticed while standing behind the animal, and
there will be great difficulty in bringing the leg forward.

Treatment. — Keep the animal quiet; bathe well with luke
warm water and salt two or three times a day; after bathing,
wipe dry and rub the parts well with white liniment. Follow up
this treatment until the animal is better.

CHAPTER XXIII.

DISEASES OF THE FRONT AND HIND LEGS.

CAPPED ELBOW.

This is a thickening at the back of the elbow joint.

Causes. — From shoeing and leaving a long heel on the shoe,
which catches the animal in that part while he is lying down ; or
from wearing a heavy belly band on the harness, which rubs
against and irritates the elbow.

Treatment. — if it is caused by the shoe, have him shod
with a short-heeled shoe, and, for a time, tie an- old bag
around the foot, so when he is lying down the foot will not irritate
the elbow. Treat with the following as soon as noticed : Bathe
well with luke warm water and vinegar twice a day. If it is not
raw, only swollen, use the white liniment after bathing ; but if it
is raw, use the white lotion ; this will generally bring it all right.
In some cases it festers and matter forms in it ; in this case open
it up with a knife at the lowest part of the swelling, and treat it
the same as above inentioned, only melt a little green salve and
put it in the hole each time after dressing it until it heals. If it is
of long standing, and there is a large, hard lump formed on the
cap of the elbow, the only treatment is to throw the animal and
secure him, and skin the lump out carefully, which can be done
without much bleeding. After you cut the lump out, draw the
skin together with a few stitches and treat the same as a lacerated
wound, by bathing with luke warm water and applying the white
lotion twice a day until it heals up.

FRACTURE OF THE BONES IN THE SHOULDER.

Causes. — Generally from falling, or from running against
something. i

Symptoms. — There will be swelling and soreness of the parts,
and the animal will be very lame, and, on moving the shoulder,
you will hear the ends of the bones grating on each other.

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white li
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DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF THE HORSE.

193

Treatment. — in most cases it is best to destroy the animal,
but if you attempt to treat it, keep the animal quiet and bathe
with luke warm water twice a day. After bathing, apply the
white liniment ; this is to keep down the swelling and inflamma-
tion. The treatment in this case is of very little success. The
parts become badly swollen and the animal is in severe pain, and
it is best to have him destroyed.

INJURIES AND SPRAINS OF THE KNEE.

Causes. — Generally from the animal falling and hurting the
knees.

Symptoms. — The animal cannot bend the knee in walking,
and when you handle it, it seems very sore.

Treatment.— Keep the animal quiet, and bathe twice a day

with luke warm water and salt, and after bathing apply the white

liniment; but if the knee is cut, use the white lotion after bathing.

If the cue is large, put a few stitches in it, and treat as above

mentioned.

STRIKING THE KNEE (SPEEDY CUT).

This is where the animal strikes the knee with the opposite foot.

Causes.— This is caused generally by bad shoeing, or using
too heavy a shoe on colts ; some horses with high action have a
tendency to strike the knees.

Symptoms. — There is swelling on the inside of the knee ; it is
very painful, and as soon as you go to handle it the animal will
jerk his knee away from you. In some cases it becomes very
much swollen and forms matter in it. When the horse Is walking,
in bringing his leg forward he will swing it out and can hardly get
along, it being so sore ; while in other cases, where he does not
strike it so severe, the inside of the knee becomes thickened and hard.

Treatment. — Leave the animal oflf work, and bathe the parts

well with luke warm water and salt two or three times a day; the

more bathing the better. Each time after bathing, rub dry and

apply the white liniment. If there is matter formed, open it up

with a sharp knife to allow the matter to run out, then treat as

above mentioned. After it is healed up, if there is a thickening,

blisler the thickening with the following :

Pulverized Cantharides or Spanish Fly 2 drams.

Vaseline or Lard .'. 1 dram.

Mix well and rub what you can nicely get on over the
swelling ; rub in well and grease the third day; let it go for a
couple of weeks, then blister again, and repeat the blistering

13

#,

194

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OP THE HORSE.

I' J

h

until the thickening is gone. After this, be careful how you have

the animal shod, and if he is inclined to strike, wear a knee boot

on him.

FRACTURE OF THE BONES OF THE KNEE.

Causes. — From falling on the knees.'

Symptoms. — The animal will be very lame, the knees become
swollen and is hot and tender.

Treatment. ~ Keep the animal quiet and bathe well with luke
warm water — the more the better— after bathing, each time apply
white liniment. It generally takes a case of this kind four or five
weeks to get better. After the soreness and swelling has gone
down it is well to blister a few times with the fly blister to get the
soreness and thickening out of the knee.

PUFFY ENLAKGEMENTS AROUND THE KNEES AND FETLOCKS
(BURSAL ENLARGEMENTS).

Causes. — From striking the knee against the manger while
pawing, or from lying on the hard floor, or anything that will
bruise the knee or fetlock.

Symptoms.- -Tliere is a puffy enlargement, but not sore to
handle, and it feels as if it was full of oil.

Treatment. — Bathe well once a day with cold water and salt,
rub dry and bandage for three hours. After you remove the
bandage— every third day — apply acid liniment, which will make,
as a general thing, a complete cure. Never attempt to open a
Bursal, for it will allow the oil that is in it to run out. In all
cases, if you find the cause, remove it.

SPLINT AFFECTING THE KNEE.

This is where the splint is* very high up on the bones and
affects the knee.

Treatment. — Use the same treatment that is given for splint^
but in some cases it is very hard to effect a cure.

KNEE SPRUNG.

This is when the knee is bent lorward.

Causes. — From hard and fast work, or from standing in a
stall that has a h'g slant, high in front and low behind, or from
feeding out of a very high rack, or from a sprain and contraction
of the (back tendons, or a horse being shod with high heels will
cause it. Horses with weak, small knees are more subject to this
than horses with good, strong straight knees. An animal may
be very badly knee sprung and still be a good work horse.

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF THE HORSE.

19{?

Treatment. — If you want to work the animal and treat it, first

fix the fijor, see that it is level and also feed him off the floor.

Bathe the le^s with cold water and salt twice a day, after bathing^

rub dry and apply the white liniment every night, after the liniment

is dried in, bandage for a few hours, shoe the animal with a flat

shoe, if the «'oads are not slippery. If you do not want to use the

horse turn him out and blister the back cords once a month with

the following :

('ulveriied Cantharidea or Spanish Fly 2 dramtf.

Vaseline or Lard 1 ounce.

Mix and there will be enough in this to blister both legs
once, rub in well and tie his head short so he can he can not bite
it for a few hours, then in three days, grease it and let him run
for a month, and repeat the blister until he is better.

CALF-KNEED.

This is not a disease but a fault in the formation of the knee,,
this is where the animal stands with his knees bent back.

Treatment. — There is none; only in buying a horse watch that
he is not calf-kneed for they are bad stumblers.

SPRAIN OF THE BACK TENDONS.

There is more or less swelling around the sprained tendons, the
animal will be lame in travelling, and if you press on the cords,
he will flinch.

Treatment. — Bathe with cold water and salt if in summer, but
if in winter bathe with luke warm water and salt twice a day, rub
dry and apply the white liniment, and an hour or so after applying:
the liniment, bandage, leaving the bandage on for three hours.
After he is pretty well over the lameness, and if there is a thicken-
ing left, blister with the following :

Pulverized Cantliaridea or Spanish Fly 2 drams. ^

Vaseline or Lard 1 ounoe.

Mix and rub enough in to blister him well, and grease the
third day. Keep the apimal quiet while treating him.

SPRAIN QF THE FETLOCK JOINT.

Causes. — From the horse stepping crooked or turning over on
his ankle.

Symptoms. — The animal will be very lame, the joint will be
swollen and sore to handle.

Treatment. — Use the same treatment as given in sprain of the
back tendons.

196

DISBASES AND TREATMENT OP THE HORSE.

IW"

KlfVCKLUfG.

Causes. — From hard and fast work. Horses that stand
straight on the fetlock are more apt to knuckle.

Symptoms. — There will be a jerking forward of the fetlock
•every time the animal steps, and in standing the animal stands
vrith his fetlock joint bent forv.ard instead of back.

Treatment. — If it is a case of long standing .here can be
nothing done, but if it is only coming on blister him around
the fetlock and turn him out. Blister with

Powdered Cantharides or Spanish Fly 2 drains.

Vaseline or Lard 1 ounce.

Mix and apply around the fetlock, rub the blister in well and

allow it to stand for three days, then grease and let it go for a few

weeks and blister again ; repeat the blistering until the joint'gets

strong. There will be enough in the above prescription to blister

two fetlocks.

KNUCKLING IN COLTS.

Causes.— From being left in the stable without getting much
exercise during the winter and in the spring he will be knuckled
in the fetlocks.

Treatment. — Before turning him out t blister around the fet-
locks well with the above blister, and in three days afterwards
grease and turn him out to pasture.

INTERFERING, OR STRIKING THE FETLOCKS.

I'his trouble is mostly met with in colts when they are first
shod.

Causes. — Sometimes from shoeing with too heavy a shoe and
putting the horse on a long trip before he is used to it. Some
horses naturally travel so close behind that they brush the legs
together.

Symptoms. — Soreness on the inside of the fetlock, and some-
times the hair and skin will be knocked off, and in severe cases
will swell badly .When the horse, in travelling, strikes himself he
will hop on three legs with pain for a little piece, then be all right
until he strikes again.

Treatment. — Bathe the leg well with lukewarm water and a little
castile soap twice a day, if it is swoolen, after bathing rub dry and
apply the white lotion. Aave the shoes changed and made light.
If the animal \s in poor condition, feed him well and do not work
him too hard until he gets strong and in good shape for his work.
While you are driving, it is well to wear an interfering boot on the

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF THE HORSE.

197

leg, and by careful shoeing and getting him strong and able for
his work, he generally gets over it all right.

WIND GALLS.

These are little puffy swellings at the back part of the fetlock

joint. ^

Causes. — From hard driving, in some horses it comes on

easier than others.

Symptoms. — It does not generally lame the animal, but it is an
eye sore. These little puflFy swellings are full of oil, which comes
from the bursal that secretes the oil which lubricates the back
tendons where they work over the back of the fetlock.

Treatment. — if in the summer, bathe the legs well every
night with cold water and salt, then rub dry and put on a
bandage ; leave this on for a couple of hours every night after
bathing, and every third night give the leg a good rubbing with
acid liniment after taking the bandage off. If this does not cure
him in a few weeks, blister with the fly blister used in knuckling,
and treat him the same after blistering.

THICKENINGS AROUND THE FETLOCK.

■

Causes. — This is generally from hard work and from sprains
of the joint, and is bften seen in livery horses.

Treatment. — Blister the same and use the same treatment
afterwards as is given for knuckling, only blister heavier. ^

FRACTURES OF THE BONES BELOW THE KNEE.

Causes. — Driving a horse fast along a very hard road when
he is feeling good, will sometimes fracture these bones, or in
jumping a fence, or in running awciy, or getting the leg caught,
or anything that will give the leg a blow hard enough to fracture
the bones.

Symptoms. — The horse will be very lame and will hold the leg-
up with pain, |ind by taking hold of the leg and twisting it, you
will hear the ends of the fractured bones grate together.

Treatment.— If it is in an old animal destroy him at once, but
if it is a colt or young horse, keep him quiet in slings, after you
get the leg straight, then apply a starch bandage, which is a
bandage >vrung out of starch, put a good lot of the bandage on and
hold the leg straight until the bandage hardens, after that it will
hold the broken leg straight ; leave it on for four or five weeks
until you are sure the bones are well knit together.

198

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OP THE HORSE.

BREAK DOWN.

• This is where the tendons and ligaments at the back of the
fetlock give way and allows the fetlock to drop down almost on to
the ground. This is mostly seen in running or racing horses
where they are put to very severe exertion.

Treatment. — Vou cannot restore the fetlock back to its
natural state, but blister once a month with the following:

Powdered Oanthardiea or BpiinUh Fly 2 drams.

Vweline or Lard 1 ouiiae.

Mix and rub about half of this in along the back of the

fetlock, allow it to stand for three days and let the animal run out

to pasture. Repeat the blister until you get him pretty well over

the lameness. If he is very lame, better keep him in the stable

for a while, and bathe with warm water and salt twice a day after

bathing, apply the white liniment until he is pretty welt^ver the

lameness, then blister and turn him out.

SPRAIN OF THE STIFFLE JOINT.

Symptoms. — The animal cannot bring the leg forward, and it
is very sore when you press around the joint.

Treatment.— Bathe twice a day with hot water and vinegar,
with a little salt in it, after bathing wipe dry and apply the white
liniment. Keep the animal quiet to give the 'sprained parts rest.

DISLOCATION OF THE PETELLA OR STIFFLE OUT.

This is where the petella or stiffle bone slips out of the pulley-
like process of bone in front of the stiffle joint, and as soon, as this
slips out it locks the joint so the animal cannot move it.

Causes. — It generally occurs in young colts or young horses
that are worked hard and get down thin ; it comes on by the
animal slipping off the end of a plank, or slipping while in the act
of getting up.

Symptoms. — The horse will act like gn animal with its foot
nailed to the floor ; it cannot get it forward or bacl^. When you
feel around the joint it will be drawn and hard, and you can see
the joint bone is out too far and when it is left out for a long
time the joint becomes swollen.

Treatment. — it is very simple to treat in most cases. Have
an assistant to hold the animal's head and another to pull the
affected leg well forward while you place your hand against the
joint and shove it in- toward the animal as hard as you can, until
the bone goes into its place, after which the animal can move his

DISEASE.< AND TREATMENT OF THE HORSE.

199

leg', as soon as it is in walk the animal on a level piece of ground
until the affected parts regain their strength. If it slips out the
second time it is easier put in, by pressing it the same way.
Bathe the parts with warm water and salt, after bathing rub dry
and apply the white liniment twice a day until the joint gets
strong and the soreness is all out. If the animal is in poor condition
feed well and try to get his strength up.

PARTIAL DISLOCATION OF THE STIFFLE.

This generally occurs in young foals when they are running
over a rough pasture field, or in coits in the spring of the year
when they are very weak. At first, when noticed, the stiffle will
slip out and the leg will be locked for a hop or two, then it will
slip in and he will go on all right again. T+ie stiffle keeps slip-
ping in and out for some time until the bones gets diseased and
weakened, and then the bone gets about half way out and stays
there. After this the joint will be larger than natural and the
animal will never have proper action again.

Treatment. — As soon as it is noticed is the time to treat it.

Place the animal in a level place where he can not run around

much and feed well to get him strong as soon as you can ; apply

a light blister around the stiffle joint made of the following:

Pulverized Cantharides or Spanish Fly IJ drains.

Vaseline or LAird 1 ounce.

Mix and apply a light coat oT the blister over the joint, rub in

well and grease the third day. Let it go for a month then blister

again and repeat this every month until the stiffle is good and

strong.

FRACTURE OF THE THIGH BONE.

Causes. — Generally from a kick of another horse, and,
although the bone itself is fractured, th€ coverings will hold the
bone to its place in some cases.

Symptoms. — For a few days after the kick the animal will
seem lame and you may not suspect a fracture of the bone, but
all at once the covering of the bone gives way and the horse will
almost fall, and when you come to examine it you will see the leg
is fractured, for you can swing the leg around.

Treatment. — When the bones give right away, destroy the
horse, but if the horse gets a severe kick and is a little lame and
you are afraid of fracture, keep the animal perfectly quiet, bathe
-with warm water and salt and after bathing apply white liniment,

200

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF THE HORSE.

m

to get soreness and inflammation out. By doing this, the covering
of the bone is so strong that it will hold the bones together until
it knits together and he gets all right.

SPRAIN OF THE MUSCLES ON THE FRONT OF THE HIND LEG, BETWEEN
THE HOCK AND STIFFLE JOINT.

Causes. — Similar to other sprains.

Symptoms. — The muscle will be .swollen and sore in moving
the animal forward, whe.. he lifts the leg and goes to bring it
forward — instead of it going forward it will fly backwards and up-
wards. The muscle that is affected is called the flexor metatarsi
muscle.

Treatment.— Keep the animal very quiet, bathe well with luke
warm water and salt three times a day, and after bathing rub dry
and apply the whitp liniment.

SPRAIN OF THE MUSCLE ON THE INSIDE OF THE HIND LEG RUNNING

UP FROM THE HOCK.

Causes. — From a severe sprain of the leg by slipping in
drawing. /

Symptoms. — There is thickening of the muscles above the
hock, and the animal will be stiff for a few days, the stiffness will
soon disappear, but it will leave a thickening if not treated.

Treatment. — Leave the animal off work and bathe the parts
twice a day with luke warm water and salt, if in the winter, but,
if in summer use cold water and salt ; after bathing rub dry and
apply the white liniment, after the animal gets over the stiffness
and soreness, blister to get the thickening out, using the following:

Purverized Cantliardiea 2 drams.

Vaseline or Lard 1 ounce.

Mix and apply about half the amount, rub it in well and let it
go for three days, then grease. Repeat the blister in three weeks
and repeat it every three weeks until the thickening is all gone
down. Turn the animal out while you are treating it.

BOG SPAVIN.

This is a puffy enlargement partly on the inside and partly on
the front of the hock joint. There is an over amount of joint oil
secreted in the joint, and this bulges out the capsular ligament at
this part of the joint.

Causes. — Horses with round, meaty joints are most subjected
to this. Keeping young colts in the stable and feeding them high
without much exercise, or fast work or strain of the joint will
cause it.

;^jl

ir->.

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF THE HORSE.

201

Symptoms. — There is a puffy enlargement on tl^e inside and
front of the hock joint sometimes larger than others, by feeling it
you can tell it is full of oil. If it comes on from a sprain the
animal will be lame for a few days, but this passes off and leaves
an enlargement.

Treatmeilt.-7-If the animal is lame, bathe with luke warm
water and salt twice a day, in warm weather use cold water, and
in cold weather lise warm water, after bathing rub dry and apply
the white liniment. Keep up this treatment for a few days until
he is over the soreness and lameness, then blister witb the follow-
ing, and turn the animal out.

Pulverized Canthardiee or Spanish Fly 2 drams.

Vaseline or Lard 1 ounce.

Mix and there will be enough to blister two or three times

according to the size of the bog, rub in well and in three days

<frease. Repeat the blister in a few weeks as soon as the skin is

nicely healing up. It needs to be blistered several times before

you get it all down. Often where there is a bog spavin there is a

thoroughpin in connection with it. For further particulars refer

to last paragraph under the heading of capped hock.

THOROUGHPIN.

CilUSes. — Similar to those given for bog spavin and the en-
largements are on each side of the hock near the back.

Treatment. — The treatment is the same as given for bog

spavin. Never, under any circumstance open either a bog spavin

or a thoroughpin, for if you do, you will have a case of open joint

to deal with.

CAPPED HOCK.

This is a common disease. It is a swelling or thickening on
the cap of the hock.

Causes.— From an injury of some kind, such as from kii-king
in the stable and striking the hock against the stall, or some
horses will do it in laying down.

Symptoms. — Swelling on the cap of the hock, which is gen-
erally soft but not sore to handle, and is of a puffy nature, for it is
mostly oil that causes the enlargement on account of the little
bursa being injured, it secretes too much oil and that is what causes
the enlargement. It does not lame the horse or interfere with his
usefulness, but it is a bad eye-sore.

Treatment. — If it is caused from kicking the ^tall, place the
horse so he cannot strike it. If being treated as soon as it is

:f J, ■,!■-,

m%

Hi!'

202 DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF THE HORSE.

done, bathe with luke warm water and salt, rub dry and apply the

white liniment. Keep this treatment up until the soreness and

swelling' is all out, then blister the thickening with the following :

Pulverized Cantharidea or Spanish Fly 1^ drama.

Vaaeline or Lard 1 ounce

Mix thoroughly and there will be enough tp blister one cap

four or five times ; blister light and blister about every two

weeks ; grease the thi»-d day after each blister. In case you

want to use the animal bathe the parts once a day with cold

water and salt, rub dry and apply the acid liniment every third

day after bathing. The acid liniment is also good when used in

this way for bog spavins and thoroughpins when you want to

work the horse.

SPRAIN OF THE HOCK JOINT.

Symptoms. — The horse is very lame and does not use the
hock right in bringing the leg forward. There is swelling and
heat around the joint.

Treatment. — Bathe well with hot or cold water, according to
the season of the year, after bathing, each time wipe dry and
apply the white liniment; bathe twice a day and keep the horse quiet.

FRACTURE OF THE BONES OF THE HOCK.

Fractures of these bones do not occur very often.

Symptoms. — The animal will be very lame, and will
hpld the leg up with pain ; the joint will become swollen and very
sore to touch, and by working the joint you can hear the grating
sound made by the broken bones.

Treatment. — if it is a very bad fracture destroy the horse,
but if not, and a young animal, keep him quiet and bathe well with
luke warm water and salt three or four times a day after bathing,
rub dry and apply the white liniment, this is to keep down the in-
flammation and swelling. It is always best in treating any kind
of a fracture to keep the animal in slings, but do not sling
him entirely off his feet, just enough to ease the weight off his
legs. After a few weeks the bones will become united, but there
will be larfteness and soreness in the joint, which is best relieved
by blfstering with

Pulverized Canthardiea or Spaniah Fly 1 dram.

Biniodide of Mercury or Reel Precipitate 1 dram.

Vaseline or Lard 1 ounce.

Mix thoroughly and there will be enough to blister twice, rub

a little in on each side of the joint, rubbing it in well, grease the

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF THE HORSE.

203

third day and let it alone for three or four weeks, then blister as

before. Let the animal have a good rest by turning him out to

pasture.

BLOOD SPAVIN.

This is an enlargement of the vein which runs down in front
of the hock joint.

Causes.— From a weakened state of the wall of the vein.

Symptoms. — There is an enlargement of the vein, but the
animal is not lame, nor it does not hurt the animal for any kind of
work, but it is an eye sore. «

Treatment. — -There is no treatment for it.

OPEN JOINT.

This may affect any of the joints of the legs or body, and
from some injury th*; joint becomes punctured, allowing the joint
oil to leak out.

CauS^. — Generally from a kick, or prod with a fork, or run-
ning against some sharp obstacle.

Symptoms. — There will be lameness and swelling around the
injured joint and leaking from the hole, of an oily looking sub-
stance which is the synovia or joint oil. If the leaking is not
stopped, inflammation gets into the joint and destroys the joint,
and if the horse does get better, it leaves him with a stiff joint.

Treatment. — The larger the joint the more troublesome it is
to treat, and the more danger there is of loosing the animal. Do
not bathe or apply any liniment, for it only increases the flow of
the joint oil. If the case is taken in time by applying Monsell's solu-
tion of iron in and around the hole everj' couple of hours with a
feather, in most cases it will completely check the running of the oil,
and the animal will recover all right. This is the best treatment
known for open joint. In cases where the hole is very large and
the bone injured, it is best to destroy the animal. Keep the
animal quiet and feed on soft food with plenty of boiled flaxseed in
it to keep the bowels open. Sometimes after the joint seems
healed up for a couple of weeks it will break out again ; treat this
the same as at the first time until it closes the hole up. After the
joint is healed up and it is still swollen, bathe with cold water and
salt once a day, and bandage for a couple of hours after bathing,
and every third day, after taking off the bandage, rub the joint
well with acid liniment. '

204

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF THE HORSE.

TUMORS AND CANCERS.

They are very rare in the horse but are fully described in

tumors and cancers in cattle.

CURB.

This is rupture and enlargement of the ligament that runs
down the back part of the hock joint — this ligament receives the.
name of calcaneocuboid ligament.

Causes. — Horses that have crooked or curby legs are more
liable to this than horses with straight legs. It generally comes
on from a severe sprain by slipping while drawing or driving, or,
from rearing up or backing the anirrtal forcibly with a heavy load
or in deep snow.

Symptoms. — It is easily detected by looking at the hind leg
at the side, you will see the enlargement at the back of the hock,
or by running the hand down over the back of the hock joint you
can feel it. When the curb is first sprung on, the ani|nal Aviil be
lame, and, in travelling, he will step long, somewhat similar to
ringbone lameness. After the animal rests a day or two, and is
driven, at first, he will not be very lame, but after driving a while
he becomes very lame, and when allowed to stand he rests the le^f
by standing on his toe and throwing the fetlock forward. Alter a
time the animal will get over tiie lameness if not treated, but the
enlargement will remain.

Treatment. — Get the soreness and lameness out of the lii^a-
ment by bathing with lake warm water and salt twice a day, if in
winter, but if in summer cold water and salt ; after bathing rub
dry and apply the wiiite Ijniment. When the soreness and swell-
ing is all out of the ligament, blister with the following to reduce
the thickening.

Pulverized C.intharides or Spanish Fly '2 drrima.

Vaseline or Lard 1 rmnce.

Mix, and there will be enough in- this to blister three times.

Cut the hair off around the curb and rub one-third of the mixture

in well, in three days grease and let it go for a couple of weeks,

then wash the leg off with luke warm water and soap and blister

again, then grease as before, repeat this blistering every three

weeks until the enlargement is all gone. . During the treatment

do not work the animal, but if you must work him keep him well

shod so he will not slip.

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OK THE HORSE.

205

RHEUMATISM.

This is a kind of chronic inflammation in the tendons and
ligaments around the joints, and may aflfect any joint of the body.

Causes. — it often follows weakening diseases when the
animal is allowed to run out and lay on the cold, damp ground or
from bad blood, when there is too much acid in it.

Symptoms. — There is a slight soreness, swelling and lame-
ness in the joints, changing from one joint to the other, and is
noticed to be worse in damp weather.

Treatment. — Rub the affected joints well two or three times a

day with white liniment ; also give the following :

Saticylio Acid ^ pound.

Nitrate of Potash or Saltpetre | ♦'

Common Soda | "

Mix thoroughly and give a large teaspoonful three times a
day. This medicine acts like a charm in rheumatism.

' CHAPTER XXIV. /

DISEASES OF THE FEET.

ACUTE FOUNDER (LAMINITIS).

This is inflammation of the sensitive part of the foot, or what
is commonly called the quick of the foot.

Causes. — This disease is very easily brought on by driving or
working a horse hard and then giving him a cold drink of water,
or allowing him to stand in a draft while he is warm. This
checks the perspiration suddenly and drives the blood to the feet,
which sets up inflammation in them. Sometimes by giving an
animal a small feed of wheat it will first cause aqute indigestion,
and then turn to a bad case of founder. It may affect mares a
few days after foaling, especially if they do not have their natural
flow of milk, or if by catching cold after foaling it sJiould settle in
their feet. Hard driving and bad shoeing will also cause it.
Lung troubles sometimes terminate in founder.

Symptoms. — Founder generally affect the front feet, but may
affect the hind feet and the symptoms are plain. The pulse beats
strong and runs up to from 50 to 75 beats per minute. The
animal sweats freely and breathes heavy and quick ; he generally
stands on his feet for a few days at the first of the disease ; he
stands in a peculiar way ; his front feet will be stretched out as

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DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF THE HORSr.

far as he can put them, and standing on the heels trying to relieve
the feet, while he has the -hind feet drawn forward and well under
him to throw as much weight as he can on his hind legs to relieve
the front feet. His feet are very hot and feverish, and the horse
can hardly move forwards or backwards. On account of the in-
flammation being inside the hard resisting hoof where there is no
room for swelling ; it is one of the most painful diseases that the
horse is liable to, and if he does not get relief in a few days the
quick of the foot becomes destroyed, and the bone will get loose
from the inside of the wall and drop down on the sole, and when
it does it will cause the sole to become bulged out in ^n unnatural
way, and then it is known as a club (pumiced) foot.
Treatment. — Give a dose of physic consisting of

Bitter Aloes 8 to 10 drams.

Common Soda 1 teaspoonf ul.

Ginger 1 "

Fleming's Tincture of Aconite 10 drops.

Mix in a pint of luke warm water and give as.^ drench. If
he is in high condition take half a pail of blood away from him,
then take off his shoes and place his front feet in a tub and bathe
them for two or three hours at a time with luke warm water — hot
as you can bear your hand in it — two or three times a day ; after
each bath rub dry and apply white liniment around the feet and
legs, poultice the feet with hot linseed meal and bran and leave
the poultice on till you are ready to bathe again, repeat this treat-
ment until the inflammation is checked ; give the animal plenty of
cold water to drink — a little at a time — and if he wants to eat give
soft* feed and the following drench :

Nitrate of Potash or Saltpetre 1 teaspoonf ul.

' Fleming's Tincture of Aconite 10 drops.

Water 1 pint.

Mix and give as a drench three times a day, continuing the

drenches until the animal gets relief. Clothe the body well and

'lave the stall well bedded to induce him to lie down for it will help

' > i-.lieve his fee^. The after treatment is, blister with the foUow-

-ip, a-iid turn him out to pasture :

Pulverized Caneharides or Spanish Fly 1^ drams.

Lard or Vaseline 1 ounce.

Mix well and apply all of it around the tops of both the feet,
rub in well and grease three days after, then turn him out to
pasture.

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OP THE HORSE.

207

, '

SORE FEET (CHRONIC FOUNDER).

This is a soreness or a chronic inflammation of the feet.

Causes. — From hard work, especially driving on hard roads.
Horses with small or flat feet are more subject to this than other
horses, but any of them are liable to it ; bad shoeing, letting the
shoe rest too much on the sole will cause it ; standing on a dry
floor and the feet becoming dry, hard and contracted.

Symptoms. — It generally aff"ects the front feet ; they become
hot, dry and very hard, and, in some cases, become contracted at
the heels, which is caused from the fever and soreness in the foot.
The horse has a peculiar stumbling action, and he tries to step on
the heels first ; if you press around the feet with a pincers or your
hands the animal will flinch. After a time, from trying to favor
his feet, the muscles of the chest will gradually waste away and
leave the chest hollow. This must not mislead you and make you
think there is anything wrong with the chest. Sometimes when
the chest falls away some call it chest founder, but this is a mis-
taken idea, for there is no such thing as chest founder, the whole
trouble arises in the feet.

Treatment. — The treatment is not very satisfactory in some

cases. If it a valuable animal soak the feet well in warm water

and salt, in a tub containing six or eight inches of water ; leave

the feet in the water two or three hours at a time, twice a day ;

every night put on a hot poultice of half linseed and bran, leave it

on all night. After the soreness is pretty well out blister around

the top of the hoof with the following :

Powdered Cantharides or Spanish Fly 1 dram.

Vaseline or Lard 1 ounce.

Mix and apply all of it around the tops of both front feet and

turn the horse out to pasture for a long while, grease the blister

the third day. After the horse is all right and he is brought in to

work again let him stand on a ground floor, for an animal once

affected with this disease is more liable to be aff"ected again. Be

careful in shoeing ; we recommend the bar shoe. If it is a horse

you want to keep shod, and he is not of much value, keep him

on a ground floor and pack the feet every night with cow manure,

blue clay, or anything that will keep the moisture in the foot, and

in very bad cases by blistering and turning out to pasture for a

while will help it.

M

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20ft

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF THE HORSE.

aUB (PUMICED) FOOT.,
This is when the foot bone becomes separated from the
inside of the walls of the foot and drops down on the sole and frog
of the foot. This disease is generally the result of acute founder
when it is allowed to run on too long. This disease spoils a horse
for road work, but he may be fixed up so he will work pretty well
on the farrt\ at slow work by blistering him around the tops of the
hoofs, same as is done for chronic founder, and turn him out for
some time and shoe with a heavy shoe well corked up, and have it
well beveled out so it will not bear any weight on the sole of the
foot ; have the whole weight to come on the wall, also have the
shoes set regular about once a month.

CORNS.

Corns are generally found affecting the front feet, but may be

found in the hind feet, and are also more frequently found on the

inside heel of the front foot, but may be found in either or both

heels.

Causes. — Horses with weak, flat heels are more subject to it,

and it is generally brought on from bad shoeing, and by the shoe

resting too heavy on the heel and bruising the horn between the

bar and quarter of the wall ; driving on hard roads has a tendency

to bring on corns ; steady driving will also cause them.

Symptoms. — The horse is more or less lame in most cases,
and is more so just after he bruises it. When standing,
if it is in one foot, he will be noticed to point that foot out, if in
both feet, he will first point one out and then the other, changing
from one to the other every little while. The animal will go
pretty well on soft ground, but will be noticed to get lame as
soon as he strikes a hard piece of road. On raising the foot and
tapping or pressing on the aflFected quarter, he will flinch. In
takmg the shoe off and paring down the quarter there will be a
red spot in the corner of the sole. In case the corn becomes
bruised and festers, the symptoms will be more severe, he will
hold up the foot and in walking he will step long, and will step on
the toe, then hop on the other foot to get along. The affected
quarter will be hot and tender when pressed on, and if he does not
soon get relief it will fester and break out at the top of the hoof.

Treatment. — In many cases of corns it is not necessary to lay
the animal off, but shoe him so the shoe will not press on the
heels and apply a poultice of hot linseed and bran to the foot for a

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF THE HORSE.

209

few nights. A bar shoe is a very good one to put on, for it

throws the weight on the frog and relieves the heels and quarter.

In case it is a festering corr; remove the shoe and pare down into

the corn until you strike the matter, allow it to escape, this will

give him relief, then poultice as above mentioned and allow the

animal to rest a few days, and when you are going to use him

again shoe him with a bar shoe, and see that the shoes do not

press on his heels and quarters, and if the soreness continues,

blister around the affected quarter with the same blister that is

used for chronic founder. The after treatment is to keep the

animal shod regular and see that the shoes do not press too much

on the heels.

THRUSH IN THE FEET.

This is a disease that affects the frog of the foot, and is
mostly seen in the hind feet, but often affects the front feet.

Ckuses. — From standing in wet and filth, or anything that
will rot the frog. Heavy horses are more subject to this disease
than light horses.

Symptoms. — They are very plain, the animal may be just a
little lame, but if he steps on anything very hard he will flinch,
and by examining the foot you will find that the centre of the frog
is eaten out by the disease, and there is a discharge that comes
from it which has a very bad smell. ^

Treatment. — Keep him out of the wet and dirt, and keep the
stable very clean. Cut off the dead horn from around the frog
and wash out the diseased part of the frog with warm water and a
little soap, after it is cleaned well poultice with a hot poultice of
half linseed meal and bran for a few days until the foot is nice and
soft, after this clean the poultice out of the frog ^nd dust in some
dry calomel about twice a week until it is better; another cheap
remedy is to pack the foot full of common salt a couple of times a
week; another is to pour a few drops of butter of antimony into the
diseased foot once a week. Do this until all the discharge and
smell is gone from the frog, after that leave the frog alone until it
goes down itself.

NAILS IN THE FEET (PUNCTURES).

This is a very common thing, especially in large cities. This
is where a horse steps on a nail and it runs in to the bottom of his
foot. When a horse is lame always examine the bottom of the
foot to see that there is no nail or anything in it.
14

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210

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF THE HORSE.

M

Symptoms. — if it is in the hind foot the animal knuckles over
antl becomes lame very suddenly. If in the front foot he points it
out while standing, and when he steps on it will put as little
weight on it as possible and hop on the sound leg. If you ex>
amine the foot you may find the nail itself; if not, by tapping
around the foot with a small hammer you will find where the
tender spot is, then "pare around it and you wilPfind a small, black
spot where the nail went in.

Treatment. — If you find the nail pull it out and pare out the
hole where the nail went in almost down to the quick, after this
drop in a few drops of butter of antimony, which will kill any
poison or rust that may be left in. After this keep the animal
quiet and apply a hot poultice of half linseed and bran for a few
days until he is entirely over the lameness before you work him.
The danger of these punctures are that they may start to fester,
which is a very painful thing, and also very dangerous.' If it
starts to fester, the animal will hold the foot up with pain ; it will
be swollen around the top and very hot. Cut down well into the
hole and allow the matter to escape ; bathe with hot water and
poultice to relieVe the pain and draw all the matter out. In cases
where you cut a large hole and the quick bulges out, burn it with
butter of antimony once a day. After the animal is able to walk
nicely blister the foot around the top of the hoof with the same
blister used in chronic founder and turn him out to pasture till the
soreness is all out.

PRICKS IN THE FOOT.

These are injuries which are caused in shoeing by driving
naiis too close to the quick.

Symptoms. — ^At the time of driving the nail the horse will give
a sudden jerk, showing that the nail struck the quick.

Treatment. — Remove the shoe and keep the horse quiet for a
day or two ; if he is lame poultice the foot with hot linseed. It he
continues to be lame, pare around the nail hole and give it the
same treatment that is^given for punctures of other nails. In any
of these cases, if you want to work the animal when he is getting
better, plug the hole with tar and. cotton batting and put a leather
under the shoe to keep the dirt out.

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF THE HORSE.

211

QUARTER CRACK.

This receives its name on account of the part of the foot it
affects ; it generally affects the front feet, and is more often seen
to affect the inside quarter of the foot.

Causes. — Certain breeds of animals are more subject to this
than others, especially if the feet are of a brittle nature, and it is
often seen in road horses, ^lore especially if they have high knee
action and strike the ground heavy.

Symptoms. — At first a small crack appears in the quarter of
the foot just below the hair ; if the animal is kept to work he will
get lame, the crack will get larger and longer, and will some-
times bleed. If the animal is kept working, it will sometimes
fester on account of the irritation being kept up.

Treatment. — Remove the shoe, pare out the bottom of the

affected quarter so the shoe will not rest upon it, then shoe with a

bar shoe; as well as this, pare out the crack all the way down on

each side — almost to the quick — from the top to the bottom of it

so it will not be pressing on itself. If the animal is a little lame

poultice the foot for a few days until the soreness is all out. After

this apply a little of the same blister that is used for chronic founder

just above the crack in the hair. This is to stimulate the growth

of the horn and make the hoof grow and draw out all the

soreness.

CAULKS.

This is common in the fall and spring when horses are sharp
shod.

Causes. — From the horse or his mate stepping on his foot and
cutting around the top of the hoof.

Treatment. — if it bleeds freely apply Monsell's solution of
iron, and if you have not this apply a pad of 'cotton batting and
bandage tightly over it, leave it on for twenty-four hours. The
danger in caulks is that sometimes hair and dirt gets worked
down into the caulk and it begins to fester and works down into,
the foot. In all cases where the animal shows any signs of lame-
ness, pare out the hoof around the caulk to the bottom of it, then...
poultice for a few days, change the poultice twice a day to keep it:
hot and each time the poultice is changed, pour a little hot greeni
salve into it.

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212

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OP THE HORSE.

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OVERREACH.

This g'enerally occurs in fast horses where they are speeded
without having on quarter boots, by stepping too far with their
hind foot and catching the heel of the front foot.

Treatment. — Treat the same as a lacerated wound, and in all
cases where you are speeding fast horses, wear boots on them to
prevent them from catching their quarters.

BRUISES OF THE SOLE OF THE FOOT.

Causes. — From stepping on a stone or any hard substance or
from the shoe pressing on the sole. '

Symptoms. — The animal in travelling steps very long on the
•affected foot, and by tapping the sole of the foot with a hammer
he will flinch when the bruised spot is struck. If the bruise is
allowed to run on without being treated it will commence to fester
and the symptoms will be more severe ; the horse will hardly be
able to put his foot to the ground, and it will be hot and swollen
around the top.

Treatment. — Remove the shoe and find the affected spot by
tapping on the sole with a hammer, and if you do not think it is
festering poultice with a hot poultice of half linseed meal and
bran ; change the poultice twice a day to keep it hot until the
soreness is all out, but if you think it is festering pare a sAiall
hole in through the sole to the festering part, to allow the matter
to escape, after this poultice as above mentioned until the animal
is better. Each time, when changing the poultice, melt a little
green salve and dop it into the hole you cut.

CUTS OF ANY KIND AROUND THE FEET.
Refer to the treatment of wounds.

FALSE QUARTER. ^

Causes. — From a cut around the top of tha hoof which some-
times causes a false growth of horn, in the form of a ridge, to
grow down the hoof as it grows out.

Treatment. — File the ridge down level with the wall of the
foot with a rasp.

COFFIN JOINT LAMENESS (NAVICULAR DISEASE).
This is getting to be a very common disease, and is seen
mostly in driving horses.

Causes. — From hard and fast work. Animals with short,
pright pastern joints, short, stubby action, or horses with high

U. :.

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OP THE HORSE.

213

pounding action are more often affected with this disease; allow-
ing- the toes to grow too long and cutting down the heels when
shoeing them will cause it.

Symptoms. — There is usually more or less lameness ; in some
cases it comes on sudden and severe, while in others i( gradually
comes on for weeks, and sometimes for months, before it is much
noticed. While standing the horse will point the feel out, and in
some cases this is the first symptom that will be noticed. If both
feet are affected the norse suffers pain and while standing will
first throw the weight on one foot and then on the other. In
travelling he has what is known as a groggy action. Another
well marked symptom is a wasting of the muscles of the chest.
On examining the feet the heels will be found to be contracted
and hard, and by raising the foot up and pressing with your
thumb on the back part of the heel the horse will flinch. If you
notice the shoe the horse has been wearing it will be found to be
worn most at the toe.

Treatment. — if it is a bad case of long standing it is incurable,
but if taken in time, by resting the horse and by bathing the feet
twice a day for an hour or two at a time (if in the winter bathe
with warm water, if in summer use cold water). After bathing
apply white liniment around the top of the hoof and every night
poultice the foot with hot linseed meal and bran, half and half.
Continue this treatment until he is pretty well over the lameness,
then blister the foot same as in chronic founder and let him out to
pasturfe. If it is of long standing and you want to use the horse,
have him stand on a ground floor and pack his feet every night
with cow manure or blue clay or anything that has a tendency to
soften the foot. Shoe him with high heeled shoes and have it low
in front. In some cases neurotomy is performed, that is, where
the operation of nerving the foot is performed, this is done with a^
view of taking the feeling away from the foot. The way this is
performed is by throwing the animal and securing him, then make
a cut along the inside and the outside of the leg between the knee
and fetlock about half ways, make the cut about two inches long
lengthwise in the groove between the shin bone and the back
tendons, in this groove you will, find the nerve, artery and vein
which runs down the leg, then cut about an inch out of the nerve
so it will not unite together again, do this on both sides of the
affected leg or legs, then stitch the cut up, bandage the leg and

214

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF THE HORSE.

treat as a common wound, bathe and apply the white lotion twice
a day. After this is performed the horse will get up and go off as
though there was nothing wrong, but after this operation be care-
ful in shoeing hiir. and examine the foot every night, for if
anything went wrong with the feet they would rot off before the
animal would show any lameness. This operation at one time
was performed to a great extent, but is not so much done now.
In examining a horse if you think that he has been nerved in this
way, prick him with a pin around the feet and if he has been
operated on he will not feel anything, but if he has not he will
show signs of feeling. e

CHAPTER XXV.

GOOD POINTS ABOUT A HORSE.

Horses that are wide between the eyes with a nice tapering
muzzle and a nice bright eye shows a good disposition and a kind
horse. Nice large ears, and in travelling they should be carried
forward, this also is a good indication. The neck should be good
and long and bowed upwards, and well cut out under the jaws.
The shoulders should be long and well slanted forwards with nice
high withers, also a short strong back with long round well
developed hips and rump. Also a good round deep chest with a
tidy belly not too small; it is also a good point to have him well
ribbed up, that is, not to have too much space between the last
rib and the hip bgnes; also look to the legs that the bone is flat
and clean with good shaped feet.

HOW TO EXAMINE FOR SOUNDNESS.

Give the horse a quick trot or gallop to see that he is not
lame, and as soon as he stops put your ear to his nose to hear that
his wind is not affected. Then examine his nostrils and mouth,
at the same time look to see the age of the animal, which is told
by his teeth ; then look closely into the eyes to see that there is
nothing wrong with them, pass the hand up around his ears and
the pole of the head to see that they are all right ; then examine
one side of him first by starting at the neck, running the hand over
it to the withers, then over the shoulder, down the outside and in-
side of the front leg, and watch carefully for splints, sidebones,
ringbones and such like ; then raise the foot and see if it is a well

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF THE HORSE.

215

formed one, with good, strong heels ; look back along the belly
for warts and running sores caused from castration, then pass
the hand down the back -of the hips and see that the hip bones
are both the same size, then follow the hind leg over the hock and
hind fetlock and look for spavins, windgalls, curbs, splints, side-
bones and ringbones, also look at the stiffles and see that they are
all right ; examine the foot as you did in the front, then examine
the other si^e same as side mentioned ; after this stand back and
take a look at him to see how he stands on his legs, and, also,
how he holds his head and neck; notice if he stands with his front
feet well under him, for this is a good sign ; at the same time see
if he is inclined to be weak in the knees and fetlocks. Beware
of calf-kneed horses for they are always stumblers ; see that he
stands neither too straight nor too crooked on his hind legs.
After this take a walk around to the front and see that he has a
well formed breast, and that he does not toe in nor toe out too
much; then make an effort as if you were going to strike him with
a stick or whip over the side, if he grunts ex;^mine close to see
that he is not a roarer, then give him another go6d, sharp trot or
gallop to see that he carries his front and hind legs nice and
straight and that he has good action, also notice whether he car-
ries his tail straight or not. Step up quick and place your ear to
his nostril to see if he makes any noise, and be sure that he is all
right in his wind. To make sure that the horse is all right put
him ih a stable for an hour or two, giving him a pail of water and
a feed, for in some cases of lameness the animal will not show it
until he has stood for a while. After this go into the stall and
take the horse out yourself, watching how he steps over and how
he backs out of the stall for fear of string halt and corea. After
this trot him again and test him for lameness- and soundness in
his wind.

HOW TO TELL A HORSE'S AGE BY HIS TEETH.

Commencing at the time the colt is foaled: At nine days old
he gets two centre nippers, or front teeth, two above and two be-
low ; at nine weeks old he gets four more front teeth, one on each
side of the other two pairs, these are called the lateral teeth ; at
nine months old he gets four more front teeth, called the corner
teeth, one on each side of the two pair below, and one on each
side of the two pair above. So, at nine months old, the colt has
a full mouth of milk, or temporary front teeth. At the age of

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DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF THE HORSE.

two years you have to judge from the general appearance of the
colt as to his age, as there is no chang'e in the front teeth. At
three years old he sheds the four centre-nippers or front teeth, two
above and two below, and gets in permanent ones ; at four years
old he sheds the four lateral teeth, two above and two below, and
gets in permanent teeth in their places ; at five years old he sheds
the four corner, or outside teeth, and gets in permanent ones. So,
at this age, the horse has a full mouth of permanent front teeth.

Each one of the front teeth has a black ring on it at five years
old ; at six years old the rings on the two centre teeth in the
bottom row disappears and only a black spot is left on each ; at
seven years old the rings on the lateral teeth, or the ones next to
the centre in the lower row, disappears and only a black spot is
left on each tooth ; at eight years old the rings on the corner
teeth of the lower row disappears and only a black spot is left on
each tooth ; at nine years old the rings on the two centre front
teeth on the upper row disappears and a black spot remains on
each tooth ; at ten Jipars of age t\\e rings on the lateral teeth, or
the ones next to the centre pair in the upper row, disappears and a
black spot is left on each tootji ; at eleven years old the rings on
the corner teeth of the upper jaw disappears and a black spot is
left on each tooth. At twelve years old we come again to the
bottom row, and looking at the front of the teeth the two centre
ones will be found to be much narrower and longer than the others ;
at thirteen years the lateral, or teeth next to the centre pair — one
on each side — become much longer and narrower ; at fourteen
years old the corner teeth in the lower row become much longer
and narrower ; at fifteen years old the two centre teeth on the
upper row become long and narrow ; at sixteen years old the
lateral teeth on the upper row become long and narrow ; at seven-
teen years old the corner teeth of the upper row become longer and
narrower. At eighteen years of age we look again to the bottom
row and the two centre teeth will be much shorter than the others;
at nineteen years old the lateral teeth of the bottom row have be-
come much shorter ; at twenty years old the corner teeth have be-
come much shorter ; at twenty-one years of age look again to the
teeth in the upper row and the two centre ones will be much
shorter ; at twenty-two years old the lateral teeth will be shorter,
and at twenty-three years old the corner teeth of the upper row
will be short. After twenty-three years old the age can not
be told accurately.

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF THE HORSE.

217

HOW TO DRENCH A HORSE.

Have a halter on the horse and take him some place where
there is room forjhis head to be held up ^igh, then place a twitch
on his nose. A twitch is a handle of some kind, about three feet
long, at the end is a hole through which is a small rope tied to
form a ring. This rope is slipped over the horse's nose and
twisted up pretty tight, then- hold the horse's head up high by
lifting on the twitch. This is to keep the medicine from running
out when poured into his mouth. Have an assistant to hold the
twitch while you, with a black bottle which contains the drench,
slip the neck of the bottle into the moyth from the side where
there is no teeth ; only pour a little out of the bottle at a time, as
you might choke the horse. If he goes to cough let his head down
immediately until through coughing, then continue the drenching,
but don't be in too big a hurry to empty the bottle.

HOW TO BLEED A HORSE.

Place a small rope, or plow cord, in the form of a slip-knot,
over the horse's neck and draw it tight enough to swell the jugular
vein on the left side of the neck, moisten the hair over the swell-
ing and hold the fleames — which must be clean — lengthwise with
the vein ; have an assistant to hold the rope, and also cover the
horse's left eye so he cannot see you. When you are satisfied the
fleames set over the vein strike them a quick, sharp blow with a
stick of some kind, which, as soon as the vein is cut, will send a
stream spurt;^ing out of the hole. Continue holding the rope tight
until it has bled enough. Always catch the blood in a pail so you
know how much you take a^vay. Wh^n it has bled enough let
the rope slack, which will stop the bleeding. Then take a bright
new pin and run it through the two edges of the skin bringing
them together, then wind a string around the pin so it cannot get
off; leave the pin in for twenty-four hours after bleeding ; tie the
horse's head up and do not let Him out to grass or eat anything
that will cause him to keep his head down to the ground until the
vein is healed. Be sure your hands, the fleams and the pin are
clean, for dirt or rust will set up inflammation of the vein.

A CHILL.

Causes. — it is often noticed after a horse has been working
hard and takes a cold drink of water, or is allowed to stand in the
cold afterwards, or anything like that, will bring on a chill.

Symptoms. — The horse will be shivering, looks very dull, his

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218

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF THE HORSE.

back will be humped up a little, he breathes heavy and refuses his
feed. This is not looked on as a disease itself, but a symptom of
some other disease, an^ if allowed to run on without being
checked is liable to set up inflammation of any of the organs of
the body, so you see the necessity of checking a chill in time.

Treatment. — Put the animal in a warm stall and put an extra
blanket or two on, to get him heated up, if his legs are cold rub
them to get the circulation started. Give as a drench:

Sveet Spirits of Nitre 1 ounce or 4 talblespoonfulB.

Fleming Tinotnre of Aconite ....<«..'... 5 to 10 drops.

Ginger 2 tablespobnfnla.

Mix in a pint of luke warm water and give as a drench,

repeat the dose every hour until he is better. If you have not the

sweet spirits ,of nitre give a wine glass full of whisky. As soon

as the horse will eat give him a hot drink or a bran mash.

HOW TO FEED AND TAKE CARE OF A HORSE.
Always water the horse before feeding if he is not too warm.
Feed regular, that is, set certain times for feeding him and feed as
near that time as possible. Give him a certain amount of exercise
every day that the weather is fit to take him out, if not^working
him allow him to run out around the yard, and always remember
that good cleaning and a clean stable is half the feed. A good
plan to cleanse the stable is to throw a little lime ai'ound the stalls
every week or sq, also in the summer when the horses are all out
of the stable, close up the doors an^ burn sulphur in the stable,
this will kill all the germs of distemper and all other diseases that
are in the stable. Always have a little box of salt kept in front of
the horse so when he wants it he can have it, and by doing it this
way he will never take more than is good for him; rock salt is the
best if you can get it. Whitewashing the stable about once a
year is a good plan to keep it clean.

NOTICE.

All the doses of medicine which are mentioned in this book in
the diseases and treatment of the horse, if not specially mentioned
for the age of the animal, is intended for the average size horse,
so in giving doses to colts or very small horses you must regplate
the dose to the' age and size of the animal. Yearling colts would
take one-third of the dose mentioned-for a horse. A two year old
could stand one-half the dose mentioned for a horse. A three year
old can, stand nearly as large a dose as is mentioned for a horse.
Four year old and upwards take the full dose.

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PLATE III.

SKELETON OF THE OX.

This cut shows the position of each of the bones and joints
in the frame of the ox. For particulars in connection with this
cut refer to the anatomy of the ox — the part which deals with
the bones.

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PART III.

Anatomy, Diseases iS5 Treatment

of Cattle.

CHAPTER I.

ANATOMY OF THE OX.

OUR object in giving the anatomy or structure of the ox
is just to mention the important parts which are most
subject to disease and of which every one interested
should become familiar with.

Each of the bones and joints of the ox receive the same name
as those of the horse. There are a few important points of differ-
ence in the structure of the skeleton of the ox and horse, viz.:
There are only thirteen pairs of ribs in the ox while the horse has
eighteen pairs. The breast bone or sternum is much larger and
flatter in the ox than it is in the horse. This is important to
remember because when there is anything wrong with the lungs
or chest of cattle they always lie down, for the breast bone and the
ribs are so formed that when they lie on the breast bone it expands
the chest, giving the animal more relief than if it was standing,
while the^orse always stands in lung trouble, for his breast bone
and ribs are so formed that it contracts the chest and gives him
more pain while lying down. The bone« of the head of the ox
diflfer from those of the horse by being ve :y heavy and wide on the
upper part of the skull and has a projection of bone at each side
on the upper part of the skull called the core of the horn. This is
important on account of dehorning, and every one interested
should become familiar wjth it. This projection or the core of the
horn is hollow inside which is a continuation of the sinuses or
cavities in the bones of the head. Attached to the core of the
horn and covering it, is trie horn itself. Another point of difference
between the ox and the horse, is that there are two small bones
found in the heart of the ox called the cardiac or heart bones,
while in the horse's heart there are no bones at all to be found.

Another point of difference between the ox and horse is that

220

THE ANATOMY OF THE OX.

the bones in the leg of the ox are divided from fetlock down into
two p^rts, while in the horse they are not divided.

' DIGESTIVE ORGANS OF THE OX. «

The Lips of the ox are thick and hard, the upper one in front
has no hair on it and varies in color with the color of the animal,
and when cattle are in good health this space is airways moist.

The Cheeks on the insjde are cctvered by numerous little rough
processes which give the cheeks a very rough appearance.

The TonSfUe of the ox is stronger than that of 'the horse and
is more movable, it is very thick and heavy at the back; it is
pointed at the front end and the upper part of it is very rough;
it is by means of the tongue the ox takes most of the food into his
mouth.

The Gl£indS which secrete the saliva are similar to those of
the horse.

The Teeth differ very much from those of the horse, the ox
has no front teeth in the upper part of his mouth, their place being
taken by a pad of cartilage or gristle. Thisf pad takes the place
of the upper row of front teeth for the lower row of teeth presses
against it when the animal is cropping grass ; on account of this
pad it can be seen why cattle will not do as well on short grass as
horses. The front teeth in the lower row also differs from those
of the horse, they are eight in number, chisel-shaped and are
loosely set in the gum. The molars or back teeth are similar to
those of the horse only they are smaller and not so smooth on their
upper surface. The ox has twenty-four molars or back teeth, and
eight incisors or front teeth, making thirty-two in all.

The Pharynx, or gullet in the ox is much larger than that of
the horse.

The CEsophaSfUS, or tube, which carries the food down from the
mouth to the stomach is well developed, the fibres in it are very
strong and have a double action. When the animal is eating they
carry the food from the mouth down to the stomach, and during the
time the animal is chewing its cud they act the very opposite,
they carry the food from the stomach back up into the mouth.

The Stomach is a very important or^an to understand, for
cattle suffer a great deal from diseases of the stomach. The
stomach of the ox has a capacity of sixty gallons, and is divided
into four divisions. The first department is the rumen or paunch;
the second is the reticulum, or honey comb ; the third is the
omasum, or manyplies, and the fourth is the abomasum, or true

THE ANATOMY OF THS OX.

221

digestive part of the stomach. The Brst three departments of the
stomach prepares the food for digestion, while the fourth digests
it. The rumen or paunch is very large, and in an aged animal it
fills up three-quarters of the belly cavity, it lies up against the left
side of the belly, where it is attached and held to its place by liga-
ments ; its situation is important to remember, for in many dis-
eases of the rumen, or paunch, it is first noticed on the left side,
and in tapping for bloating h is always done on the left side
because the paunch lies right up against the left side. The walls
of the paunch of an ox resembles th^ stomach of the horse, but is
not nearly so sensitive, and will stand a great deal of abuse before
inflammation will set in. The paunch has two openings, both of
which are at the fpont, one is where the food enters the stomach,
while the other is where the food passes out into the next division
of the stomach called the reticulum, or honey comb, which is the
smallest division of the stomach, and resembles a honey comb in
appearance. This part of the stomach has not very much to do in
preparing the food ; it has two openings, one in front, where the
food enters into it, the other at the back, where the food passes
through into the third part of the stomach called the omasum, or
manyplies, which is the second largest division of the stomach.
When this is full it is ovoid in shape and placed just behind the
second division of the stomach and at the right side of the paunch,
and if you examine the inside it will be found to be full of folds,
or layers of membrane. The use of this part of the stomach is, while
the food is passing through it to draw into its folds all the coarse
parts of the food and roll it about in the layers until it gets it fine
and well prepared to pass into the last part of the stomach, where
it becomes digested. When this part of the stomach becomes de-
ranged and the food becomes dry and hard between the folds it
then sets up the disease called impaction of the manyplies, or dry
murne. When the food passes out of this third division it is
emptied into the fourth part of the stomach called the abomasum,
or the true digestive part of the stomach. This is where the food
is digested. The walls of this part of the stomach is redder in
color than the three first divisions and has the glands which
secrete the acids and gastric juices of the stomach which assist
greatly in digestion. This stomach, also, has two openings, one
where the food enters and the other where the food goes out of it
and enters into the small bowels.

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THE ANATOMY OF THE OX.

The Bowels, or intestines, of the ox are divided into large and
small bowels, same as that of the horse, the structure and action
of them resemble those df the horse. The small bowels are only
half the size of those of the horse, they being about one-half inch
in diameter, and about 150 feet in length. The large bowels arc
not nearly so large as those of the horse, and are 86 feet in
length.

The Liver of the ox resembles that of the horse only itHias a
gall bladder which resembles a pear in shape and it acts as a
vessel to store up the gall during the time there is no digestion
going on. But during the time digestion is going on the walls of
the vessel contracts and forces the gall down on to the food. The
other two glands, the pancreas and spleen resemble those of the
horse. These juices have the same action in cattle as they have
in the horse.

HOW RUMINATION OR CHEWING OF THE CUD IS PERFORMED IN THE OX.

The ox takes the food into its mouth principally with its
tongue, it is then roughly chewed and swallowed and passes into
the rumen or paunch where it is rolled about by the action of the
walls of the paunch and mixed with the juices which are secreted
in the paunch. After the animal has finished eating, it then, as a
general thing, lays down (but may stand up) and commence chewing
its cud, the way this is performed is, the walls of the rumen con-
tracts and forces the food up into the bottom part of the
cesophagus, which then takes on a reverse action and forces the
food up into the mouth where the food is all thoroughly chewed
over again, and in swallowing it this time the end of the
oesophagus, instead of opening out and allowing the food to drop
into the paunch, keeps closed and passes the food right into the
second stomach, thus you see the ox first roughly swallows its food
and is held in the paunch until the animal has time to bring it back
to the mouth and chew it over again. After it enters into the
second stomac^ or reticulum, which is the honey comb part, the
food is shifted around for a short time and mixed with the juices
secreted in that part, then it passes back into the manyplies or
third division of the stomach where the fine parts of the food pass
right along to the abomasum or fourth stomach, while the coarser
parts of food are drawn between the folds of membrane in the
third stomach, here it is worked about between the folds until it is
fine and ready to pass into the fourth stomach, where it becomes

THE ANATOMY OF THE OX.

225

fully digested by the action of acids and gastric juices which are
secreted in this part of the stomach, then it passes into the small
bowels and is acted upon by the bile from the liver and the
pancreatic juice from the pancreas, these juices are emptied into
the Brst part of the small bowels by little tubes or ducts, which
lead from the glands down to the bowels, just on the same
principle &■* that of the horse. After this, throughout the rest of
the bowels, the nourishment of the food is taken up into the
system by means of little glands or villi which are situated in the
coats of the bowels, and the nourishment when once in the blood
goes to supply the different parts of the body, while the part of
the food there is no nourishment in passes off through the back
bowels in the form of manure.

The Feet of the ox and bones below the fetlock are divided
and receive the name of trotters. ,

THE RESPIRATORY OR BREATHING ORGANS.

These organs in the ox work on the same principle, and re-
semble in structure those of the horse, only they are not, as a gen-
eral thing, so liable to diseases as the breathing organs of the
horse.

THE URINARY ORGANS.

The chief point of difference in these organs are the kidneys.
In the ox they are larger, and instead of being smooth, like those
of the horse, they are rough, and resemble a bunch of grapes.
The bladder and the rest of the urinary organs resemble those of
the horse.

' THE GENITAL ORGANS OF THE COW.

The Ovaries in a cow are smaller than those of the mare, but
resemble them in structure.

The Womb in the cow somewhat resembled that of the mare,
but the inside lining is different, for it is covered with button-like
processes about the size .of a pigeon egg, only more flattened out.
These processes receive the name of cotyledons ; this is what the
cleaning or afterbirth is attached to and is a very important point
which every person interested should become familiar with by ex-
amining a womb after calving or by opening a cow that dies soon
after calving. The passage out of the womb of the cow is shorter
than that of the mare, but is formed on the same principle.

The Bag, mammary glands, or udder, is very important to
understand in the cow. It is first divided into two halves by a.

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DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF CATTLE.

partition or division in the center of the bag. Each one of these
halves are again divided into two parts, each part is known as a
quarter of the bag, each quarter having a mammary, or milk
gland and a sinus, or pouch to hold the milk where it is secreted
until the cow is milked. This sinus or pouch is situated just
above the passage of the teat.

THE GENITAL ORGANS OF THE BULL.
The Testicles are ovoid in shape and well developed. The
spermatic cord and artery are small compared with those of the
horse ; the penis is long and pointed, and has an S shaped curve
in it just below the pubis, or hip bones; this curve can be felt by
feeling carefully just behind the bag ; the sheath is long and runs
further (orward on the belly and has a tuft of hair on the point of
it. During the time the bull is serving a cow the S shaped part
of the penis straightens out.

CHAPTHR II.

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF CATTLE.

CATARRH OR COLD IN THE HEAD.

Cattle do not suffer so much from this disease as horses.
This is an inflammation set up in the lining membrane or the
sinuses of the head.

Causes. — It is generally brought on from exposure or a sud-
den change in the weather.

Symptoms. — The nose is rough and dry and has a mattery
discharge from it ; the animal has a slight cough and makes a
rattling in the head when it is breathing.

Treatment. — Give a mild dose of physic consisting of

Epaom Salts ^ pound.

Sweet Spirits of Nitre 1 ounce, or 4 tablespoonfuls.

Mix in a pint of luke warm water and give as a drench ;

keep the animal dry and warm and feed on mashes and good hay

until it seems better. After the first drench follow up with the

following medicine :

Nitrate of Potash or Saltpetre ^ pound.

Ground Gentian Root i '•

Mix together and give a teaspoonful three times a day
until the animal is better. In cases where the discharge con-
tinues from the nose and becomes chronic, it is then called nasal

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF CATTLE. 22B

gleet, same as in horses : the treatment then is to fjfive a tea-
spoonful of ground sulphate of iron three times a day in its feed or
on its tongue with a spoon, and this will soon stop the discharge.

SORE THROAT.

This is a kind of inflammation affecting the larynx, or Adam's
apple ; it may also affect the pharynx, or gullet.

Causes. — Exposure to cold and sudden changes of the
weather, or from choking, when something lodges in and irritates
the throat, or from roughly passing a probang down the throat
and bruising it, or from giving medicines that are not properly
diluted with water.

Symptoms. — Difficult breathing, the throat will be swollen,
and it hurts the animal when you press on it, the nose will be dry,
and the animal will be noticed to keep swallowing, it refuses its
feed and does not chew its cud, it also holds its head poked out
trying to ease its throat.

Treatment. — Give the .bllowing drench :

Kpaom Salts ^ pound.

Sweet Spirits of Nitr9 1 ounce or 4 tablespoonfuls.

Mix in a pint of luke warm water and give as a drench,

taking care not to choke the animal, as well as this follow up with

Nitrate of Potash or Saltpetre ^ pound.

Sulphur i •'

Pulverized Alum J '•

Mix and give a large teaspoonful three times a day on his

tongue, this is to gargle the throat, give until the animal is better.

Rub the throat three times a day with white liniment and in bad

cases apply a mustard plaster to the throat or you might use a hot

poultice every night on his throat.

FILARIA BRONCHITIS.

This disease affects young cattle and sheep and is caused from
small germs or parasites getting down into the lining of the
bronchial tubes; these germs receive the name of strongylus
micrurus and they get into the system by being taken into the
stomach in the water or food, then they pass from the stomach
into the bowels, from there they get into the blood and pass
around until they get to the bronchial tubes where they lodge and
set up this disease. This disease is most common where animals
are grazing on low pasture fields.

Symptoms. — The animal makes a wheezy noise while breath-
ing and has a dry husky cough with a slight discharge from the
15

226

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF CATTLE.

nose and by examining the discharge with a microscope you will
find those little germs or parasites in it. The animal gradually
runs down in condition and if the affected one is not soon separ-
ated from the rest the other young cattle will become aflfected.
Treatment. — Kill the germs or parasites by giving

Raw Lini>e«>cl Oil i pint.

Spirits of Turpentine h ounce or 2 tablespaonfuls.

Mix and give as a drench once a week. The turpentine has
a special action in cases of this kind for it gets into the blood and
therefore comes in contact with the germs or parasites and kills
them. If this should fail, drive the affected cattle into a stable,
then take a pan of sulphur, throw some live coals in it and let the
animal's breath the fumes of it, stand in the stable with the cattle
and just give them as much of the fumes as you can stand yourself
and then turn them out, this is the best way to tell how much to
give them. Do this every day for a week or so until they are
better. By breathing the fumes of the burning sulphur it comes
in contact with the germs or parasites in the bronchial tubes and
destroys them and stops the disease. The main thing in burning
sulphur is not to strangle the cattle by letting them inhale too
much of the fumes, as well as this feed them well to get them up in
condition.

INFLAMMATION OF THE LUNGS IN CATTLE (PNEUMONIA).

Causes. — They are similiar to the causes of inflammation of the
lungs in horses; catching cold in soma way, such as being out in
cold rains or standing in a cold draft or catching cold after calving.

Symptoms. — The animal refuses to eat, has a slight cough
and the nose is sometimes dry, then wet, changing frequently; he
breathes heavy and quick and in breathing makes a groaning
noise similar to impaction of the stomach, and care must be taken
that you do not mistake one for the other. By placing your ear
over the side of the chest a sound is heard similar to that made by
rubbing some hair of your head just over your ear between your
thumb and finger. If it is a milch cow she will be noticed to drop
off some in her milk. By pressing on the ribs over the lungs with
your hand the animal is noticed to be sore, also feverish and very
thirsty and from the fever of the lungs the bowels are often a little
costive, the pulse is quick and strong at first but after a couple
of days, if not better, the pulse gets quicker and weaker, some-
times running as high as one hundred beats per minute. In this
disease cattle lie almost all the time, and lie well upon the breast
bone for this position seems to give them relief.

DISEASES' AND TREATMENT OF CATTLE. 227

Treatment. — if the bowels are not very free and the animal is

in fair condition, give

Epsom Salts h pound.

Sweet Spirits of Nitre 1 ounce, or 4 tablespoonfuls,

Fleming a Tincture of Aconite 15 drops.

Mix in a pint of lulce warm water and give this drench three
times, leaving out the salts after the first drench. Rub the
sides with white liniment three times a day, and keep a half
pail of hot salt over the lungs, changing it about every hour dur-
ing the day, and at night apply a mustard plaster ; take half a
pound of mustard 'with enough vinegar to make it into a paste
and rub well in over the sides and cover the animal up warm.
Keep this treatment up until relief comes. When the animal
seems to be getting better quit the above drenches and give the
lollowing :

Nitrate of Potash or Saltpetre I pound.

(Uouud (lentian Foot ^ "

( irouud Aniseed , :| "

Mix together and give a teaspoonful three times a day on his
tongue. Keep the bowels regulated by giving one-half pound
drenches of epsom salts once or twice a week and feed on soft
food with plenty of boiled flaxseed in it.

BRONCHITIS IN CATTLE.

This disease, when it is the result of a cold, comes from
causes similar to that of inflammation of the lungs ; the symptoms
are same as those of inflammation of the lungs, only by listening
with your ear at the windpipe you will hear more of a wheezing
noise.

Treatment. — Is the same as is given for inflammation of the

lungs.

PLEURISY IN CATTLE.

This is inflammation of the coverings of the lungs.

Causes. — They are similar to those of inflammation of the
lungs, and this disease is very often found in connection with it.

Symptoms.- -Th^' are similar to those in inflammation of the
lungs, only that when there is pleurisy there is more of a grating
sound heard when you place your ear to his side and the animal's
sides seem sore and he flinches more when you press on it than in;
inflammation of the lungs.

Treatment.— The treatment is the same as for inflammation
of the lungs. In this disease, as well as in all other lung troubles,

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228

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF CATTLE.

be very careful in drenching so as not to choke the anrmal, and
give him plenty of fresh air without being in a draft and keep 'Mm
as comfortable as possible.

CHAPTER III.

DISEASES OF THE DIGESTIVE ORGANS

OF CATTLE.

SLAVERING.

This is a dribbling of saliva from the mouth.

CilUSes. — From a wound, or something being caught between

the teeth, or from eating wild mustard or poisonous grasses.

Treatment. — Give the following :

Epsom Salts 1 pound.

Common Soda 1 tablespoonful.

Ginger 1 "

Dissolve in a quart of luke warm water and give as a drench.

Sponge the mouth out with the following lotion once a day :

Powdered Alum 1 tablespoonful.

Water 1 pint.

After the medicine has operated and you have washed the

mouth out two or three times the slavering generally disappears.

In all cases of this kind examine the mouth thoroughly by looking

into it, and if you find anything caught between the teeth remove

it at once.

SHARP MOLARS OR BACK TEETH.

This is where the edges of the teeth are sharp and cuts the

tongue and cheeks. When the animal is feeding it will sometimes

stop and spit the food out of its mouth and does not thrive well.

The best way to fix this is to run a tooth rasp a few times over

the outside edges of the upper teeth and the inside edges of the

lower teeth.

DECAYED TEETH (CARIES) IN CATTLE.

Symptoms. — The animal does not thrive well, will stop eating
and spit the food out of its mouth; on examining the animal's
mouth you will find the breath smells very bad ; if you put a clevis
in its mouth and run your hand back you will find the decayed
tooth.

Treatment. — Tie the animal up short and have the tongue
held out of the mouth by an assistant; if the animal seems ugly
place a small sized clevis crossways in its mouth, then pass your

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF CATTLE. 229

hand in along the teeth until you find the affected tooth. Then
remove the tooth with a large pincers or forceps for that purpose.
In drawing the tooth, if the animal is ugly, throw it down and
secure it by the same process as is given in castrating a bull.

CAPS ON THE TEETH.

This occurs in cattle from two to four years old when they
are shedding their milk grinders; instead of the milk teeth drop-
ping out, as they should, caps hang on the new teeth and cause
them to fester at the roots, causing a lump on the jaw bone.

Symptoms. — The animal will be noticed to hold its head to
one side, have difficulty in eating and sometimes spit the food out,
will fall oflf greatly in condition and if allowed to run on for some
time a lump will form on the jaw opposite the festered tooth.

Treatment. — Examine the mouth carefully till you find the
tooth which has the cap on it which can be easily told by its being
stuck up higher than the other teeth, as soon as you find it
remove the cap with a pincers or anything that will knock the
cap off the tooth, a cold chisel and hammer will do, by tapping it
5jently until you knock the cap off. If this is done in time it will
save a lump from forming on the jaw.

LUMPS ON THE JAW BONES FROM THE TEETH OR FROM AN INJURY.

These lumps are hard and immovable.

Treatment. — if it is caused from a cap staying on the tooth too
long, causing the roots o.f the tooth to fester, remove the cap but
do not pull the tooth at first, try a blister on the lump of the
following :

Riniodicl of Mercury 1^ drams.

Powdered Ctintharides or Spaniafi Fly 1 "

Vaseline or Lard ' 1 ounce.

Mix and apply one-third to one-half of this amount, according

to the size of lump, rub in well and grease in three days; between

two and three weeks after, wash off the lump with soap and water

and blister again, greasing in three days after. If this treatment

does not stop the lump from growing throw the animal and secure

it and pull the tooth with a large forceps used for that purpose.

If the cause is from an injury blister same as mentioned above.-

For other information of lumpy jaw see actinomycosis.

INFLAMMATION OF THE PAROTID GLANDS.

This is inflammation of the glands situated at the side of the
throat.

\{

230

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF CATTLE.

il

CilUSes. — From an injury of some kind such as another animal
hooking" it; or by striking an animal with a stick or stone while
driving them.

Symptoms. — The affected side of the throat will be swollen
and very sore, and the animal will walk about with its head stuck
out, and will fall off in condition, for on account of the throat
being so sore it is unable to bend its neck down to eat, and it also
hurts it to swallow.

Treatment. — Apply hot poultices to the throat of half linseed
meal and bran ; change the poultice every three or four hours to
keep it hot, and each time — when you are changing it — rub the
gland well with white liniment, this will either check the inflam-
mation and bring down the swelling, or if it festers, will bring it
to a head, and then if it does not break of its own accord lance it
in the softest part. After you have lanced it and let the matter
out, poultice every night and apply white lotion before putting the
poultice on and after taking it off. While you are treating the
animal keep it in the stable and feed it out of a high manger so it
will not have to lower its head to eat ; give it plenty of slops and
boiled feed, or anything that is easily chewed and swallowed so
as to keep its strength up until it gets better.

CHOKING.

This is a very common thing among cattle.

Causes. — From the animal attempting to swallow something
that is too large for its throat, such as an apple, potato, slice of
turnip, mangel, or carrot, and sometimes from a bone when the
animal has a fashion of licking or chewing them, and by mistake
it slips down the throat and chokes it.

Symptoms. — The animal will stop eating, slaver at the mouth,
cough, breath heavy, and after a time will become bloated in the
paunch, which is noticed at the left side, and if the animal does
not soon get relief it becomes so bloated it will drop down from
suffocation and will soon die. Bloating is generally worse when
it is an apple or potato, for they act just like a cork in a tube.

Treatment. — Examine the mouth and throat, or gullet, and
see if you can tell what is choking the animal ; also examine along
the left side of the neck to try and find out where it is lodged in
the tube. If you can feel or see whatever is choking the animal,
and you think you can reach it, put a clevis crossways in its
mouth and run your hand down the throat and bring it up. If

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF CATTLE.

231

you cannot reach it pour half a pint of linseed oil down as a
drench, then move the obstruction by working it with your hand
from the outside until the oil gets worked around it and it may
slip down when you get it started. If you have no raw linseed
oil any other kind of oil will do. If this fails pass down a
probang, which is an instrument for that purpose ; there is a
small wooden gag goes with the probang ; the wooden gag is
placed in the mouth crossways ; have a man to stand on each side
and hold a horn and one end of the gag, keeping the cow's head
in line with the body ; oil the probang and pass it through the
hole in the gag, on through the center of the mouth into the
gullet or throat, down into the tube leading to the stomach, pass
it gently down until you strike the obstruction, then press on it
until you force the obstruction down into the stomach. In cases
where the animal is badly bloated, and you cannot press the ob-
struction down into the stomach, tap her on the left side to let the
gas out with a trocar and cannula, or with a penknife, then you
can easily shove .the obstruction down and the bloating will soon
disappear. Do not, under any circumstances, go to shove down
a broom-handle, or anything of that kind, to remove the obstruc-
tion, for you are apt to burst the tube which leads to the stomach,
and you will then lose the animal. Probangs cost from $1.00 to
$1.50, and can be got at a wholesale 'drug store or veterinary in-
strument store, and is something that every stock owner should

have.

i BLOATING (TYMPANITES).

This is gas forming in the paunch, or rumen, and is a
common occurrence among cattle.

Causes. — From choking, sudden change in the food, wet
clover, or eating frozen roots of any kind.

Symptoms. — The left side will be greatly swollen with gas,
and in severe cases the whole belly will be distended ; by tapping
Avith your fingers on the left side, over the paunch, it will make a
hollow, drum-like sound, and on account of the stomach
being so much swollen it presses on the lungs, causing the
animal to breath very heavy. In ^severe cases the eyes will be
bloodshot, and if it does not soon get relief will stagger, fall and
die, actually smothering to death.

Treatment. — The treatment must be quick in severe cases.
Give the following drench :

I'!

Hi

n

232 DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF CATTLE.

Spirits of Turpentine 2 ounces, or 8 tablespoon! uls.

Raw Linseed Oil 1 pint.

Common Soda 1 tablespoonf ul.

Mix and give as a drench, and if the animal does not get

relief in one hour and a half give

Epsom Salts 1 pound.

Sweet Spirits of Nitre 2 ounces, or 8 tablespoonf uls.

Common Soda 2 tablespoonfuls.

Dissolve in a quart of luke warm water and give as a drench,

after this give the following drench every hour until the animal

gets relief:

Sweet Spirits of Nitre 1 ounce or 4 tablespoonfuls.

Common Soda 2 tablespoonfuls.

Apply plenty of heat to the body by means of blankets, and
hot salt over the kidneys. The after treatment is to feed light,
give luke warm water to drink and principally mashes to eat for a
few days, so as to allow the stomach to have a rest. Where the
animal is very much bloated and in danger of its life, perform the
operation of tapping. The way this is done is to cut a small hole
in the skin on the left side, midway between the point of the hip
bone and the last rib, and about four inches down from the back
bone. After the hole is cut in the skin take a trocar and cannula
and run them downwards and inwards, then pull out the trocar
and leave the cannula in, which lets the gas come spouting out of
the cannula ; leave the cannula in for an hour or so until the bloat-
ing is all gone down, then pull it out and let the hole heal up
itself. A trocar and cannula can be got at a wholesale drug store
from 50 cents to 75 cents, and is a very valuable thing to have on
hand. If you have not one of these instruments take a sharp
penknife and stick it in the same place as you did the trocar and
cannula.

IMPACTION OF THE RUMEN, OR PAUNCH, WITH FOOD.

This is when the rumen, or paunch, gets full of food and is
unable to work it out.

Causes. — From feeding on poor food, such as straw and such
like, and the animal takes a large feed of it, and on account of
the walls of the stomach being weak it is unable to work the food out
of it as it should, or from a large feed of over-ripe grass, or from
the animal getting loose and getting a large feed of corn, bran,
oats, wheat or other grain, or from a large feed of any kind of food
the animal is not used to. It is also caused by feeding fattening
cattle too heavy.

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF CATTLE. 233

Symptoms. — In some cases the animal is slightly bloated,
while in other cases there is no bloating at all ; the animal seems
uneasy, and makes a peculiar grunt or groan nearly every time it
breathes. If it is a cow, and milking, the flow of milk will fall
away in one night, the nose will be dry, breathing and pulse will
be quicker than natural, and the animal will keep getting up and
down once in a while, and will not take much food or water. By
pressing on the left side, over the paunch, or rumen, it will be
found hard and full of food, and where you make the dent in it
with your finger the dent will stay in it some time. By tapping
over the stomach there will be a dull, heavy sound. The bowels
are costive, and the passage is dry, slimy looking, and has a
bad smell.

Treatment. — Give a dose of physic consisting of

Epsom Salts 1^ pounds.

Bitter Aloes 1 ounce.

Common Soda 2 tablespoonfuls.

Ginger 1 tablespoonf ul.

Dissolve in a quart of luke warm water and give as a drench.

After this follow up with a stimulant to help the physic to work

through the bowels.

Whisky 2 wineglassf uls.

Ginger 2 tablespoonfuls.

Common Soda 2 "

Mix in a pint of luke warm water and give as a drench three
times a day until the animal is better. If the physic has not oper-
ated in twenty-four hours after giving it, walk the animal a quarter
of a mile, the exercise often starts the physic to work, but if
it does not operate wait twenty-four hours more before giving any
more physic, at the end of this time, if the physic has not
operated, give a stronger physic consisting of

Bitter Aloes 2 ounces.

Gamboge 2 drams.

Mix in a pint of luke warm water and give as a drench, then
at the end of another twenty-four hours give the animal a short
walk, and this will generally work the physic ; if this has not
operated, after walking it, give

Raw Linseed Oil 1 pint.

Give this drench every day until the physic does operate.
Keep ihe animal well blanketed and warm, and place a half pail
of hot salt over the back, for heat helps the stomach to act. Give
the animal all the luke warm water it will drink ; give it sloppv

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234

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF CATTLE.

11

i 'i<-

\l

feed, but no hay. In the course of a week or so after, if the
physic has operated without carrying oflF the load of food out of
the rumen or paunch, then, as the last resort, perform the operation
of rumenotomy.

HOW TO PERFORM THE OPERATION OF RUMENOTOMY.

The animal, when sick, is generally very easy held ; sfiove it

up against the side of the stall or partition, then fasten it there by

means of a long rope, any way at all so you get it solid, and tie

the animal so the left side will be out, then, with a sharp knife,

make a cut four or five inches long, right through the skin and

muscles to the stomach, commencing the cut two inches below the

back bone, and half wav between the last rib and the front of the

hip bone, then pass your hand into the cut and take hold of the

stomach, drawing it well out, then make a large enough cut

in the stomach to pass your hand in and out free, then hav,e some

person to hold the stomach still out through the cut in the side so

the food will not fall down between the wall of the stomach and

the belly ; remove all the hard food in the paunch or rumen, then

sew the cut you made in the stomach up with a needle used for

sewing wounds ; use carriage trimmers' twine, and put the

stitches half an inch apart, then wash off the cut which was made

in the stomach with a quart of luke warm water and 10 drops of

carbolic acid in it ; after it is washed* off nice and clean shove it

back to its natural place and sew up the outside cut, putting the

stitches in half an inch apart. The treatment for the outside

wound is to bathe the cut twice a day with luke warm water, and,

after bathing, apply the white lotion until it is healed up. The

after treatment is to give the animal a few drenches of stimulants,

such as are mentioned in the treatment of impaction of the rumen,

or paunch. Feed the animal on soft food made into the form of

soft gruels for a few days and keep it quiet until the cut is

healed up.

VOMITING.

This is sometimes met with in cattle, but never in the horse.

Causes. — Generally from some irritation of the fourth, or true
digestive part of the stomach, or it may be caused from eating
some bones, old clothes, or a boot or something of that kind.
Sometimes it is caused from nails being taken into the rumen with
food. Often after an animal is slaughtered there are nails and rub-
bish found in the stomach.

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF CATTLE. 235

■• r •

Treatment. — Give a physic consisting of

Epgom Salts I pound.

Brown Sugar ^ pound.

Salt 2 tableBpoonfuls.

Mix in a quart of luke warm water and give as a drench.

This will generally give relief, but if it does not, give :

Ra\/ Linseed Oil 1 pint.

Sweet Spirits of Nitre 1 ounce, or 4 tableapoonf uls.

Common Soda .... 2 talilespoonf uls.

Mix and give as a drench every second day uiitil the animal

gets relief. Feed on soft food and give luke warm water to

drink for a while. In cases wher2 this does not give relief and

yon are sure there is something in the stomach, perform the

operation of rumenotomy and take it out.

HAIR BALLS IN THE RUMEN OR PAUNCH.

Causes. — They are caused from animals licking each other in
the spring when the hair is loose, and this hair collects in a ball
in the stomach.

Symptoms. — The animal soon stops chewing its cud, and has
slight spells of bloating ; it does not feed well and soon falls off in
condition.

Treatment. — Give a physic of

Epsom Salts 1 pound.

Common Soda .2 tableapoonfuls.

Ginger 2 "

Mix in a quart ot luke warm water and give as a drench.

Give this drench once a week, and if it does not help the animal,

and you think there is a hair ball in the stomach, then, as a last

resort, perform the operation of rumenotomy. There has been

cases known where snakes, from three to four feet long, have

been found in the stomach of the ox ; there are also cases known

where nails have worked their way through the stomach into the

heart and killed the animal.

BINDER TWINE IN THE RUMEN OR PAUNCH.

Causes. — From eating straw that has been bound with binder
twine, and the twinf ' ts and rolls up in the form of a ball in
the rumen or paunch.

Symptoms. — Same as that given for hair balls in the rumen
or paunch.

Treatment. — Same as that given for hair balls in the rumen
or paunch.

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236

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF CATTLE.

I

IMPACTION OF THE MANYPLIES OR THIRD PART OF THE STONACH.

This also receives the name of fardelbound, or dry murrain.
This is when the food in the third part of the stomach gets hard
and dry between the folds and cannot work out. In some cases
it gets packed in between the folds as hard as a board.

Causes. — From the animal eating dry and over-ripe food that
does not contain much nourishment. A common cause is when
the cattle are turned out too early in the spring, before the new
grass has grown much, and in trying to get at the new grass
they fill themselves with old, dry grass, which lodges in third part
of the stomach and sets up impaction of it.

Symptoms. — First there will be diarrhoea, followed by costive-
ness and stoppage in the bowels, and anything that does come
away is hard and slimy looking. The animal will fall oflf in con-
dition, and if it is a milch cow she will nearly go dry. The nose
will be dry and hot, the pulse quickened and breathing increased,
and sometimes there will be slight moaning and grating of the
teeth; the belly. has a tucked up appearance, and on account of
the animal not eating much it does not chew its cud. If the dis-
ease is allowed to run on without being relieved it affects the
brain and the animal becomes delirious, which is followed by con-
vulsions and death.

Treatment. — Give the following drench :

Epsom Salts 1 pound.

(linger 2 tablespoonfuls.

Common Soda 2 "

Salt ...2

Mix in a quart of luke warm water and give as a drench.

After this give the following stimulating drenches :

Whisky 2 wineglassfuls.

Ginger 1 tablespoon ful.

Common Soda 1 "

Powdered Nux Vomica I teaspoonf ul.

Sal^ 1 tablespoonf u

Mix in a pint of luke warm water and give as a drench , re-
peat this drench three times a day until the animal is better ;
keep the bowels open by giving pint doses of raw linseed oil every
three days ; by keeping the bowels open and giving these stimu-
lants it will generally work the food out of the stomach in a few
days. Give the animal plenty of luke warm vvater to drink, and
feed on soft food. Salt is given to get the animal to drink, which
helps to work the food out.

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF CATTLE. 237

INFLAMMATION OF THE FOURTH PART OF THE STOMACH.

This is inflammation of the fourth, or the true digestive part
of the stomach, and is more often mr*^ with in calves than in older
cattle.

Causes. — In cattle it is caused from eatingf frozen roots or
grass, also over-ripe food. In calves it is caused from changing
too suddenly frpm sweet to sour milk, especially when the calf is
young this irritates the stomach and sets up the disease.

Symptoms. — First diarrhoea, then constipation, and keeps
changing from one to the other every day or so ; the animal
breathes quick and groans with pain ; the nose is hot and dry,
and the belly has a tucked up appearance and is sore when you
press on it ; the legs and ears will be cold.

Treatment for Calves.— Give the following drench :

Raw Linseed Oil ^ pint.

Tincture of Laudanum 1 dram, or 1 teaspoonful.

Mix and give as a drench. Give its belly a good rubbing
with mustard and vinegar ; blanket to keep it warm, also place
some hot salt in a bag over the back, after this give a teaspoonful
of laudanum in half a cup of milk three times a day until it gets
relief, and if it will drink give it small quantities of new milk, and
in its drinking,milk put one teaspoonful of common joda every
time you feed it.

Treatment for Larger Cattle.— Give the follovi^ing drench : -

Raw Linseed Oil 1 pint.

Tincture of Laudanum 1 ounce, or 4 tablespoonf uls.

Mix and give as a drench, afterward give the following :

Tincture of. Laudanum 1 ounce, or 4 tablespoonfuls.

Fleming's Tincture of Aconite 15 drops.

Mix in a pint of water and give as a drench three times a day

itil it gets relief. Clothe the body well and- keep hot salt in a

ig to its back. Give luke warm water to drink, and feed on

^.o^'t food.

DIARRH(EA IN CATTLE.

Causes. — From drinking impure^^ or stagnant water, eating
frozen ro' ^s ; a sudden change of food, or from excitement by
being ch d.

Sy^ jms. — There are large passages from the bowels of a
fluid n. re, and the animal soon gets gaunt and falls off in con-
dition, i. ' in bad cases will not eat, but seems very thirsty. ^

Tre^iment. — Give the following drench :

*

t

» ,'i

;f?^

f

l!

;'.i;i|

238 DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF CATTLE.

Raw Linaoed Oil ^ pint.

Tiuciiirt> of Catttclni I uuiico, or 4 tablespoonfuls.

Mix unci i^ive as ji drench. Clotlic the body well and place

hot salt to the buck. Keep the animal very quiet ; ^'ive very

little water to drink, and take the chill off it ; teed on soft, hot

m.'ishes and very little other food. In severe cases also apply a

mustard plaster over the belly to heat the bowels. If the animal

does not get relief in live hours after the lirst drench then give the

following' :

TiuctiU'o of Cateoliii 1 oiinco, (ir 4 tal)k'Hpooiiful8.

(Jiii^'er 2 tableHpoonfiils.

CoiDinoa Soda 2 '*

Mix in a pint oi' luke warm water and give as a drench every

five hours until the .-uiimal gets relief. This disease, after it runs

on for some time', is apt to terminate in bloody flux (dysentery).

BIOODY FLUX (DYSENTERY) IN CATTLE.

This comes after diarrhcea, when the manure is streaked
with blood.

Treatment.— The treatment is the same as given for diarrhcca>
only in each oi' the drenches put a teaspoonful of ground chalk.

COLIC IN CATTLE.

Causes. This is generally caused from taking a cold drink'
of water or a ch.inge of food especially if it is green or frozen.

SymptoniS.— This is very painful while it lasts, the animal is
very uneasy, lies down, gets up, stretches out, strikes the feet
against the belly and moans, and looks .around at the side with
pain and in some cases is slightly bloated on the left side.

Treatment.— Give the following drench:

Epsom Suits 1 pound.

Tinoture of Laudimuin 1 oiuioe or 4 tablespoonfuU.

Swvel Spirits of Nitre < 1 " 4 "

Fleming 8 Tincture of Aconite 10 drops.

Mix in a quart of luke warm water and give as a drench,

keep the animal warm by blanketing and repeat this drench every

hour until the animal gets relief, but after the first dose leave out the

epsom salts. Another good drench is

Raw Linseed Oil I pint.

Spirits of Turpentine U ounces or 6 tablespoonfuls.

Mix and give as a drench, after this follow up with the above

drench every houi. Another good drench is

\Vhisky i pint.

Black Pepper 1 tablespoonf ul.

DISKASES AND TREATMENT OF CATTLE. 239

Mix in a pint of luke warm water and }^ive as a drench. The

Jani,'er of this disease is that it may terminate in inflamm.'ition of

the bowels.

INFLAMMATION OF THE BOWtLS (ENTERITIS)

This is not so common in cattle as it is in horses. It g-encr-
aliy afTects the small bowels, in severe cases the animal dies in
four or five hours.

Causes. — It sometimes follows cases of colic or from the
bowels getting twisted and stopping the passage, from being' out
in cold rains; or a sudden change in the temperature and the
animal gets a chill which settles in the bowels or from eating
musty or frozen food, or from drinking ice cold water when it is
hot or anything that will chill the body.

SymptOins — There is dryness of the muzzle, loss of appetite
and on account of not eating does not chew its ^'ud, it seems very
restless and is in severe pain, pawing and g'etting' up and down
and does not seem to have a min ite's ease. Its urine or water is
of a red color and the manure that it passes is covered with slime,
the legs and ears are cold, the anm>al keeps gritting' its teeth, and
on listening at the side there is no movement to be heard in the
bowels, the pulse is very quick but after a short time gets very
\veak, so weak you can hardly feel it.

Treatment. — Bleed the animal as soon as noticed, take three-
quarters of a pail of blood from it, if it is in fair condition and
a medium sized animal; after this give

Tin(!l ure of Laudanum 1 ounce or 4 talilespoonfuls.

LiuHeed Tea 1 pint.

Mix and give as a drench every four hours, clothe the body

well, place hot salt over the back and a mustard plaster to the belly.

CONSTIPATION OF THE BOWELS IN CATTLE.

This is not so common in cattle as it is in horses and is more
likely to occur in cattle that are feeding high on strong feed such
as corn, shorts and mill sweepings or any other rich food is apt to
cause it especially if the animal is not getting a few roots along
with it to keep the bowels loose.

Symptoms. — The animal seems dull, does not care to eat or
drink, the muzzle is dry and there is no passage from the bowels.

Treatment.— Give the following:

Epsom Salts 1 pound.

Bitter Aloea 1 ounce.

Oinger 2 talileepuonfuls.

Common Soda 2 "

■m

240 DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF CATTLE.

Mix in a quart of luke warm water and give as a drench. If

this has not operated in twenty-four hours walk the animal for a

quarter of a mile and if it has not operated in twenty-four hours

after the walk give it the following:

Gambogrt 2 drams or 1 teaf>poonf ul.

Bitter Aloes . . 2 ouuces.

Mix in a quart of luke warm water and give as a drench ;

keep exercising the animal every day, and if the last drench has

not operated in twenty-four hours give

Raw Linseed Oil 1 pint.

Whisky... J "

Powdered Nux Vomica 1 teaspoonf ul.

Mix and give as a drench, and give this drench every day
until there is a passage ; keep the body warm with blankets and
hot Salt in a bag over the back.

INFLAMMATION OF THE LINING OF THE BELLY CAVITY (PERITONITIS).

The causes, symptoms and treatment are similar to those in
this disease in the horse. It is rarely met with in cattle.

DROPSY OF THE BELLY.

This follows cases of peritonitis, and the symptoms and treat-
ment are similar to that in the horse. This disease is rarely met

with in cattle.

TAPEWORMS IN CATTLE.

This is aboiit the only kind of worms the bowels of the ox
are subject to. This complaint is rarely met with in cattle, but
in cases where it is there may be from twenty-five to one hundred
feet of the worm found in the bowels.

Symptoms. — The animal runs down in condition, but still
keeps feeding and seems always hungry. The only way to be
sure that it is a tape worm is to watch the manure and you will find
joints of the worrfl coming away with the manure.

Treatment. — Get Hd of the worm by starving the animal for

four days, that is, just give it enough to keep it from starving to

death. Give the following drench : t^ q

Oil of Male Fern •ounce, or A tablespoonfuls.

New Milk 1 pint.

Mix and give as a drench. Give this drench three times a
day during the four days you are starving the animal, and at the
end of that time give one pint of castor oil, which will bring the
worm away all right. Young calves are more often affected than

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF CATTLE. 241

cattle ; treat them the same, only gfive quarter of the dose. As
soon as the worm passes away bring' the animal back to its
reg-ular feed and habits again.

JAUNDICE ORf YELLOWS.

Causes. — This may be caused from cong-estion or inflamma-
tion of the liver, or from bile stones forming in the duct of the
liver, damming back the bile. It is most often seen in stall-fed
cattle. ' ' •

Symptoms. — By pressing on the right side of the belly it
causes the animal pain, its appetite is poor and it does not want
to drink much ; the white of the eyes and the lining of the mouth
and nose is of a yellow color. If it is a milk cow the milk falls
off in quantity, and has a bitter taste like bile ; the animal will
sometimes cough a very painful cough, and will soon run down in
condition and have a very dull appearance.

Treatment. — Give the following :

Kpsom Salts 1 pound.

Salt '. 2 tahlespoonfuls.

Mix in a quart of luke warm water arid give as a drench, but

before giving it to the animal put one dram of dry calomel (which

acts on the liver) on the tongue with a spoon and wash it down

with the drench. Repeat this drench once or twice a week until

the animal is better. Feed on soft food, give plenty of water to

drink and gentle exercise every day.

FLUKE DISEASE IN CATTLE AND SHEEP.

This occurs in cattle and sheep pasturing on low-lying lands,
and is more often met with in rainy seasons.

Causes. — Animals drink the eggs of the flukeworm out of
pools of water, or take them in along with the grass ; after they
get into the stomach in this way they get into the blood along
with the nourishment, and pass around in the blood until they
come to the liver, where they lodge and form into flukeworms, after
this they lay eggs, which pass down out of the liver along with
the bile, then out of the system along with the manure ; they be-
come dry and are blown into pools of water and over the grass,
where the animals again take them up. This is the way they
generate.

Symptoms. — At first, when the eggs are taken into the liver,
they seem to stimulate the action of the liver, and the animal
seems to thrive better than ever for a time, but after the worms be.
16

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242 , DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF CATTLE.

come full grown the liver becomes diseased, which stops the secre-
tion of the bile, and the animal soon falls off in condition, be-
comes very dull and weak, and has dropsical swelling's under the
jaws, throat, chest and bellv* and these symptoms are soon
followed by death.

Treatment. — There is nothing that can be be done but to
destroy the diseased animal to keep the disease from spreading,
and move the unaffected cattle to a higher and dryer pasture.
This disease does qot affect horses, so horses can "be turned on
the pasture the cattle are taken from. On examining the liver
after death you will find it diseased, and you will also find worms
which are from one-half to one inch long, and have round bodies.
In some cases you will find them in great numbers.

WHITE SCOWERS IN CALVES. '

This is a form of diarrhoea in calves.

Causes. — is from an inflammation of the lining of the fourth
part, or true digestive stomach, and is generally caused from chang-
ing tiie calf's milk by taking the milk of another cow to feed it on,
or from giving it cold or skimmed milk when it is not used to it.

Symptoms.— The manure it passes is very thin, and is of a
yellowish white color ; the calf is in pain, breathes heavy, and
groans in spells, keeps gritting its teeth and looking around at its
sides.

Treatment.— Try and find out the cause of the trouble, and if

caused from a change in the milk, or from giving it too cold,

give good, warm milk to drink, and follow with the following:

Haw Linseed Oil 2 ounces, or 8 tablespoonfuls.

Lime Water 2 " 8 "

Tincture of Laudanum 1 dram, or 1 teappoonful.

Mix and give as a drench, and if this does not give relief
give the following :

Tincture of Laudanum 1 c'l.'m or 1 teaspoonful.

Lime Water 2 oo ces, or 8 tablespoonfuls.

Mix and give this three times a day in a little milk as a
drench. Keep this treatment up, and see that the animal is kepr
dr}- and warm until it is better.

BLOODY URINE (RED WATER) IN CATTLE.

Causes. — It is caused by the animal eating some weeds that
act on and irritate the kidneys, or it may be caused from stones
in the bladder or kidneys, or from a/severe strain to the back.

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF CATTLE. 243

Symptoms. — The urine or water is of a smoky, red color,
and tho-nnimal will pass water often, and strain after making- it,
and, in some cases, makes a g-reat lot of it.

Treatment. — Give as a drench :
Glauber Salts 1 to Ih pounds.

Mix in a quart of luke warm water and give as a drench, and

follow up with the following powders :

< Jround Gentian Root h pound.

Sulphate of Iron A "

Mix well together and give a larg-e tablespoonlul in a mash
twice a day, night and morning.

CHAPTER IV.

TROUBLES IN CALVING AND DISEASES

FOLLOWING.

^ HOW TO TELL WHEN A COW IS WITH CALF.

During the hot months of spring and summer a cow will
come bulling every third week, and occasionally a well-fed cow
kept in a warm stable will come bulling during the winter. After
she takes the bull and is with calf she ceases to come bulling or
running, and will thrive and feed better, and is of a quieter dis-
position than before. After a few weeks she commences to get
larger at the flanks, which is more noticeable on the right side on
account of the calf lying mostly on that side. The calt gradually
grows, and at the fifth or sixth month becomes alive, and can be
seen moving at the side after the cow has taken a cold drink of
water. A few months after the cow has been to the bull you can,
by pressing your hand in quickly at the right flank, feel the calf,
which is easily told by the shape and hardness of the object }ou
feel. Springing commences in young cows about four months
previous to calving, and the bag gradually keeps getting larger
until calving time, while older cows generally commence' to make
a bag from four to six weeks before calving. During the time
she is making a bag the vulva gradually keeps getting larger.
Near the end of the ninth month, when calving time approaches,
the ligaments at the sides of the tail and hips relax and leaves J
iiollow at each side of the tail, this hollow is well marked a day or
so before calving. A few days before calving the cow has a wild

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DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF CATTLE.

expreTssicn in her eye, and is cross to other animals, and will trv
to get away by herself, after this the labor pains come on and she
is noticed to be straining, then the neck of the womb opens out,
the water bag appears and breaks, and if the calf is coming natural
and everything all right, the front legs and head appears. The
cow generally lies down, and after a few minutes of severe strain-
ing the calf is delivered, and the cleaning, placenta or afterbirth
generally comes away at the time of calving, or very soon after.

DROPSY OF THE WOMB BEFORE CALVING.

This is due to some derangement of the afterbirth, and there
is an over abundant amount of fluid secreted around the calf, in
some cases several pailfuls collect in the womb around the calf.

Symptoms. — The belly keeps getting larger and larger until
the cow seems almost as broad as she is long, and on account of
so much fluid forming she becomes weak and has difficulty in
getting up and walking around. . ,

Treatment. — There cannot be much done in this disease only
keep the strength up, give a teaspoonful of nitrate of potash or
saltpetre in a mash every third day until she calves, this is to act
on her kidneys, which helps to get the water out of the womb.
Feed plenty of good, strong, nourishing food to keep her strength
up and she will be all right after calving.

PARALYSIS OF HIND QUARTERS BEFORE CALVING.

This disease is generally noticed in poorly-fed, unthrifty
cows, especially if they are exposed to cold or wet, and is caused
by the calf in the womb pressing on the nerves that go to supply
the hind quarrers with power.

Symptoms. — The cow appears healthy — is eating and chewing
her cud, but is not able to rise on her hind parts.

Treatment. — Give half-pound doses of Epsom salts once or
twice a week, according to how it acts on the bowels, and give
the following powder:

Ground Gentian Root J pound.

Nitrate of Potash or Saltpetre. J "

Powdered Nux Vomica . . | "

Mix and give a tablespoonful in a slop twice a day. Give
plenty of good food ; keep her warm ; have good bedding under
her, and turn her from side to side twice a day until she calves,
then she generally comes all right. Never attempt to put her in
slings, just let her lie until she is able to get up.

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF CATTLE. 245

TROUBLES MET WITH IN CALVING.

Troubles met with in cows when calving, such as deformities,
or calves coming in unnatural shapes, is fully explained in con-
nection with "Difficulties met with in a mare foaling." The
deformities and positions are about the same, and the principle
laid down to take foals away is used in taking calves away.
Always, if the calf is coming front end first, have the front feet
and head coming together, and if the hind end is coming first, do
not attempt to turn the calf, but bring it out with hind feet first.
Never be too eager to use hooks, because small ropes are better
and there is less danger of tearing the womb; and in cases where
there has to be any cutting done, it is best to get an experienced
hand, for the parts of the calf have to be skinned inside, com-
mencing at the legs and skinning to the shoulder blade, and then
taking it off with the leg; then take out the ribs and insides, and
so on, with the other parts until you have enough of the calf cut
away so that you can get it out all right.

CLOSURE OF THE NECK OF THE WOMB AT CALVING TIME.

This is where calving time has come, and labor pains are
on the womb, but the neck of the womb keeps contracted or closed,
and will not allow the calf to come out of the womb.

Treatment. — Give the following drench :

Epsom Salts I pound.

Sweet Spirits of Nitre 1 ounce, or 4 taMespoonfuls.

Fluid Extract of Belladonna 1 dram, or 1 teuspoonful.

Mix in a quart of kike warm water and give as a drench. Keep

the body warm with blankets and halt a pail of hot salt, in a bag,

over the back. On examining the neck of the womb with your

hand you will find that you can only get one or two fingers

worked into it. Take a small piece of sponge or cloth and

saturate it with fluid extract oT belladonna, then shove it well into

the neck of the womb as if it were for a plug ; change this two or

three times a day to put more of the fluid extract of belladonna on it.

Do not use any rough treatment, for the belladonna in ,a day or

so will dilate or open the neck of the womb enough so that she will

calve herself. In case this treatment should fail, take a penknife

and nick around the inside of the neck of the womb in several

places on the upper side, then use the belladonna as described

above — and this will open it.

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DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF CATTLE.

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RUPTURE OF THE WOMB OR THE PASSAGE OUT FROM THE WOMB.

This occurs at the time of calving in the same way it does in
the mare when foaling", and for symptoms and treatment look at
rupture of the womb, or the passage out from the womb, in the mare.

TURNING OUT OF THE VAGINA OR PASSAGE LEADING FROM THE

WOMB.

CuUSeS. — Both in cows and mares is from standing in the
stall with their hind feet too low before calving or foaling, and
while lying down, on account of being so full, the womb presses
back against the passage and turns it out ; it is liable to come out
in cows a few davs after calving from straininsj, or it mav be
caused from constipation, in either cows or mares where they
strain in making manure.

Symptoms. — There is a tulging out of the passage about the
size of a man's head. •

Treatment. — Bathe the parts well with luke warm water until
it is nice and clean, and shove it back to its place and stitch the
edges of the vulva together by putting in a couple of stitches, just
leaving space enough at the bottom for the mare or cow to make
water. Put the stitches deep in the vulva and allow them to come
out of their own accord, which generally takes a week or so. If
it is a cow, give a pound of Epsom salts and a tablespoonful of
ginger in a quart of luke warm water, and raise her stall two or
three inches higher at the back than in the front; feed on rich
food, as it will not make such a bulk in her stomach. If it is
a mare, give her a pint of raw linseed oil, and raise her stall two
or three inches higher at the back than in the front; and in either
case be careful until after they foal or calve. In either case, 'f
they are about to have their young, watch them close, and if the
labor pains come on, cut the stitches out and give her assistance,
and after she is delivered of her young shove the parts back and
stitch up the vulva again for a few days, then she well be all right.

WOMB, CALF OR FOAL BED TURNED OUT.

This is where the calf or foal bed is turned inside out, and
hangs down from the vulva. This is not often seen in mares, but
is a common occurrence in cows.

Causes. — From the animal lying with her hind end too low,
and while the womb is in its dilated or enlarged state, after
calving or foaling, the body being low behind, the bowels and

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF CATTLE. 247

■ ■■ • — ■ -— ' — - — ■' ' . I .■■.■■ I I I.I—

Stomach presses the womb back up into the pelvic, or hip cavity,
and as soon as it gets up in this part it causes the animal to have
pain and strain, which soon turns the womb inside out. To
prevent this from takiijg' place, it is always well to keep the animal
standing" for a few minutes after having her young, so as to allow
the womb to go back into its place, tind after this, if she lies
down, see that her hind end is not too low.

Symptoms. — The animal seems very weak and has a large,
red mass hanging out behind, sometimes larger than a large
wooden pail.

Treatment.— in all cases, as soon as it is noticed, return it,
for the sooner it is done the easier it is put back and the less
danger there is of losing the animal, for the longer it is out the
more it swells. If the cleaning is still attached to the womb — as
it is in some cases — remove the cleaning, which is easily done,
before returning the womb, by separating it from one button at h
time. After this bathe well with warm water, and when it is nice
and clean, place a clean sheet or blanket under it and have it held
up by two men, one on each side, while you are returning it ;
after everything is ready for returning it make the cow, or mare,
get on her feet, and have her stand so that her hind end is a
few inches higher than her front end, then have the men who are
holding the sheet raise the womb a little higher than the vulva,
this makes it easier to shove in. After this begin turning the
womb in, commencing at the edge of the vulva, returning it gradually
until all of it is in the passage, then, with your hand closed, press it
against the end of the womb and shove it right back to its place
and hold it there for a few minutes with your hand and arm. Dur-
ing the time you are returning it be careful not to run your fingers
through it. After you draw out your arm place three or four
good, solid stitches across the vulva, leaving a little space at the
bottom for the water to come out. Cover the animal so that she
will be warm and keep a half pail of hot salt in a bag to, her back.
If it is a cow give the following :

Epaom Salts 1 pound.

Sweet Spirits of Nitre 1 ounce or 4 tablespoonfuls.

Tincture of Laudanum 1 " 4 "

Mix in a quart of water and give as a drench, after this give
one ounce or four tablespoonfuls of tincture of laudanum and ten
drops of aconite in a pint^of water every three hours until she
stops strainingi also keep her standing on her feet for a few hours,

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248 DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF CATTLE.

with her hind end raised three or four inches higher than her front
end. In two or three days after the pains are gone take the
stitches out and allow her to stand on the level floor again. If it
is a mare give one pint of rjiw linseed oil instead of the Epsom
salts, but the rest of the treatment is the same. In both cases re-
move the stitches in two or three days, when the animal quits
straining and seems all right.

HCW TO TAKE AWAY THE CLEANING FROM A COW.

Why the cleaning does not come away is not known, for it
occurs in well-fed cows as well as in ones that are are poorly kept.

Treatment. — As soon as the cow is noticed not to clean give
the following drench :

Epsom Salts I pound.

B'luid Extract of Belladonna 1 dram, or 1 teaspoonful.

Sweet Spirits of Nitre 1 ounce, or 4 tablespoonfuls.

Mix in a quart of luke warm water and give as a drench.
Blanket well and keep half a pail of hot salt in a bag to her back ;
give her a hot bran mash and leave her quiet, and when the medi-
cine operates she will generally clean all right, in thirty hours after
you have given her the medicine, if she has not cleaned yoti will
have to take it away with your hand. Roll up your sleeves and
oil your right hand and arm, then take hold of the piece of clean-
ing that is outside with your left hand and pass your right hand
into the womb, and by gently pulling the cleaning it will come
away quite easy after getting the medicine, it being held in only
by the neck of the womb being tightened on it, not allowing it to
slip out. In cases where the cleaning has not loosened off of the
buttons, keep gradually pullingwith the left hand and loosen the
cleaning with the right hand off the buttons until it is all worked off.
A little practice in removing cleanings soon makes a person perfect
at it. When the cleaning is green and too tight on the buttons
allow it to remain in another day and give her another drench of
the same kind as the first one mentioned, which will make it all
right for taking away. Cleaning should never be taken away
without first giving the medicine to loosen it from the buttons.

INFLAMMATION OF THE WOMB (METRITIS).

This disease generally comes on two or three days after
calving.

Causes. — From getting wet, standing in a draft or anything^
that will give her a sudden chill, will bring it on. I

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF CATTLE. 249

Symptoms. — Slight shivering ; the horns, ears and h^gs are
cold, the pulse and breathing quick, she loses her appetite and
stops chewing her cud and seems restless on her hind legs, as if
in pain ; she seems sore on the right side, her vulva is swollen,
and she passes bloody looking stuff from it ; frequently, after
making her water, she seems very thirsty ; her bowels are costive,
iiiul the urine is of a reddish color ; ihe bag is hot, swollen and
and tender, and she does not give as much milk as she should.

Treatment. — Give the following:

Epsom Salts 1 pound.

Tincture of Lauclunuin I^ ounces, or 6 tablespoonfuls.

Fleming's Tincture of Aconite 10 drops.

Mix in a quart of hike warm water and give as a drench; keep

her body warm with blankets and half a pail full of hot salt in a

bag on her back, and keep it hot by changing it every hour/

After the first drench give

Tincture of Laudanum 1 ounce, or 4 tablespoonfuls.

'Sweet Spirits of Nitre 1 " 4 "

Fleming Tincture of Aconite 10 drops.

Mix in a pint of luke warm water and give as a drench every
four hours until she is better. Feed on soft food with boiled flax-
seed in it to keep the bowels loose. Give her cold water to drink
in small quantities, but often. After this disease has passed off
there is sometimes a nasty discharge from the womb of a whitish
color, which has a bad smell. This is called whites (Leucorrhcea).

WHITES (LEUCORRHCEA).

This disease frequently follows inflammation of the womb,
but may be caused in other ways, such as handling the womb
rough in taking the calf, or cleaning away, or returning a calf
bed ; anything that will irritate the womb will set up this disease ;
or it may be caused from the cow being put to the bull too often.

Symptoms. — There is a nasty, whitish discharge, which has
a bad smell, passes from the vulva, which is often noticed after
she makes her water, from the effects of this the cow runs down
in condition, gets poor, weak and hide-bound.

Treatment. — Give her half-pounddosesof Epsom salts dissolved
in a pint of luke warm water, twice a week to keep the bowels free.
Oil vour hand and pass it through the passage to the neck of the
womb, then gradually open it up with your fingers until you get it
large enough to pass your hand into the womb, then with a pail
of luke warm water, soap and a sponge wash the womb and pas-

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DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF CATTLE.

saj^e out until you jj^et it nice and clean, then with a teaspoonful
of sulphate of zinc dissolved in a pint of water bathe the womb
well. This will heal the womb and dry up the discharge. In the
course of a week, if the discharge is not stopped, dress the womh
again the same as abovtf mentioned. Keep giving her the salts
once or twice a week, agcording to how much it acts on the
bowels, and, if in the spring of the year, let her out to grass.

N PARALYSIS AFTER CALVING.

This is when the cow apparently seems healthy, only she
cannot rise up on her feet, and is generally caused from an injury
to the muscles or nerves of the back when she is straining while
calving. This disease need not alarm you for, as a general thing,
she gets all right in a few days.
• Treatment.— Give the following:

Epsom Salts 1 pound.

Sweet Spirits of Nitre 1 ounce or 4 tablespoonf uls.

Mix in a quart of hike warm water and give as a drencii.
Keep her body warm with blankets, and apply a quarter of a
pound of mustard, mixed in vinegar, over the back every second
day. Feed on soft food, with boiled flax seed in it. Milk her out
twice a day, and also turn her over from side to side twice a day,
but never, under any circumstances, put her in slings.

MILK FEVER (PARTURIENT APOPLEXY).

This is one of the most fatal diseases cows are subject to,
and mostly affects well-fed, fat cows that "calve during the hot
months of spri\ig and summer, but may affect poor cows. It is
also noticed occasionally to affect cows at almost any time of the
year; even in the winter, in rare cases, it is noticed.

Causes. — The exact causes of this disease are not clearly
understood; but it is supposed that on account of the hot weather,
and the cow being fat and full of blood, it sets up a fever which
affects the nerves, and when the nerves are affected, the milk
glands also become affected, and do not secrete the milk, and the
milk not being secreted as it should be, leaves the blood charged
full of material which should go to form milk, and when the blood
becomes full of this material, it affects the brain and nerves, soon
causing paralysis. This disease is usually noticed to come on in
from one to eight days after calving. The sooner it comes on
after calving, the more fatal the disease is. Cows taking it in

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF CATTLE. 251

one or two days after calving seldom get better, but after that
time there is more chance of recovery.

Symptoms. — .\t first there i!|a wild, glary appearance of the
eyes, and when you go to milk her there will be very little milk in
the bag, which, in most cases, seems soft and flabby. In trying
to walk she has a staggering gait. These symptoms will gradu-
ally get worse; saliva will run from her mouth, and she will seem
i^^reatly exqited ; keeps staggering, and acts like a drunken man.
Finally she gets down, and is unable to rise; her head is turned
around to her side ; her ears are lopped over, and her eyes now
have a peculiar, dull, glassy appearance ; the pupils of the eyes
are enlarged; she breathes a little heavy; her nose is dry, and
she does not take any notice of things around her. If you go to
milk her only a little will come out at a time. There is very little
or no passage from the bowels, and if you prick her with a pin
she cannot feel it. A few hours after this, if she does not get
relief, she becomes delirious, moans heavy, lies strtAched out, and
keep? tossing her head about. The bag keeps getting softer, and
after a while, when you try to milk her, you cannot get any.
She gradually gets worse and soon dies. We will relate a case
where a cow was stricken with milk fever, and owing to the
distance we had to go, when called to treat the case, it took four
hours to reach her from the time she took sick, and on arriving
she was breathing 4ier last. This shows' the necessitv of everv
stockowner understanding this disease thoroughly, so he can
treat them as soon as they are noticed sick ; for this is the only
way to treat millc- fever succe;,sfully.

Treatment. — The treatment must be quick. If you notice
her sick before she gets off her feet, bleed her ; take away from
half a pail to a pailful of blood; put her in some shady, cool place *
and give the following:

'Epsom Salts 1 pound.

Bitter Aloes 2 ounces.

Nitrate of Potash or Saltpetre 1 large teaspoonful.

Mix in a quart of luke warm water and give as a drench.
If you do not bleed Ijer, add to the above drench ten to fifteen
drops of Fleming's tincture of aconite according to how fat the
cow is; this has a similar action to bleeding. As soon as you
give the drench, blanket her, and apply five or six pounds of
ice broken up, in a bag, to her head between the horns ; this will ,
give her great relief. After this, bathe the bag with luke warm

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DISEASES AND TREATMENT OV lATTLE.

water, and if you can yet marshmallow, steep some and add
about two cupluls of it to the luke warm water you bathe the hnL;^
with, l?athe the bag- three or four times a day and keep tryinj;
to milk her as often as you can to |fet the milk back to the ba^-
again. Apply a half-pound of mustard, mixed with vinegar, over
her back every twelve hours. Keep her in a cool place, well
blanketed, and keep ice to her head ; turn her over from side to
side every six or seven hours and follow upwith the followingdrench:

Whisky A pint.

Nitrate of I'otush or Saltpetre 1 teuBpoonful.

Mix in a pint of water and give as a drench every five hours

mitil she gets relief. In milk fever, be very careful in drenching,

for, as tlie ccw is unconscious, she is easily choked, simply raise

her head enough to allow the medicine to run back into the

mouth. If Joe becomes so par; i' 'ed that she loses the power of

swallowing, do not attempt to di\iich her, but keep on with the

other treatment until she can swallow. On account of the bowels

being paralyzed, it is well to clean out the rectum, or back bowel,

twice a day, by oiling your hand and passing it up, and if there

is anything there, clean it out. During the lime she is sick aliow

her to drink cold water, in small quantities, but often. If the

cow is going to get better, after a time she looks brighter, raises

her head and rests up on her breastbone; milks a little; has a

passage from the bowels, and in a few days will get on her feet.

Never attempt to raise a cow that has milk fever.

HOW TO PREVENT MILK FEVER FROM COMING ON.

If the weathjr is hot and the cow is in good condition, and
you are afraid of milk fever, turn the cow into a shady place every
day for a week or so before she calves ; feed very light and allow
her to run out at night, and give her the following medicine :

Epboin Salts 1 pound.

Sweet Spirits of Nitre ' ounce or 4 tableapoonfula.

If she has a ver^ large bag before she calves, milk her every

day; after she calves, keep her in during the day and let her out

at night for a week, and keep her well milked out. Repeat tiie

above dose and she will generally be all right.

INFLAMMATION OF THE MILK BAG (GARGET).
Causes. — From getting cold in the bag; from an injiu-y; from
too great a tlow of milk at calving time ; from a lump in the teat;
or from anything that will stop the milk from being milked out of
the bag.

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF CATTLE. 253

Symptoms. — The cow seems feverish ; the bag is swollen, hot
and tender; she is very thirsty, but does not care to eat; the
bowels are a little costive; when you go to milk her it causes her
pain; there is very little milk in the bag; and, in severe cases,
nothing but a little water will come out. This disease may affect
one quarter, half the bag, or all of it. It is most often seen in
cows, just after calving, that are kept in high condition. If it is
allowed to run on for some time the bag may fester and break,
while in other cases, where there is a great deal of inflammation
in the bag, mortification may set in, and the part mortified will
drop off. The mortification may extend up into the body and
cause her death.

Treatment. --Give the following:

Epsom Halts 'i pound.

Sweet Spirits of Xilre 1 ounce or 4 tablespoonfula.

Nitrate of Potash or Saltpetre 1 teaspoonf ul.

Mix in a quart of water and give as a drench, and repeat
this every second or third day until she is better. This will carry
off the fever out of her system. Bathe her bag well with warm
water and v'negar three times a day; after bathing, apply white
liniment, and as soon as the liniment is on, oil the bag with lard
or goose oil to keep the liniment from blistering and also to soften
the bag. Milk her three or four times a day and feed light until
all the soreness is out of the bag. In cases where the milk stops
coming entirely, and the bag is festering, watch for a soft place
in the swelling, and, as soon as it forms, lance it and let the
matter out. After you lance the bag, if it smells bad, put a few
drops of carbolic acid in the water that you bathe it with; this
will kill the smell and clean the wound or hole. The rest oi' the
treatment is the same as given above. In case the bag mortifies,
give it lots of bathing with the hot carbolic water, as above
mentioned, three times a day, then app!} the white lotion, and
give the drench mentioned above once a week instead of every
second day; the mortified part ol' the bag will gradulally rot away
and heal up.

SMALL ROUND LUMPS IN THE PASSAGE OF THE TEAT.

Causes.— From a bruise or injury to the passage of the teat
in some way, and when it is healing the thickening or lump forms.

Symptoms. — There is a small lump in the teat which can be
felt between your finger apd thumb when you are handling the
teat. These lumps may be anywhere along the milk passage of

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DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF CATTLE.

the teat. The first summer the cow is affected with these kiinps
in the teat they interfere greatly with your milking- her, but if slie
is bred again when she calves these lumps will entirely block
the teat and give you a great deal of trouble for you cannot get the
milk down, and the bag becomes swollen and inflamed, and in a
great many cases she loses the affected quarter.

Treatment. — Generally, the first season they are affected with
it, you can get the milk out all right, but it is advisable not to breed
the cow again but let her go dry and fatten her, for she will be
worse next summer. When you cannot get the milk down
with your fingers pass a teat syphon or milk tube up the pas-
sage of the teat through the lump far enough to reach the milk, and
then the milk will run till the quarter is milked out. Use the
tube each time you are milking the other teats. These teat
syphons can be got at almost any drug store or veterinary instru-
ment store for about 10 or 15 cehts. The way to use the tube is
to first tie a colored string in the small ring at the side so you
won't lose it if it drops out in the straw, then oil it; take hold of
the teat \7ith your left hand and with your right hand pass liie
teat syphon up through the passage to the lump, and when you
come to it gradually force it through, which is easily done; con-
tinue passing it gentlv up until the milk runs out, and leave it in
until all the milk is out. Bathe the bag twice a day with warm
water and vinegar, after bathing apply white liniment and then
oil the bag with lard to keep it soft. it is advisable in very
bad cases to let that quaiv^r of the bag i^o dry as soon as

you can.

BLOODY MILK. *

Causes. — From any injury to the bag, getting cold in it, or

from eating irritating weeds.

Treatment.—- Give tb.e following :

J-'.paom S ilta 1 ])oun(l.

Nitrate of I'otash oi 'Saltpetre 1 teaspoonful.

Mi.x in a quart of kike warm water and give as a drench ;
give a teaspoonful of saltpetre in a mash every night. After milk-
ing bathe the hag with warm water, wipe dry and apply white
liniment, then oil the bag with lard or goose grease, and the
milk will soon get all right. If you think it is caused from eating
irritating plants put the cov in another pasture.

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF CATTLE.

joy

BLUE MUK.

This is where the milk is watery looking and very blue.

Causes. — From little g-erms, called bacillus cyanogenus, g-et-
tiiiy up into the teat. The only way to be sure it is caused by
these germs is to examine the milk with a microscope.

Treatment. — With a small glass syringe inserted into the

passage of the teat inject some of the following each time after

'milking:

Hyposulphite of Soda 1 dram.

Water 1 pint.

Shake well before injecting, and after a few injections the

milk will be all right.

STRINGY MILK.

Causes. — From swallowing small germs while drinking out of
>tagnant pools of water.

Symptoms. — A few days after the germs are swallowed the
cow's milk will be curdy and stringy looking, mixed with water,
and wi) ^ . i,e out in jerks when milking. It will be like this for
a few du ■:.. ihen get all right for a week or so when it will come
on again. Generally two or three cows out of a large herd will
be affected in the same way.

Treatment. — if it is caused IVom drinking out of low springs
or pools keep the cows away from the water by fencing it off, and
give Iwo drams, or one teaspoonful of bisulphite oi' soda in a mash
every night, which will soon make the milk all right, and the dis-
ease will not come back on her again.

CHAPPED OR SORE TEATS.

Causes. —This is caused from milking with rough hands; or
from the cow runnifig through long grass and wetting and iriitat-
ing the teat; or it may he caused from llies.

Treatment. — Each time before milking wa!?h the teats off

with luke warm water and a little castile soap, then attei you

ha\-e milked her rub the teats with the following salve :

Vaseline J ^oumes.

t)xide of Zinc 1 dram.

Carbolic Atid Ui drops.

Mix well together and put in a box large enough to Iiold it.
This is a cheap and a grand healing salve for any kind ol' sores
around the bag.

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DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF CATTLE.

SMALL WARTS ON THE TEATS.

These rre very troublesome when you are milking, but are
very easily got rid of if you take the right plan.

Treatment. — After the cow is put dry is the best time to treat.
Tie the cow up and hobble her two hind legs together above the
hocks with a strap so she dannot kick you, then with a pair of
large, sharp scissors clip all the warts off as close as you
can to the teat. By cutting them off with scissors they will not
bleed. After they are taken off dress them once a day with the
same salve used for chapped teats and tht ■ will not come on
again, but if they should come on the next year use the same
treatment again. •

CUTS AND FISTULA OF THE TEAT.

This is when the teat has been cut deep enough to cut the
milk passage, which allows the milk to keep dripping out through
the hole. \

Treatment. — if the cut is big s<. ,v it up with a. needle ust^l for
sewing wounds; bathe with warm water and apply white lotion
every time after m Iking. The best way to milk a cow while the
• teats are sore is to insert a teat syphon, or milk tube, up into the
teat, and this will let the milk run out without irritating the teat;
sometimes after it is healed up there vill be a small hole in the
side of the teat, which will allow the milk to leak out while you are
milking. The best way to fix this is after she has gone dry burn
the hole with a pointed stick of caustic potash, which destroys the
fistula, then while it is healing up the hole will disappear and be
all right the next time she calves.

COW POX.

This is often seen in cow, and affects herds in all parts of
the world. It is somewhat similar to smallpox in people only it is
not nearly so fatal. This is an infectious disease, that is, it can
be carried from one cow to another. For instance, one man
milking eight or ten cows and only one has the disease at first, he
will carry felie disease to all the others by milking them.

Symptoms. — The cow seems feverish and does not give quite
so much milk. In a few days, little red, pimple-like spots appear
around the teats. In a day or so more, these red spots will rise
up in the form of a blister, which contains a watery fluid. If the^e
are not broken during milking, they dry up themselves and form
scabs, which, in a few days, drop off, lea\!ig the teat

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF CATTLE. 257

natural. It generally takes this disease from eight to ten days to

run its course; but sometimes, when the blisters on the teats are

broken by the milker's hand and kept irritated by milking, or

from flies, it takes a long time to heal them up.

Treatment. — Keep the cow separate from the others, and allow ,

only one person to milk her, and no other, so as to keep the disease

from spreading, if in the spring, only let her have grass; if in any

other time of the year, feed on soft food with boiled flax seed in it,

and give the following powders for her blood and kidneys :

Nitrate of Potash or Saltpetre ^ pound.

Sulphur I ••

Ground Gentian Root i "

Mix thoroughly and give a teaspoonful night and morning

in a mash. Each time before milking her, bathe the teats with

luke warm water and soap, then milk her carefully and use the

following preparation :

Sweet Oil 4 ounces.

Carbolic Acid 10 drops,

Mix and apply to the sore parts of the teats each time after

milking.

COWS LOSING THEIR CALVES (ABORTION).

Causes. — This generally occurs from slipping on ice; being
chased by a dog; or from the hook of another animal.

Symptoms. — Labor pains come on; she will get up and down;
the water bag appears and breaks; and if the calf is coming
straight, it soon appears and comes away all right.

Treatment. — if the cow keeps on straining, and the calf does
not come, oil your hand, pass it up into the womb and straighten
the calf, and it will come away all fight. After the calf is taken
away, cover her up warn i, and if she does not seem very well give
her the following:

Sweet Spirits of Nitre 1 ounce or 4 tablespoonfuls.

Epsom Salts 1 pound. .

Mix in a quart of luke warm water and give as a drench. If the

cleaning does not come away, use the same treatment as is given in

"How to take away the cleanings from a cow." After this, feed

on soft food, keep her warm and milk hef twice a day; this will

bring her back to her milk.

BARRENNESS IN COWS AND BULLS.

This is a common thing in well-bred cows, especially in
Jerseys.

Causes. — From their being kept in too hitr' jondilion; from a
Jiseased state of the ovaries; contracted or diseased state of the neck
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DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF CATTLE.

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of the womb; the womb being deformed, such as the neck being
twisted to one side; or where there is twin heifers one or the other
will be barren. Bulls or cows that are too closely inbred in the
same line of breeding for several generations may become bJ(rren, or
what is known as run out; it is also caused in bulls sometimes from
fatty degeneration of the testicles — mostly seen in old bulls — and,
also, rig bulls (that is, where only one or neither of the testicles are
down in the scrotom) are sometimes barren. This rule also holds
good in horses.

Treatment. — If it is caused from being in high condition bleed
her, take a half pail of blood away the day before taking her
to the bull, or give her a physic of one and a half pounds of Epsom
salts in a quart of luke warm water as a drench. The idea of this
is to cool her blood. Examine her, and if it is from contraction of
the neck of the womb, pass your hand up gently and open it by
working your fingers in it ; if it is from the neck of the womb
being to one side, straighten it. In doing this have your hand and
arm oiled. In either of these cases put the cow to the bull im-
mediately after fixing it. If it is from inbreeding try and start
her to breed by putting her to a mongrel bred bull. There cannot
be much done for a barren bull.

CHAPTER V.

/

DISEASES OF THE GENITAL ORGANS OF

THE BULL.

INFLAP^MATION OF THE TESTICLES (ORCHITIS).

Causes. — it is generally from an injury, or from serving too
many cows.

Symptoms. — The bull r oves stiff and has a straddling gait,
the testicles are swollen and very tender.

Treatment.— Give the following :

Epsom Salts 1^ pounds. "

Nitrate of Potash or Saltpetre 1 teaspoonful.

Ginger 1 tablespoonful.

Mix in a quart of luke warm water and give as a drench. Bathe

the testicles well with hot wdter and vinegar and apply a poultice oi

hot linseed meal and bran, about half and half. Have the poultice

held up to the bag by means of strmgs tied up over the back and it

will give steady heat to the bag and draw the inflammation out; ii

1 .i:.!

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF CATTLE.

259

will also support the testicles and ease the pain ; keep the poultices
hot by changing them twice a day ; keep this treatment up until the
bull is better, and do not let him get cold afterward. During
the time you are treating him feed on soft food and he will soon be
all right. If, after he is well, you find that the inflamtnation has
destroyed the seed part of the testicles — which can be told by
putting him to cows and if they do not get with calf — castrate
him, for he will be of no further use for breeding purposes.

INJURIES TO THE SHEATH AND PENIS.

Causes. — From jumping over a fence and being caught on it,
or being caught in any way that will injure the sheath and penis.

Symptoms. — There is swelling and soreness o( the sheath and
penis. If it is a bull he will be unfit for service until he is better.

Treatment. — Examine to see that there is nothing in the end.
of the sheath, and if there is anything remove it at once. Bathe
well three times a day with luke warm water, wipe dry and then
apply the white lotion. Keep this treatment up until the swelling^
is all out. In very severe cases give him a pound of Epscm salts.

CLAPP IN BULLS (GONORRHOEA).

This is inflammation of the lining of the passage of the penis.

Causes. — From too frequent service, or from serving a cow
that is affected with whites (leucorrhoea).

Symptoms. — There is a whitish fluid discharge from the end
of the penis and she:ith, and they are also very sore to handle,,
and in making' his water it scalds him and causes him pain.

Treatment. — Give him one pound of Epsom salts in a quart of
luke warm water as a drench to cool the blood ; bathe the sheath
well with luke warm water twice a day, wipe dry, and inject
into the sheath a little of the following mixture :

Sulphate of Zinc 2 drams of 1 teaspoonful.

Water 1 pint.

Mix and shake well before using. This is a cheap and

effective cure for this disease. Keep the bull away from cows

until he is better, as he would give the disease to the cows.

CASTRATION OF BULLS AND CALVES.

Secure him, either by standing him in a firm stall or throwing
him down, which can be easily done by taking a rope about thirty
feet long, make a loop in the centre large enough to slip over his
head and neck and then tie a knot in it; after the rope is put over
his head and fitted on the neck, pass it back between the front

. li

260

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF CATtLE.

lift

i}-\

legs and bring- tlie ends of it back one on each side around the outside
of the hind legs, and back around the inside just above the hock,
then bring them forward on the outside of the front legs through the
loop; have a man on each side to pull on the ropes, which will
soon throw him down, then tie him up solid. This is the best
method known for throwing cattle. As soon as you have secured
him, take a sharp knife and make a cut along the side of the bag
large enough to let the testicle out; be sure the cut extends to the
bottom of the bag so it will not form a pocket. As soon as you
have let the testicle out, draw it well up and you will notice a
white covering attached to the back part of it, cut this off close to
the testicle with your knife, then you can pull up the testicle and
cord free; after this, pull the testicle and cord well up, and if the
bull is over a year old, tie the cord with a strong, fine piece of
« string about four inches above the testicle, leaving the ends of the
string six or eight inches long so they will hang out of the bag and
not heal up in it; leave this string on until it drops off itself; cut
the testicles off below the strings; fill the holes full of salty butter
and let him go. The reason the string is tied on the cord when
the animal is one year old and upwards is because there is danger
of him bleeding, to death from the cords. The operation of
castrating a bull standing up is done by securing him in a solid,
narrow stall and operating in the same manner as you wd^ld if he
was lying down.

The way to castrate a calf is to tie him or have some person
hold him; make the cuts in the bag the same as for castrating
bulls; when the testicle is out, separate the covering attached to
the back part of the testicle with your knife; then draw the cord and
testicle well up, and with your knife scrape up and down on the
cord until it is scraped oflF, this will stop the bleeding; fill the
holes full of salty butter and let him go. The main thing after
castrating bulls, bull calves, boars and dogs is to keep them away
from dampness, and if they swell, bathe with luke warm water and
soap and open up the cuts with salty butter on your finger. If it
swells very much, bathe with luke warm water and salt three
times a day, and after bathing apply white lotion. Sometimes, a
few weeks after the cuts are healed up, the bag swells and becomes
very sore and hot; in this case you may know there is matter
forming in the bag. Bathe well three times a day with luke warm
water; after bathing apply white lotion and put on a hot poultice
of half linseed meal and half bran ; fasten the poultice on by means

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF CATTLE.

261

of string's over the back; this is to bring the festering to a head.
Change the poultice every time you bathe the bag. As soon as
you find a soft spot in the bag, lance it to let the matter out;
make a goo.d sized hole in it, large enough to run your finger up
into it to clean it out. After this, treat by bathing with luke
warm water and soap and applying the white lotion twice a day ;
keep the cuts open by putting butter on your finger and running
it up into the hole once a day until it commences to heal.
• RIG OR ORIGINAL BULLS.

This is when one or both the testicles never come down into
the scrotom, or bag. These kind of bulls cannot be castrated like
liorses, and after they get a little .»j|{e on them they become a per-
fect nuisance. >

Advice.— When you go to crt«»lrate a calf and find only one or
neither testicles are down, fatten and get rid of it, for it very
rarely comes down afterwards. It will save you a lot of trouble if
you get rid of it while young.

HOW TO RING A BULL.

Secure the animal by throwing him, or having him in a solid,
narrow stall ; take a piece of sharp-pointed, clean, hard wood, or
a sharp piece of bright steel large enough to make a hole for the
ring ; put the hole through in the soft part of the nose, just in
front of the hard cartilage that separates the nostrils, which is
easily felt. After the hole is through, open and oil the ring, slip
it through, close it and put in the screw. After the ring is in turn
it every day until the wound is healed. These rings can be got
at any hardware store.

SWELLING OF THE POINT OF SHEATH IN STEERS.

Causes. — It is mostly seen where they are grazing on a pasture
field where there is a lot of limestone, or when there is much lime
in the water they drink, and on account of the -steer not putting
out his penis while making water, just letting it dribble out of
the sheath, the lime in his water collects and forms a small
limestone which soon gets large and irritates the sheath, causing
it to swell.

Treatment. — if he is a quiet steer, let him stand, and have
someone to hold him by the horn and nose, while you, with your
fingers oiled, pass one of them up into the sheath, and by working
the stone around you can soon remove it, then oil the sheath
inside and outside with lard and it will be all right. In case you
cannot do this with the steer standing up, throw him down and
secure him as for castration and remove it in the same way. ,

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262

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF CATTLE.

CHAPTER VI.

DISEASES OF THE EAR AND EYE.

Diseases of the ear of the ox are very rarely met with, and
are similar to those of the horse, and for any information concern-
ing them refer to diseases of the ear in, the horse.

» CANCER IN THE EYE.

The eye of the ox seems to be a favorite place for cancers
and is very often met with.

Causes. — The causes of it are the same as other cancers, that
is, the cancer germs get into the blood, for the disease first begins
in the blood, but afterward locates and shows itself in the eye,
although some say it will come on from an injury.

Symptoms. — The first symptom is dullness of the eye, with
tears flowing from the corners ; there will be a bulging out of the
eye, and if you look close you will see in the back part of the eye a
small growth ; the animal may thrive fairly well for a while, but
will fall off in condition as the growth comes on account of the
pain in the eye ; soon the growth gets so large that it will destroy
the whole eye and hang down on the cheek ; it gets very
angry and red looking, and will bleed freely if the least thing
touches it; the cancer keeps on growing, and in a short time the
bones around the eye become diseased, and when they become dis-
eased, they also become enlarged, and have a very bad smell.

Treatment. — By removing the eye in the early stages of the
disease you can effect a cure. This is done by throwing and
securing the animal ; have the head held solid, and with a knife
cut around the eye and loosen it from the eyelids, then stick a
small hook into the eye and pull it out as far as you can, then
take a piece of carriage trimmers' twine and slip it around the
back part of the eye and tie it tight — this will stop the bleeding —
then cut the eye off in front of where you tied the string ; saturate
a piece of cotton batting with Monsell's solution of iron and insert
it in the hole where the eye came out of; take the batting out the
next day and bathe the_ eye twice a day with luke warm water and
soap, after bathing apply white lotion ; if the parts are raw and
angry looking touch the spots with caustic potash every day.
This may effect a cure, but in a case where it grows again, or
where the growth is very bad before operating, or the bones dis-
eased, have the animal destroyed immediately.

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF CATTLE.

263

FOREIGN SUBSTANCES IN THE EYE.

Sometimes chaflf, barley-beards or small pieces of stick get
into the eye and become lodged there.

Symptoms. — The animal suffers very much ; tears run down
over the cheek ; the eye becomes very much inflamed and dim, and
if allowed to run on the sight will soon become covered with a
white scum. If you catch the animal and examine the eje closely
you will find out what is in it.

Treatment. — in all cases catch the animal and examine the
eye closely, and when you find out the cause of the trouble remove
it, then bathe the eye every day with new milk or luke warm
water; wipe dry and apply, in and around the eye every time after
bathing, the eye wash mentioned in the receipts at the back of
this book. Keep this treatment up till the eye is better.

A GROWTH ON THE HAW OF THE EYE.

This is a red growth in the inner corner of the eye, caused by
some irritation of the haw of the eye, which is a piece of cartilage
or toiigh membrane that fits across the inner corner of the eye.

Symptoms. — At first the eye looks sore and angry in the inner

corner and runs water freely, afterwards followed by the red,

angry looking growth growing out of the corner of the eye. The

;rowth may vary from the size of a marble to a small hen's egg.

Treatment. — Secure the animal by throwing it the same as
mentioned for castrating bulls. Have the head held firmly on the
ground, take hold of the growth with a small hook, or anything
that you can hold it with ; pull the growth out of the eye far
enough to get under it with a pair of scissors and clip it off ; there
is usually very little bleeding or trouble with it afterward ; bathe
the eye with new milk once a day, wipe dry and apply the eye
wash.

SORE OR INFLAMED EYES IN CATTLE.

Causes. — From getting cold in the eyes or from an injury.

Symptoms. — Tears run freely, and the eyes are verj- weak and
red looking, and if not relieved a scum soon forms over the sight
of the eve.

Treatment. — Bathe well twice a day with new milk or luke
warm water, and each time after bathing wipe dry and apply the
eye wash.

CATARACT OF THE EYE U CATTLE.

This is very rarely met with in cattle, and for information re-
garding it look up cataract of the eye in horses, for the causes,
symptoms and treatment are the same.

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264

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF CATTLE.

DfJURIES TO THE EYELIDS.

It may occur in a good many ways, as a kick from k horse, a
hook from a cow, or from catching on something.

Treatment. — If they are torn much stitch them up with a
sewing needle, used to sew up wounds, and can-iage trimmers'
twine, which is the best twine for this work, and treat it after-
wards by bathing with new milk or luke warm water and applying
the eye wash. Do this twice day and it will sopn heal up and the
stitches will work out themselves. ^

CHAPTER VII.

FRACTURED BONES, WOUNDS, SPRAINS OF
JOINTS AND TENDONS.

FRACTURED BONES.

Fractures dccur in various ways, from the kick of a horse,
getting caught on a fence «while jumping, falling, being chased by
dogs, or being struck with anything hard enough to fracture a
bone. As a rule, when the fracture is so bad that the bone is
shattered, or a piece of the bone is stuck through the skin, it is
best to destroy the animal, and if it is fat enough it makes good
beef, provided it is killed in time.

FRACTURE OF THE LOWER JAW.
This is a fracture that generally occurs from a kick or a blow
of some kind, and is first noticed by the animal not being able to
eat, and the mouth will seem crooked. It is recommended in
cases of this kind to set the jaw in place, and have it held there
with wire fastened around the teeth in the jaw. This can be done
better if it is t^e front of the jaw that is fractured. When you
have set the jaw with wires feed on soft food, such as gruels, that
the animal can drink down. If the animal is lit to kMl it is best
to butcher it.

BROKEN NECK OR FRACTURE OF THE NECK BONES.
To show how simple this may occur we will relate a case that
came under our own personal observation. A cow that had been
kept in the stable during the winter and fed well was let out one
day by the owner, and she, feeling good, was playing about when
the dog was put after her, and while running away from the dog

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OP CATTLE.

266

she kicked up her hind feet and lowered her head, in doing
this she caught het nose on the ground, which threw her
over onto her head and neck. We heard the bone snap, and
by \he time we got to her she was dead. On examining her we
found that one of the bones of the neck was broken jn the fall,
which caused her death instantly. In any case where the bones
of the neck are fractured enough to press on the spinal cord it
win cause death instantly.

tiRACTURES OF THE BONES OF THE BACK.

This may occur from something falling on the animal, or by
slipping and falling, or from another animal jumping on it while
standing crooked.

Sjrmptoms. — There is paralysis of the hind quarters, attended
with pain ; the animal will moan and refuses to eat anything.
In severe cases the back will be swollen, and the mark of what
caused the fracture can be seen.

Treatment. — it is best to kill the animal, but if you wish to
trv to treat it, keep it a jiet, feed on soft food and keep the bowels
regulated by giving small doses of salts ; turn it from side to side
twice a day, and be careful while turning it not to hurt its back.

FRACTURE OF THE BONES OF THE HIP. "

In some cases we have a hip knocked down from a blow, or
from running through a narrow doorway and striking the hip.
This is not dangerous, only it spoils the look of the animal when
its hip is knocked down. If it is sore after being knocked down
bathe twice a day with luke warm water and apply white liniment
until the soreness is out ; if the bone heals all right do nothing
more to it. Son^etimes we have a case where the broken piece of
bone does not heal to the other ; it soon begins to fester around
it, and the parts become swollen and sore. You must then open
it with a sharp knife and remove the broken piece of bone. Frac-
ture of the under part of the hip bones generally occurs from the
animal slipping on ice when the legs straddle out. As soon as it
gets up it walks off very stiff, and the legs are straddled out be-
hind while walking or standing. The treatment for this is to
keep the animal very quiet by tying it in a stall until the bones
unite, which generally takes four or five weeks. '

^66

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OP CATTLE.

FRACTURES OP THE RIBS.

This is always the result of a kick or a blow of some kind.
In a severe case the animal cannot raise to its feet ; there will be
a dinge in the side, and on shoving it in and out you can hear the
bones grating on each other. In slight cases the animal will be
ablfe to get up all right, but will be stiff and sore. In most of
these cases the animal will cough a little, and breathe short and
quick.

TrfiaUnent. — Ail that is needed is quietness, good care and
food. If the animal is not able to raise turn it over from side
to side twice a day. If the rib is broken so bad that it penetrates
the lung and sets up inflammation there is no hope of recovery.

FRACTURE OF THE SHOULDER BLADE OR SHOULDER BONE.

Fracture of these bones is indicated by the extreme lameness
and pain it causes the animal, and on moving the leg you can
hear the bones grating on each other. In a case of this kind it is
best to destroy the animal, but if. the fracture is not so severe, and
it is a young animal, keep it very quiet and feed well, and it will
come all right in the couse of time. The less you bother with it
the better.

fRACTURES OF THE BONES BELOW THE KNEE.

There is crookedness of the leg, lameness and extreme pain,
and when you move the leg you can hear the bones grating en
each other.

Treatment — Get the animal in a quiet place, set the leg in
shape, and have some one to hold it while you bandage it with a
starched bandage, which is a long strfp of cotton dipped in starch
used for starching clothes. On drawing the bandage out of the
starch draw it between your fingers to clean opt as much of the
starch as you can, then wrap it moderately tight around the leg,
put lots of the bandage on, and have some one to hold the
leg and bandage straight for an hour or so until the starch
hardens the bandage. After that the bandage will hold the leg to
its place. Leave it on four or five weeks until the bones are
healed. Keep the animal quiet until the bones are well knit
together. If the leg should swell with this bandage take it off
and put it on looser.

Fractures above the knee are sometimes treated by this
method, but not nearly so successfully.

DISEASES AND TREAtMBNT 0¥ CATTLE.

267

FRACTURES OF THE BONES ABOVE AND BELOW THE STIFFLE JOINT.

The animal may not able to stand, but if it is the leg will be
hanging loose. By moving the leg you can hear the broken bones
grate on each other. t

Treatment. — In very severe cases it is best to destroy the

animal, or, if is a fat animal, kill it for beef. If you attempt to

treat it you will not be able to do anything for it only keep the animal

quiet, and leave it lying down or standing up, whichever it

prefers. /

STIFFLE OUT IN CAHLE. *

For this disease we refer you to dislocation of the patell"*
(stiffle out) in horses, for the causes, symptoms and treatment are
the same in both. This does not occur so often in cattle as it
does in horses.

FRACTURES OF THE BONES BELOW THE HOCK.

For this we refer you to fracture of the bones below the knee,

for the causes, symptoms and treatment are the same in both

cases.

' SPAVIN.

This is generally seen in working oxen, or cows. There is

lameness and an enlargement on the inner side of the lower part

of the hock joint, similar to spavin in horses. Blister with the

following :

Biniodide of Meroary or Red Precipitate 2 drama.

Powdered Cantharides or Spanish Fly 3 "

Vaieline or Lard 1^ ounce*.

Mix thoroughly and clip oflf the hair on the inside of the hock
over the enlargement, and rub on half of this blister, rubbing it in
well,, and tie the animal short so it cannot lick it ; grease the
blistered part the third day after blistering, then let it go for a
month, and then wash it off with warm water and soap and keep
repeating the blister until the animal is over the lameness, which
generally takes three or four months.

SPRAINS IN ANY PART OF THE ANIMAL.

Causes. — Generally from the animal stepping crooked, or a
dog worrying i^, or from fighting.

Sjrmptoms. — There is heat, swelling, pain a6d stiffness, or
lameness according to the part of the body it is in.

Treatment. — Bathe the parts well with luke warm water and
vinegar three times- a day ; after bathing wipe dry and apply the

268

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF CATTLE.

white liniment. If the sprain is in a joint of the legs, by bandag-
ing it each time after bathing will help to relieve the pain and

support the joint.

I WOUNDS OF ALL KINDS.

For wounds we refer you to the explanation of wounds given

in horses, for they happen in a similar manner and are treated the

same ; but, in sewing the skin in cattle you will find it tougher

and a little harder to sew than in the horse.

• AIR UNDER THE SKIN CAUSED FROM A WOUND.

Sometimes from a very small wound in the ox, air gets under
the ^kin into the tissue which connects the skin to the body.
The amount of air which gets'in varies greatly, sometimes only a
small amount works in just around the wound, while again we
have seen cases where so much air would work in that it spread
ail over the body under the skin and make (he animal look double
its natural size. The way to be sure it is air, is to rub your hand over
the skin and it will make a peculiar crackling noise.

Treatment — The main thing to be done in this, is to tap the
skin in several places around where the air is with a penknife and
let the air escape ; rub the skin to get all the air out, and after
this give the skin a good rubbing once a day with white liniment,
then give the wound the treatment given for wounds, and in
a few days the air will all disappear. This disease is sometimes
met with in the horse and is treated the same.

MAGGOTS IN NEGLECTED WOUNDS.

Symptoms. — The wound smells bad, is dirty, and if you stir
it, the maggots can be seen moving around in it.

Treatment. — Give the wound a thorough cleaning, by wash-
ing it out with luke warm water and soap, after this apply creolin
lotion, this will destroy them. In very bad cases, if this does not
effect a cure, give the wound a good dressing with spirits of tur-
pentine, and afterwards bathe twice a day and apply the creolin

lotion.

RHEUMATISM.

This is a kind* of inflammation that affects the joints and
tendons.

Causes.— From bad blood where there is too much acid in
it ; from getting wet or from lying on the damp ground in the
spring of the year, will cause it.

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OP CATTLE. 269

Symptoms. — There is swelling and soreness in the joint
affected; it may affect one joint for a while, then move to another,
and so on.

Treatment — Rub the affected joint well with acid liniment

once a day and give the following :

Nitmte of PotMh or Saltpetre i pound.

Common Soda 1 "

' SalicyUoAdd^ i "

Mix and give a tablespoonful twice a day in its feed.

CHAPTER VIII.

DISEASES OF THE SKIN.

WARTS AND SMALL GROWTHS Oil THE SKIN.

Some cattle are more subject to warts than others. If the
warts have a neck the best way tp get rid of them is by tying a
small, strong string tightly around the wart, as close to the skin
as you can, and by leaving the string tied tight on it it will stop
the blood circulating in the wart, which will cause it to die and
drop off. If the wart is flat and has no neck that you Cfin tie the
string on cut it off with a sharp knife and bum it with a stick of
caustic potash. Small lumps, or tumors, in the skin are very
common in horses and cattle, but are easily got rid of. If it is a
h6rse put a twitch on his nose and have one of his front feet held
up ; if it is a cow tie her up solid, then cut a hole in the skin over
the lump and skin around it, then lift it up and cut it off at the
bottom. There is not much danger from bleeding so long as you
do not cut into a large vein, which you can see right in the skin.
The after treatment is to bathe with luke warm water twice a day
and apply the white lotion after bathing until it heals up.

LICE ON CATTLE.

They may be cattle lice or hen lice.

Symptoms. — ^The animal keeps rubbing itself until it rubs the
hair off in places, and if you examine closely you will see them in
the hair. Cattle affected with lice do not thrive well.

Treatment. — ^The treatment is very simple and cheap. Here

is the most effective remedy known if it is properly used :

CreoUn. .' 4 oonoe, or 2 tebleepooqfnla.

Water 1 pint

270

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OP CATTLE.

Mix and shake well and there will be enough in this to go
over a cow twice. Before applying it give the animal a good
brushing with a stiff brush; pour the wash into flat dish where
you can get at it, and with a brush or spoi^ge, dipped in the wash,
rub it all over the animal. Do this twice a week until the lice are
all killed. Twenty cents will buy enough creolin to kill the lice
on twenty head of cattle. ^

' MANGE IN CATTLE.

For this disease refer to mange in horses, for th« causes,
symptoms and treatment are the «»!ne.

RINGWORM.

This is a common disease in young cattle and calves.

DiUSeS. — From a parasite, or germ, getting into the skin and
working around the bottom of the hair, causing it to fall out in
round patches. This disease affects young'cattle more than older
ones, but may affect them at any age.

Treatment. — The cheapest and best remedy for this is crude
petroleum oil painted over the spot and a little over the edges of
the ringworm, in the sound skin, to keep it from spreading.
Paint this on with a feather every day, or every second day until
the ringyirorm disappears. Be careful in handling ringworms on
cattle, as you are liable to get them yourself from the cattle.

HORN FLY.

These are also called Austrian flies and are a small, black,
hard fly. They first started on this continent in the Eastern states
in the year 1887, and since then have spread all over the coun-
try. They start to bother the cattle during the warm days of May
and continue bothering them until the frost comes in the fall.
These flies become very numerous on the cattle, and they pierce
holes in the skin and suck the blood. While theylare resting
they light on the horns, and sometimes the base of the horn is
literally covered with with them.

Treatment. — Apply wagon grease, tar, or some oily substance
around the base of the horn every few days to keep them from
resting on the horn. Wash the animal's body twice a week with
creolin wash, which is very cheap and effectual.

CreoUn 2 ounce* or 8 tftblespoonfali.

Water 1 gallon.

Mix, shake well and rub them over twice a week with a

cloth or sponge dipped in this wash and it will keep the flies from

bothering them. ^

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OP CATTLE.

STt

WARBLES.

This trouble is only found to affect cattle, and is caused by a
large fly, called the gadfly, stinging the animal around the
back ; this fly lays an egg down in the flcln each time it stings,
which develops into what is known as the warble.

Symptoms. — Small lumps appear in the skin, principally over
the animal's back, and coming on spring, these lumps, which con-
tain the grub, or warble, becomes pierced, and the grub gradu-
ally works out and falls on the ground and in a few days matures
into another gadfly which flies off to sting cattle again during the
summer.

Treatment. — As soon as you notice the lump, cut the skin and

squeeze the grub out. By killing the grubs in this way you will

soon get rid of the pest.

SHAKE BITES.

The bite of some snakes is very poisonous and causes the
animal to have great depression ; it becomes very weak and
feeble, the eyes are dull and the pupils enlarged, the ears and legs be-
come cold, and in severe cases d.^^ath soon comes on if not treated.
If you see the animal as soon as it is bitten cut the piece out and
burn the wound with a hot iron to kill the poison ; give half-pint
doses of whisky or brandy mixed in a pint of water every three or
four hours to stimulate the animal and counteract the depression-
and weakness caused by the poison in the system.

BHES OF INSEaS, SMALL SNAKES, HORNETS, ETC.
After the bite, or sting, there is noticed a soft swelling, which
is sore. Rub the parts with white liniment three or four times a day;,
which will soon draw the poison out and take down the swelling:.

FROST BITES.

Frost bites in cattle are treated the same as frost bites in<

horses.

BURNS AND SCALDS.

Burns nnd scalds on any animal are treated by applying car-
bolic oil to the burnt or scalded part, take four ounces of sweet oil
with ten drops of carbolic acid in it. Put this on twice a day and
it will stop the pain and heal the parts.

f'

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272

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OP CATTi^B.

CHAPTER IX.

DISEASES OF THE FEET-HOW TO DEHORN,
BLEED AND DRENCH.

LANINITIS (FOURDBR).

This is inflammation of the sensitive structures of the foot,
or what is commonly called the quick of the foot.

Causes. — Are from overfeeding, overheating, or from driving
a long distance on a hard, stony road.

Symptoms.— The animal persists in lying down ; the feet are
hot and sometimes swollen around the top of the hoof and sore to
press on ; the animal is greedy to drink on account of being
feverish, but does not care to eat much, and if you force the
animal to move it just slides its feet along, seen^s very stiff and its
belly is all drawn up from trying to favor its feet.

Treatment. — Keep the animal as quiet as possible, . and
poultice the feet with hot linseed meal and bran — about half-and-
half. The way to do this is to take an old grain bag, cut
about a foot off the bottom of it and pack the hot poultice in the
bottom ; place the foot in it, and then tie it up around the fetlock
and foot so it cannot fall off. Do this to all the feet and change
the poultice twice a day; keep this up/until the animal gets all
right. As well as this, give a pound and a half of Epsom salts
in a quart of luke warm water; also give a teaspoonful of saltpetre,
or nitrate of potash, in a mash night and morning. Sometimes,
if the weather is warm, by standing the anim^ in a stream of
water with a mucky bottom, for a few hours every day, will soon
bring them all right without anything else.

SORENESS OF THE FEET FROM AilT CAUSE.
Treat just the same as you would for founder, by poultices
and keeping the animal quiet. If the toes are too long, cut them
off with a chisel and mallet.

FOUL IN THE FOOT (FOOT-ROT).
This is an inflammation of the skin and parts between the
trotters or. toes, and after this there are ulcers or small boils form
and break out all around the top of the foot and between the trot-
ters. The foot becomes very much swollen in some cases and
causes the trotters to spread wide apart. The animal suffers great

DISEASBS AND TRBATMENT OP CATTLB.

273

pain and can scarcely put the foot to the ground, and if allowed
to run on without being treated at once, it becomes very tedious
and hard to treat. The hind feet are more often affected than
the front ones.

Causes. — Are from something becoming wedge^ in between
the trotters or toes, such as hard clay, manure or a piece of stick,
bone or any such like substa.ice, it is more often seen where cattle
stand in a filthy place or have to walk through a dirty, soft place.

Treatment. — As soon as noticed examine the foot and remove
any substance found between the trotter or toss, wash the foot
thoroughly with luke warm Water and soap, after this apply a
good warm poultice of linseed meal, poultice every night and keep
the animal in a nice dry place and after you take the poultice off
in the morning and before you put it on at night give the foot a
good dressing with the following:

Carbolio Auid 1 dram, or 1 teaspoonful.

Water I pint.

, Shake well together each time before using and apply as

mentioned, when applying get it worked in between the trotters or

toes as much as you can. Keep this treatment up until it is

better, in very bad cases it takes a long time to get better, but

keep at it. Another very good wash to use in place of the

carbolic water is •

Creolin i ounoe or 2 tableapoonfala.

Water 1 pint

Mix and use the same as the carbolic water, if one remedy

should fail try the other; during treatment be sure and keep the

animal quiet and in a dry place, and feed well to keep its

strength up.

FISTULA OF THE FOOT.

No matter what part of the foot is affected it is just the same,
it is caused by a bruise or from something running into the foot
and dirt getting up in the hole or from diseased bone.

Symptoms. — There is lameness and a discharge from a smalt
hole which has no tendency to heal, and if it is from a small piece
of diseased bone the discharge smells very bad.

Treatment. — in all cases pare out the hoof or horn around

the sore spot, so as to allow whatever is in it to have a chance to

run out, and then poultice until you draw out whatever is in the

hole causing the trouble. The best poultice for this is hot linseed

meal. After you get it out, the hole will soon heal up of its own

accord.

IS

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274

DI8BA8B8 AND TRBATMBNT OP CATTLB.

llAa RUN Ilf THE FOOT.

This generally occurs where cattle are running around old
buildings where boards with nails in them are lying about.

Symptoms* — There is severe lameness which comes on all of a
sudden ; the animal appears to be in great pain and can scarcely
touch its foot to the ground.

Treatment — Pull the nail out,fpare out around the hole made
by the nail and poultice with hot^linseed meal ; keep the animal
quiet until the soreness is all out ; change the poultices twice
a day. If it should fester then pare down around the hole until
the matter comes out and then poultice well to draw it all out ;
keep the animal quiet until the hole heals up. After you quit
poulticing stuff the hole with tar and cotton batting to keep the
dirt from working up into it.

DERORlflNG. I

This is an operation which is carried on to a great extent in
Canada and other countries, and is gaining the <avor of stock
owners rapidly. It is a very simple, although a painful operation
while it lasts, and is, as a general thing, attended with very good
results. While this is a painful operation so~ are all other opera-
tions, such as castration and docking, but as long as it is done
with a view to benefitting the lives of the cattle themselves, and
also their owner, it is not considered inhuman. It is best not to
perform this operation on cattle under one year old for the horns
will often grow again, and before that time they never do much
harm. The best time to dehorn is in the spring, during the
months of March and April, so that the horns will be well healed
up before the flies come to bother them, or in the fall of the year,
just after there has been frost enough to kill the flies. The opera>
tion is a simple one, and is performed in this way : Build a
stanchion, similar <o the old way of tying cattle, in a solid door-
way, or any other such place where you can run the cattle into
it, one at a time. Have the stanchion built good and strong, also
have the sticks in it good and tight together, just large enough
for the animal's neck to fit in when it is closed ; have a narrow
stall, built out of good strong plank, at the side of the stanchion
where you can run the cattle in, this will keep them from swinging
the body around while you are dehorning them. When you have
the animal fast in the stanchion put a rope halter over its head, and
have the head and neck well pulled forward by means of a double

DI8BA8B8 AND TREATMENT OF CATTLE.

i75

pulley so as to get good purchase to hold the anima* In its place
whiliB operating ; have the pulleys attached to something about
eight or ten feet straight in front of the animal, and us near the
ground as possible, this will hold the head in better position ;
have a man take hold of the pose and car at one side while you
saw the horn off with a stiff-backed, fine-tooth carpenter saw,
taking about one-eighth of an inch of skin off with the horn, then
take off the other horn in like manner. By taking the horn off in
this place it is easier sawed, bleeds less, heals nicer and there is.
no danger of it growing again. As soon as you are through with
this animal put in another. In cases where you^only have one to
dehorn throw and secure it, and take the horns off in the same
manner. Another way by which they may be taken off is to
use large dehorning clippers. These clippers can be got at a
hardware store, and the directions how to use are along with
them. We recommend sawing the horns off, except in cases of
very young cattle. After two or three years of age the horns be-
come brittle, and in pinching them off with the clippers there is
danger of fracturing the bones of the head. Always keep the
animal from being chased before and after the operation, for there
is more danger of bleeding when they are excited. If they bleed
much apply a little of MonselPs solution of iron with a feather,
which will stop the bleeding. Keep the animal quiet and do not
allQw it to be out in any cold storms, and be careful when feeding
it not to throw dust or chaff on the head so it will get in the
holes, which would be apt to cause festering. If you want to kill
the horns on calves it must be done when they are about a week
old. When the little horn first appears take a stick of caustic
potash, dip it in water and rub it well into the skin around where
the little horn is coming through. One burning generally kills
the horns ; if not, repeat it heavier in a few days.

HOW TO BLEED A COW.

Tie a small rope around the neck, just is;i front of the
shoulders, so it will raise the jugular vein, then take the largest
blade of an ordinary fleames, hold it lengthwise, fair in the centre
over the vein, then hit the fleames a sharp tap with a piece of
hardwood ; hit hard enough to cut the vein, and catch the bloqd
in a pail. Take from half a pail to a pailful of blood away.
When you have enough blood away, let the rope slack, run a pin
through the two edges of the cut and wind a string around the

V 1

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276

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF CATTLE.

pin in the form ot a figure eight and tie it there. Keep the
anima! in the stable, and feed out of a high manger, for twenty-
four hours, then remove the pin and allow the animal to go.
In this operation, as in all others, have everything clean for fear

of blood-poisoning. ,

HOW TO DRENCH CATTLE.

In cattle always mix your drenches in a large quantity of

"water, because it will wash out of the paunch quicker, and have a

quicker and better action when given this way. Have an

assistant to hold the horns while you take hold of the nose

with your left hand, and hold the head a little above a level; with

your right hand put the bottle well badk into the mouth and allow

it all to run down without taking the bottle out of the mouth,

unless the animal should cough; if it does, let go of its head

until through coughing, then continue the drenching. Be careful

in drenching, especially in lung troubles, for they are easily

choked. ,

CHAPTER X.

DISEASES OF THE N^ERVOUS SYSTEM.

CORN STALK DISEASE.

Causes. — From eating corn stalks which have minute germs
underneath the leaves ; these germs are so small that you cannot
see them without the aid of a microscope. Corn stalks that are
affected with these germs do not grow so well, and ripens long
before the other cor|i»

Symptoms. — There is first, symptom.s of impaction of the
third part of stomach or manyplies, after that the brain becomes
affected and the animal becomes delirious, this is followed by
stupidness ; the animal will shove its head forward against the
stall and pay no attention to anything, and after a few days, dies.

Treatment. — Give the following :

Epsom Ssha 1 pound.

Bitter Aloea 1 ounoe.

Sweet Spirita of Nitre .... 1 ounce or 4 tablespoonfuls.

Fleming 8 Tincture of Aconite 10 to 15 drops.

Mix in a quart of luke warm water and give as a drench, and

afterwards follow up with :

Fleming's Tincture of Aconite 10 to 15 drops.

Sweet Spirits of Nitre 1 ounce, or 4 tablespoonfuls.

Ginger I tablespoonful.

Common Soda 1 "

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF CATTLE. 277

Mix in a pint of water and give as a drench every four hours
until it is better. Give luke warm water to drink and feed on soft
food, keep the body warm, and if the animal's head is affected,
Keep ice to its head in a bag. Smut on corn is very bad feed, as it is
apt to derange the stomach and cause diarrhcea, and if the animal
frets too much smut it will set up a disease similar to ergotism.

INFLAMMATION OF THE BRAIN (ENCEPHALITIS).

This disease is not so often met with in cattle as- it is
in horses.

Causes. — From a severe blow on the head, or from falling
and striking the head; irritation of small tumors growing around
the brain and pressing on it; certain kinds of food containing ergot
or narcotic principles will cause it, or from eating grains from a
distillery.

Symptoms. — The first symptoms are the animal will be dull
and drowsy and stands with its head pressed up against a wall or
fence ; its legs keep moving as if it was going to walk right
through whatever its head is pressed against ; when walking it
has a staggering gait ; its bowels are costive and its urine is of a
dark-red color. After these symptoms pass oflf the animal gets
delirious and acts as if it were mad, it bellows, stamps its feet,
ijrates its teeth, froths at the mouth, runs about wildly, and, if in
the stable, rears up into the manger.

Treatment. — in the first stages, when the animal is dull,

bleed it, taking a half pailful of blood away, and give

Epsom Salts 1 pound.

Bitter Aloes I ounce.

(iringer .- 1 tablespoonful.

Common Soda 1 "

Mix in a quait of luke warm water and give as a drench.

Keep the animal in a quiet, shady place ; apply a mustard plaster

to the back ; keep the body warm and apply ice to its head in a

bag. Give v

Sweet Spirits of Nitre 1 ounce or 4 tablespoonf uls.

Fleming 8 Tincture of Aconite 10 to 15 drops.

Mix in a pint of cold water and give every five hours, until
the animal is better. Give plenty of cold water to drink in small
quantities and feed on soft food. Give an injection into the anus
of half a pail of luke warm water and soap twice a day to help to
start the bowels.

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SUNSTROKE.
This very rarely occurs in cattle. The causes, symptoms and
treatment are the same as those ot the horse, only in giving a
physic use one pound of Epsom salts along with the bitter aloes.

LOCKJAJ^ (TETANUS).

This disease is rarely met with in cattle.
' Causes. — Following operations, or wounds of any kind, and
sometimes it comes on from causes unknown.

Symptoms. — If it is from a wound just when it is healing up
the muscles all over the body is contracted and hard ; the animal
has a stiflF way of walking ; the tail will be stiff, and keeps work-
ing like a snake ; the jaws become partially set ; the animal can-
not reach down to the ground ; the eyes have a peculiar look and
seem to be turned back in the head and set. In some cases the
animal can eat, while in other cases it cannot, according to how
much the muscles of the jaws are affected.

Treatment. — This is one of the diseases that does not need

much medicine because in giving the medicine it excites the

animal and does more harm than good, and, anyway, medicine

does not seem to do any good in this disease. Give the following:

Epsom Salts 1 pound.

Common Soda 1 tablespoonf ul.

Ginger 1

Fluid Extract of Belladonna 1 dram, or 1 teaapoonful.

Mix in a quart of luke warm water and give as a drench
once a week. Keep the animal perfectly quiet and free from
noise. Feed on food made into gruel, so that it can drink it
down. If it is caused from a wound, bathe the wound twice a
day and fill the place full of green salve. If the wound is where
you can poultice it, poultice it every night with linseed meal.
This disease generally takes three or four weeks to run its course,
and if you can keep the animal's strength up till then it will pass
away, while in severe cases they die in a week or so.

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CHAPTER XI.

CONTAGIOUS DISEASES IN CATTLE.

CONTAGIOUS PLEUKO-PNEUMOIflA.

This disease is contagious, or catching', and is inflammation
of the lungs and covering of the lungs; this is how it gets its
name. This disease was piore common at one time than it is
now. It was first noticed in Prussia in 1802, Russia in 1824,
England in 1841, and America in 1843. It is a very contagious
disease in cattle, but never affects other animals. If an animal
once gets over this disease it will never get it again. When there
is an outbreak of this disease it spreads very rapidly, by the
germs of the disease being carried about in different ways.

Symptoms. — The first symptom is, the animal gets very
feverish ; the temperature goes as high as 105 degrees. The
animal will remain feverish for a week or so, and also have a
cough, as if from a slight cold. After this the lungs become
inflamed and sets up inflammation of the lungs and their Lovering.
By listening at the sides you will hear the peculiar grating sound
that is heard in inflammation of these parts. The animal breathes
heavy and quick, falls off rapidly in condition, refuses to eat,
becomes hide bound, and there is a discharge from the nostrils of
a whitish color, which has a very bad smell. The pulse runs up
higher and becomes weaker ; the nose is dry, and the animal lies
on its breast bone most of the time. Sometimes there is diarrhoea,
then costiveness ; the eyes become dull and the animal soon dies.
When one animal in a herd becomes affected with this disease the
whole herd will soon become affected and die, and if it is not
checked in this herd it soon spreads all over the country.

Treatment. — If there should be several animals die in the same
district, and you suspect this disease, send for One of the government
veterinary inspectors, who looks after all contagious diseases that
break out in America. The treatment he will follow, after he is
sure it is this disease they have, is : He will have the affected
herd immediately destroyed, and, the people who have been
attending the cattle and those who are on the farm, will not be
allowed to leave the farm for ninety days, and all the stables
where the cattle have been will be disinfected and no other cattle
will be allowed on the farm for ninety days after the slaughter.
Medical treatment is of no avail in this disease, and you are not
allowed to treat them.

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CONSUnPTION IN CATTLE (TUBERCULOSIS).

This disease is a contagious one, caused by germs called the
bacillus tuberculosis. This disease has been known for centuries
back, and there has been laws passed calling for the destruction
of aflfected animals, and also forbidding the meat to be used as
food. This disease is known in all the civilized world. It may
affect the lungs, bowels, liver, kidneys, bladder, brain or spinal
cord, or any part of the body. The germs in the affected cattle
come away from the lungs by coughing,- or flows away in the
saliva from the affected animal's mouth, they fall on the grass, in
mangers, pails and such like, and other animals following them
up may breathe the germs into the lungs by eating or drinking-
out of the same pail or manger, or off the grass where the
diseased cattle have been, and this is how the disease is com-
municated from one to the other. These germs may also pass
out of the system into the milk, and animals or people that drink
this milk are liable to take the disease, so you see the danger of
having a diseased cow around.

Symptoms. — At first the disease comes on very slowly after
it is taken into the system. If the disease affects the lungs there
is a short, dull cough which may be noticed more in the morning,
after exercise, or drinking, later on in the disease the cough be-
comes more troublesome, the animal runs down in condition, the
breath has a bad smell, there is a dribbling of saliva from the
mouth, the animal becomes hide bound, the hair stands out and it
is a pitiful looking sight, and in a few months pines away and
dies. The time it takes the disease to run its course varies from
three months to a year. This disease is noticed more in
thoroughbred cattle than it is in grade cattle. If it affects the
bowels the animal will run down in condition, will have diarrhoea
sometimes, then costiveness changing every few days ; the other
symptoms are the same only when the disease does not affect the
lungs the animal has not such a cough. If the disease affects the
brain or spinal cord it causes paralysis, and death soon follows.
If any of the other parts or organs of the body are affected it
causes symptoms peculiar to that organ when affected, and the
animal slowly pines away and dies. The way to test cattle to find
out whether they are affected with tuberculosis or not is to use the
test known as the tuberculine test, which is done by injecting
tuberculine into all the herd of cattle that are supposed to be
affected with the disease and having them starved for twenty-four

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF CATTLE.

281

hours after the injection, then take their temperature. The
temperature of the cattle not affected with the disease will be
normal, while the temperature of the affected ones will be raised
two or three degrees. In case you suspect this disease in your
herd of cattle it is best to send for the government veterinary
inspector to come and use the test, for he thoroughly understands
how to test them, and the affected ones will be destroyed. In
this way you prevent the disease from spreading in your own herd
of cattle, and by doing this you also protect the lives of your family,
yourself and those around you, for this disease can be communi-
cated from cattle to people by drinking the milk or eating the
meat of affected cattle. In opening cattle that are affected with
this disease the organ that is affected will be found to be eaten away
with the disease, and its place is taken by a lot of small lumps
inclosed in a membrane, and if you cut into them they are found
to be full of other little cheesy lumps about the size of a pea. In
very bad cases tumors will sometimes form and be full of yellow

matter.

HYDROPHOBIA, MADNESS OR RABIES IN CATTLE.

This disease originates spontaneously in dogs and cats and
can be communicated to other animals or man by the poison
caused from the bites of these animals while they are mad. The
saliva of the mouth contains the ppison and this is how it is
caused from a bite. Every animal that they bite does not go
mad, but about one-fourtH of the animals bitten do go mad.

Symptoms. — A few days after being bitten the animal loses its
appetite, is very restless and anxious looking, then there is
increased restlessness, loud roaring at times, bunting at things
and pawing with its feet; saliva keeps dripping away from the
mouth, there is a peculiar wild look in the eyes, and the animal
keeps continually straining to pass manure, but very little comes,
and in a short time it becomes paralyzed in the hind quarters,
falls down and death soon relieves it. If the above symptoms
are present, and a mad dog has been through that section of the
country, you may as well destroy the animal, for it is mad
and is dangerous to have around.

Treatment.— If the disease has set in, destroy th^ animal,
and in going around it be very careful not to let it hook or bite
you ; but if you go to treat the animal just after it has been bitten
by a mad dog, take a sharp knife and cut a piece right out of the

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DISEASES AND TREATMENT OP CATTLE.

-wound, then take a stick of caustic potash, or nitrate of silver, and
"burn the wound well with it ; but if yoA have not got these, burn the
wound well with a red hot iron, which will also kill the poison.

LUMPY JAW (ACTINOHTCOSIS).

This disease is contagious and spreads among cattle. It is
-caused by germs known as "actinomycosis." This disease gener-
ally affects the upper or lower jaws, but. may affect the tongue
^nd other parts of the body. The way this disease is communi-
•cated from one animal to another is from the affected animals
slavering on the grass or over feed and other animals take it up
when eating or drinking. These germs pass down into the bowels,
where they are taken up into the blood and carried around until
they locate in the jaw. They may also be taken into the system
from the slaver getting into the wound on another animal, and it is
thought that this disease may be carried to and affect man by
■eating the flesh of an animal affected with this disease.

Symptoms. — If it affects the jaw there will be a hard, bony
lump form opposite the roots of the teeth, either in the upper or
Jower jaws. The disease gradually works in the jaw, the lump
grows, and in the course of time the disease gets so bad that the
teeth loosen and fall out, and on account of the disease being so
bad that the animal cannot eat, it falls off in condition and dies.
If it affects the tongue, it is generally the thick part at the back
that is affected. It thickens and hardens the tongue so much that
when this is affected, it sometimes receives the name of wooden
tongue; in this case the animal will fall off in condition, from not
being able to eat, and will soon die.

Treatment. — If more than one animal in a herd becomes
affected with lumpy jaw, and after examining the teeth you find
tiothing wrong with them and you cannot see the mark of any
injury outside around the jaws, and if they are not sore to handle,
then be suspicious of this disease and treat in the following man-
ner : Separate the affected animals from the sound ones ; treat
the affected ones by throwing and securing them, then skin a
piece of the skin off the upper part of the lump, and take a
quarter-inch auger or a trephine, which is an instrument used
for boring* into the bone, but an auger will do just as well ; bore
two small holes well into the bone, which is easily done when
the bone is diseased ; pour tincture of iodine into the holes
and let it soak well around the diseased bone : let the animal

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OP CATTLE.

283

up, and in a few days afterward catch it again and fill the holes

with iodine, and keep putting in the iodine every fourth day until

the holes heal up. If this treatment fails to kill the lump destroy

the animal and burn it, for it is dangerous to have it in your herd,

and its meat should not be used for food, as it might set up the

disease in man.

ANTHRAX.

This is an infectious disease caused by germs, called the
anthrax bacilli, getting into the blood. This disease affects cattle
in all parts of the world, and is only noticed in cattle that are
grazing on low, swampy land that have pools of stagnant water on
it. When once the disease gets into a pasture field it will remain
there for years, and the only way to get rid of it is to break the
field up and drain it.

SjrmptOins — It more frequently affects young cattle thai', jlder
ones ; the attack is very sudden, and an animal apparently well
the night before will be found dead in the morning. In some
cases as soon as the animal is affected it drops down, goes into
convulsions and dies. In other cases it will last longer, the pulse
will run up to from 80 to lOO beats per minute ; the animal will
not eat; the whole surface of the body, legs and ears are cold, and
it is very dull, stupid and weak. In a short time this dullness
gives way to uneasiness, it champs its jaws, kicks and paws the
ground and appears to be in terrible agony ; it has very much
difficulty in breathing, the nostrils are enlarged and the mouth
open ; the lining of the mouth, nostrils, rectum or back bowel
and vagina are of a blue color, the manure is first thin and watery
looking, then covered with slime and blood ; the symptoms gradu-
ally get worse, and in a few hours it dies a miserable death. The
germs are taken into the system from eating grass around a
swamp or drinking the water from stagnant pools. They find
their way from the bowels into the blood, and work around until
they locate themselves in the bowels or tissues under the skin.
When an animal dies from this disease it bloats up, decomposition
setting in very quickly, and there is a blood-stained fluid flows from
the mouth, nose and anus. If you have had an animal or two die
while pasturing on this kind of land, and showing the above
symptoms and appearance after death, send for the government
veterinary inspector, he will examine the blood, and if the germs
are found in it you will then be sure it is anthrax. Burn the

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DISEASES AND TREATMENT OP CATTLE.

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carcasses of the dead cattle and remove the sound ones from the
pasture ; drain the field and break it up is the best way to get rid
of the germs. Sheep are also subject to this disease and have the
same symptoms.

Treatment. — There is no treatment for this disease.

BLACK QUARTER.

This is an infectious disease and is very fatal, and affects
cattle from six months to three or four years' old. It is caused
by germs getting into the system. This disease is noticed mostly
in cattle grazing on low-lying, swampy lands.

Symptoms. — About three days after the germs get into the
system the animal becomes dull and feverish, the temperature
rises as high as 107 degrees; there is lameness in some of the
legs, generally in one of the front ones, which Ts caused from a
swelling which usually forms just behind the front leg, but may be
in any other part of the body. The symptoms gradually get
worse ; the animal acts as if it had severe spells of colic, but
keeps looking a I ound to where the swelling is; breathes heavy;
becomes very weak and soon dies. The swelling, after it is first
noticed, grows very fast, and when you rub your hand over it,
it makes a crackKng noise as if it contained air. If you cut into
the swelling the animal does not feel it, and nothing comes out
only a dark red, frothy looking substance, which has a bad smell.
If you skin the animal where the swelling is, there will be dark
brown, dark red and yellow colored patches, and the parts around
where the swelling is will be soft and easily torn.

Treatment. — There is no treatment for this disease, onlj»
remove the sotind animals, destroy and burn the affected ones,,
and drain and break up the pasture.

TEXAS FEVER.

This disease affects cattle all through the southern parts of
the states, and is caused from germs getting into the blood.
The germs are carried from one animal to another by cattle ticks.

Symptoms. — At first there is dullness, loss of appetite, and
the animal will leave the herd and stand or lie down alone. The
temperature at this stage will be up from 105 to 107 degrees, and
stays about that all through the disease. The bowels are con-
stipated, and anything that is passed is covered with bile, and
near the end of the disease the urine or water is of a dark red color.

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OP CATTLE.

285

The pulse and breathing are both quickened ; the animal becomes
very stupid and lays down most of the time, and in a few days death
relieves it. la some cases they die in three days, while in others
they live for several weeks, and if an animal does recover it takes
it a long^ time to do so.

Treatment. — In order to keep the disease from spreading do
not allow Cii tie that have these ticks on them to go into other
herds, anc cattle affected with this disease should be put on a
pasture by themselves, and the ticks should be picked oflf and
killed, then give the animal the following : Fifteen grains of
sulphate of quinine three times a day, either in a drench mixed
with a pint of water, in a capsule or on its tongue with a spoon.

CHAPTER XII.

DISEASES THAT ARE LIABLE TO AFFECT

ANY ANIMAL.

TUMORS.

Tumors are growths which are not inflamed nor sore to
handle, and are of various kinds ; they do not fester and break,
and run matter as abscesses do, but simply grow; they may
affect any part of the body in any kind of an animal, and
in some cases there will be a small amount of matter in the center
of the lump. Tumors, as a general thing, grow very slowly, and
are very hard when you feel them.

Treatment.— At first they may be stopped growing and ab-
sorbed by blistering

For Tumors on Cattle— Use the following blister :

Powdered Cantharides or Spanish Fly 2J drami.

Vaseline or Lard 1 ounce.

Mix and rub in well what you can get gn the tumor ; tie the

animal's head so it cannot bite the blister ; grease the blistered

part in three days, and in two weeks blister again, and continue

until you have blistered it three or four times( and then if this

does not stop the growth of the lump and reduce it down it is

best to cut it out. Tincture of iodine is also good to use in some

cases. Rub the lump well with it once a day till you get it well

blistered, then grease and let it go for a few days, then wash the

grease off with luke warm water and soap and commence using

the iodine again.

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For Tumors on Horses.— Use the following blister :

Powdered Cantharidea or Spimieh I>1jr 1^ drame.

VaacHne or Lard 1 oanoa.

Mix and apply with the same directions as is given for the
blister on cattle, if this does not fix it try the iodine the same as
for cattle. In case you have to cut the lump out, throw the
animal down and secure it, make a good, long rut in the skin
over the tumor and cut around it until you have i t cut out, after
the tumor is out and it is bleeding, take a lar^e piece of dry
cotton batting about the size of the tumor and shove it in where
you took the tumor out, then sew up the skin the same as sewing
a wound, and leave it sewed up for twenty-four hours, then take
a couple of stitches cut of the lower part of the wound and take the
battjng out and dress it by bathing it off with luke warm water and
soap twice a day, after each bathing dress the wound by inserting
melted green salve with a feather up in the wound and applying white
lotion around the outside and inside of the cut. Keep this treatment
up until it is healed. If the tumor lies near a large vein such as the
jugular vein, and you cannot cut it out, keep blistering it, and if
this does not help it, paint the lump over with tincture of iodine
every day the same as above mentioned. This treatment will do
for tumors either in the horse or in cattle.

CANCER.

Cancers are angry looking growths generally, affecting cattle,
sheep and dogs, and is sometimes noticed in horses, around the
head and neck, but may affect the other animals in any part of
the body.

Symptoms. — At the first appearance of the cancer — before it
gets into the blood — it does not hurt the animal's health, but after
the cancer once gets settled in the blood the animal falls off in
condition, the growth grows very rapidly, and the least irritation
causes it to bleed. In some cases the disease gradually eats the
surrounding tissue until it kills the animal, and if it is near a bone
it gradually works into it, and when the bone becomes affected it
has a very bad smell. When the disease has arrived at this stage
it is called bone cancer.

Treatment. — In the first stages of the disease cut it out good
and clean, and by doing this you can sometimes prevent its
spreading. It is b\est to throw the animal and secure it before
you attempt to cut the cancer out, and as soon as you have taken it

DISBASBS AND TREATMENT 07 CATTLE.

281

out burn the place good with a red-hot iron, then bathe it twice a
day with luke warm water and apply the green salve and white
lotion after each bathing. If, at any time afterwards, there
should appear to be a red spot growing, tie the animal up and give
the spot another good burning with the red-hot iron, and keep
this treatment up until it is healed. In some cases when the dis-
ease has run on too long before it has been cut out, or after it is
cut out, it grows again worse than at first, or where it has been
entirely neglected and allowed to run on so long that the bones
become affected and smell bad destroy the animal and burn the
carcass, as it is not fit for beef and would be very apt to-
communicate cancer to anyone eating the meat.

ABSCESSES.

Abscesses are of two kinds, one festers and has matter in it,
while the other, which is called a serious abscess, is only a bruise
containing water, or serum. These kind of abscesses are gener-
ally found around a horse's shoulder, but may affect any part of
the body.

Symptoms of a Serious Abscess.— About twenty-four hours-
after the bruise there will be a swelling varying in size from an
egg to that of a man's head, and when you press on it you can
tell there is fluid in it, and on opening it you will find a watery
looking fluid mixed with blood.

Treatment of a Serious Abscess.— Cut a whole in the bottom

part of the lump large enough to run your finger in and clean all
the fluid out, then bathe the part well with luke warm water and
salt, and insert melted green salve up into the lump through the
hole with a feather twice a day, also run your finger into the hole
once a day to keep it open until it heals inside, each time after
bathing rub the outside of the swelling with white liniment to help>
get the thickening out and keep the swelling down.

ABSCESSES THAT CONTAIN HATTER.

Causes. — ^rom distemper; from bruises; or from a cut heal-
ing up and there being some substance left in the cut which
afterwards festers. •

Symptoms. — Abscesses differ from tumors, as they fester and
form matter ; are hot and sore to handle ; cause the animal to be
feverish and in pain, and after a time they come to a head and
either break or have to be lanced.

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Treatment.— Bathe well with hot water and salt, or vine)>f<ir,
twice a day, and where it is very sore poultice it once in a while
to help to bring it to a head. Each time after bathing apply
white liniment around the swelling; this also helps to bring it to
a head. When the abscess is ready to open there will be a soft
place on it where the hair is falling off and pulls out easily; take
a sharp penknife or lance and make a cut in it large enough to
put your hnger in and clean all the matter out, and treat with
green salve, bathing and applying white liniment the same as is
given in the treatment of serious abscesses. ,

RUNNING SORE (FISTULA).

Running sore, or fistula, may form in any animal or in any
part of the body.

Causes. — From the animal getting a deep wound and some
substance being left in the wound after it is healed which should
have been taken out before the wound healed up. It is also
caused from diseased bone, or a small piece of broken bone which
keeps festering.

Treatment. — In all cases where ii has been a wound that is

healed up and then turns to a running sore, you may come to the

conclusion there is something at the bottom of the wound that is

causing the trouble, and if it is in a place you can operate on it

without throwing the animal down, by twitching it, do so (this

can generally be done in the horse), but if not, throw it down and

secure it, then take a goose quill and probe into the hole to see

which way it goes and the depth of it, then with a sha/p knife cut

a hole large enough for your finger to go in ; cut the hole to the

bottom of the wound and clean out whatever there is in there,

then treat the wound by bathing with warm water twice a day.

After bathing each time put melted green salve up in the hole and

apply white lotion in around the cut ; keep this treatment up until

it is healed. If it is caused from a diseased or fractured bone,

cut down same as above and take the piece of bone out. If it is

a diseased bone, scrape it out well with a hard steel spoon, and

then treat the wound the same as given above, and it will soon

be all right.

STRUCK BY LIGHTNING.

The shock is instantaneous, and affects the brain and nerves.
If the shock is heavy enough it causes immediate death, but if it
is not severe enough to cause death it leaves the animal prostrate,
unconscious and paralyzed.

DISBASBS AND TREATMENT OP CATTLE.

.389

Symptoms. — When it does not kill the animal it falls paralyzed
and unconscious, the muscles relax and are soft and flabby, and in
some cases there will be twitching of the muscles, the animal will
breathe hard and slower than natural, and in most cases there
will be spots of hair singed off the body.

Treatment. — Dash cold water on the head, rub the body and
legs, well to get the circulation up, then apply a thin mustard
plaster on the back of the head and sides of the neck ; blanket the
pnimal well to keep the body warm, and keep the head cold by ap>
plying cold cloths, and as soon as it is strong enough t(f swallow,
if it is a cow or horse, give it half a pint of whisky in a pint of
warm water; if it is a sheep, dog, or pig give a wine glassful of
whisky in half a pint of warm water, pour the drench down slowly
so as not to choke the animal ; give a drench every hour, and
turn it over from side to side every once in a while, and attend to
its general comfort until it is better. After the shock has passed
oflF, if the animal seems* to be paralyzed, for a cow or horse give
a teaspoonful of powdered nux vomica twice a day on its tongue
with a spoon, or in its feed, this is for a nerve stimulant. Give a
sheep, dog, or pig one-quarter of a teaspoonful of powdered nux
vomica twice a day until it is strengthened.

THE APPEARANCE OF AN ANIMAL KILLED BY LIGHTNING.

If a thunder-storm has just passed over, and the animal,

which was previously healthy, is tound dead shortly afterwards,

the muscles are soft and flabby and you can move its legs any

way you like, and in some cases there will be spots of hair

scorched ofl' the body, this indicates that the animal was killed

by lightning.

ERGOTISM.

This disease is most often seen in cattle, and shows itself
mostly in the winter and spring of the year. '

Causes. — From eating ergotized grass, which is nothing more
than diseased grass. (Ergot also affects rye wheat). The, dis-
eased grass is cut along with the hay and other food, dried and
brought into the barn and fed during the winter with the good
hay and other parts of food. This is how the animals get it.
The ergot vaffects the grass, etc., on the same principle us smut
does the corn. Ergot is mostly seen in grasses and rye wheat,
but may affect other kinds of grain that is grown on low, rich
land in wet, hot seasons.
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290 DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF CATTLE.

Symptoms. — After cattle have eaten it and it gets into the
blood it has such a peculiar contracting action on the heart,
arteries and other vessels that it weakens the circulation of the
blood so much that in some cases it stops it entirely in the lej^s,
ears and tail, and as soon as circulation in these parts stop they
die, rot and drop off, and later on in the disease the brain
becomes affected and the animal goes into convulsions and .Jies.

Treatment. — Change the food entirely, bathe the affected
parts with luke Wt.;"m water twice a day, rub dry and apply white
lotion tcfthem after bathing. Give the following powder:

Nitrate of Potash or Saltpetre ^ pound.

(iroiind Geniirtn Root | "

' Sulphate of Iron | "

Mix and give a teaspoonful three times a day to a horse or

cow; to smaller animals give one-half of the above dose.

HOW TO DRY AN ANIMAL THAT IS GIVING MILK.
For a cow, give her a pound of Epsom salts in a quart of
luke warm water as a drench, then bathe the bag once a day for a
week with luke warm forge water (this is best obtained at a
blacksmith shop where they cool the irons). After bathing, milk
out a little of the milk once a day, on the ground, for a few days,
then milk a little out every second or third day for a few days,
then once every week or so for a while, and then stop milking.
The last time you milk her, milk the bag out dry. During the
time you are putting the cow dry, feed on dry, hard food. For
a mare, give eight drams of bitter aloes and a teaspoonful each
of ginger and common soda, dissolved in a pint of luke warm
water, as a drench. After you give the physic drench, let her
stand in the stable for a day or two, bathing the .bag and
milking her the same as is given for the cow. In drying a sow
give a teaspoonful of sulphur in her feed twice a day, and if it is a
quiet sow bathe the milk glands with luke warm forge water once
a day for a week, and allow her to run out. In drying a ewe give
a tablespoonful of Epsom salts dissolved in a half teacupful of luke
warm water, once a day for a week, and bathe her bag tvith forge
water, and milk her out in the same way as is given for the cow.
Why forge water has such a good effect in drying up the secretion
of milk is on account of the iron in it, which gets into it while
cooling the irons in the water, and this iron has an astringent
action on the milk glands. The reason the physic is given is to
clean the milk out of the blood.

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DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF CATTLE.

291

DISEASES OF THE HEART, ARTERIES AND BLOOD.
These diseases in cattle are the same as in the horse, and for
causes, symptoms, and treatment we refer you to the pages in
Part II. of the horse where they are fully explained.'

NOTICE.

All the doses of mtdicine which are mentioned in this book
in the diseases and treatment of cattle, if not specially mentior^ed
for the age and size of the animal', are intended for an average
sized cow, steer or bull, so in giving doses to ypung cattle you
must regulate the dose to the age and size of the animal. Calves
under one year old would take about one-third of the dose ;
two-year-olds would stand one-half the dose; three-year-olds and
upwards take full dose mentioned, and cattle over the average
size, such as large bulls, cows or steers, can take a little more
than the dose mentioned.

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PART IV.

Diseases and Treatment of 5heep
Pigs, Dogs, Poultry.

CHAPTER I.

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF SHEEP.

mA

Sheep belong- to the class of animals called ruminants, which

means animals that chew their cud. In regard to the structure of

sheep, they are on the same principle as that of cattle, only

smaller. The skin of the sheep is different to that of the ox, as

it grows wool instead of hair, and has in the skin numerous small

glands which secrete oil, which is used to lubricate and soften

the wool.

COLD IN THE HEAD (SIMPLE CATARRH).

This is a common disease in sheep, and consists of an in-
flamed state of the lining of the nose and the cavities of the head.

Causes. — From being left out in a cold rain and exposure to
cold weather, and is mostly seen in the fall and spring, during the
seasons of cold rains. It is often seen during washing and
shearing time.

S}HiptOins. — There is a discharge from the nose, and the
affected sheep keeps snuffling, sneezing and coughing; does
not feed well and seems very dull.

Treatment. — The treatment is very simple in most cases.
Keep the sheep dry, warm and clean, and this often effects a cure
in a few days without any medicine; but if the disease does
not pass off, give the fojlowing mixture :

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF SHEEP.

293

.Nitrate of Potash or Saltpetre | pound.

Sulphur i •'

Ground Gentian Root i "

Mix thoroughly and give a teaspoonful twice a day on the
tongue with a spoon, in its feed or as a drench ; feed hot mashes,
and take special care to see that it does not get wet, for the disease
might settle on its lungs. If the discharge from the head gets
clogged around the nose wash it off with warm water and soap. In
some cases, where the above treatment does not stop the dis-
ease, change the treatment to half a teaspoonful of ground sulphate
of iron three times a day in its feed, or on its tongue with a spoon.
Iron acts on discharges of any kind in helping to stop them, and
also builds up the system, for it is a great tonic.

SORE THROAT.

Causes. — The causes are similar to those of catarrh, only the
throat being the weaker part it settles there instead of elsewhere.

SymptODlj. — There is swelling and soreness around the throat,
and the animal holds its head and neck poked out, and when it
coughs it seems to try to save itself all it can. The animal is dull,
eats very little, and when drinking the water runs out through
its nose.

Treatment.— Give

Nitrate of Potash or Saltpetre i pound.

Sulphur I "

Powdered Alum J "

Mix thoroughly and give a small teaspoonful on its tongue
with a spoon three times a day. As well as giving the powder
rub the throat three times a day with white liniment. Feed on
soft food raised high so it will not have to bend its head over to
eat. Give all the cold water it wants to drink in small quantities
at a time; also take good care of it, not allowing it to get wet or
cold, and it will soon get all right.

BRONCHITIS.

This is inflammation of the lining of the bronchial tubes.

Causes. — From being chased by a dog ; inhaling smoke, or
getting wet are the principal causes of bronchitis in sheep.

Symptoms. — The affected sheep will be dull, breathe heavy
and quick, the ears will lop over, and, like the ox, they will lie
down most of the time while suffering with lung trouble. If you
listen at the bottom of the windpipe a wheezing noise will
be heard.

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294

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF SHEEP.

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Treatment. — Keep the animal very quiet in an airy place and
give the following :

Sweet Spirits of Nitre ^ ounce, or 1 tableapoonful.

Fleming 8 Tincture of Aconite 3 drops.

Mix in a teacupt'ul of lulce warm water and pour this down as

a drench. In drenching do not raise the head too high, and be very

caretul nqt to choke the animal. If the sheep wishes to drink

give cold water in small quantities ; also, small, hot mashes and

grass, or hay to eat. Give the sheep the above drench three

times a day for a day or so until it gets relief. "If the sheep seems

very weak then change the drenches to something more

stimulating.

Whisk)' 1 wine glassful.

Ginger 1 teaspoonf ul.

Mix in a half pint of oatmeal gruel and pour this down
very carefully. Give this drench three times a day until it gets
strong ; also, be sure to keep it warm and dry, and allow it to
. have plenty of fresh air without being in a draft.

FILARIA BRONCHITIS.

Causes. — From small germs getting into the system and
settling in the lining of the bronchial tubes and inflaming them.
This disease is not very common, but sometimes we have an out-
break of it where the sheep are pasturing on a low-lying pasture,
and, as a general thing, if one of the flock gets affected with it,
nearly all the herd will be showing symptoms of the disease.

Symptoms. — They have a dry, husky cough ; fall off" in condi-
tion, and with the slightest exertion the animal will breathe heavy,
and on placing your ear to the bottom of the windpipe you will
hear a wheezing noise, the sheep will not feed well, scarcely ever
chews its cud and lies down most of the time. If you have several
sheep showing the above symptoms, and they are pasturing on a
low-lying pasture you may come to the conclusion it is this
disease they have.

Treatment. — Turpentine seems to have a special action in

cases of this kind, because as soon as it gets into the blood it

spreads through the system and has a tendency to kill all kinds of

germs. Give the following :

Spirits of Turpentine i .... J ounce or I tablespoonful.

Raw Linseed Oil i teacupful.

Mix and give as a drench every third day until the disease

disappears. Another good treatment is to burn sulphur in a stable

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF SHEEP. 295

where the sheep are and allow them to breathe the fumes of the
sulphur. Do this twice a week and it will kill the germs and stop
the disease. The way to tell when they have as much as they can
bear is to have a man stand in the stable with them, and when
he has all h& can stand let the sheep out of the stable. Sheep can
stand about the same amount of the fumes of sulphur as a man.

INFLAMMATION OF THE LUNGS AND ITS COVERING.

Causes. — This generally comes after sore throat when the
sheep get cold, or from a neglected cold in the head, or from get-
ting chilled from being in a cold rain. Sometimes it is caused
from a sheep getting cold after lambing.

Symptoms. — The sheep lies down with its ears lopped over,
breathing heavy, its legs and ears are cold, and it does not eat
nor chew its cud, but seems feverish and greedy to drink. Some-
times it will cough. If you separate the wool on its side and
listen with your ear you will hear a peculiar grating sound in the
lungs, and the affected sheep will mean once in a while as if in
distress. The sheep gets very weak, falls off in condition and will
die in a short time if it does not get felief. In some cases the
sheep will linger nine or ten days.

Treatment. — ^^Put the sheep in a dry, warm, well ventilated
box-stall or stable. If the sheep has just been shorn cover the
body well with blankets, but if not just keep dry. Give the fol-
lowing medicine :

Sweet Spirits of Nitre J ounce or 1 tablespoonful.

Ginger I teaspoonful.

Fleming Tincture of Aconite 3 drops.

Mix in a half pint of water and give as a drench. Give this

three times a day, being careful not to lift its head too high and

choke it, and give plenty of time for the animal to swallow the

drench. In a day or so, when the animal is better, but seems

weak, give the following drench, as a stimulant :

Whisky 1 wine glassful.

Ginger 1 teaspoonful.

Oatmeal Gruel .' ^ pint.

Mix and give as a drench three times a day until the sheep

gets strong and commences to feed all right again. During the

time the sheep is sick give cold water to drink in small quantities,

but often. If it will eat mashes with flaxseed in it give that, but if

not give any other kind of grain it will eat.

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296

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF SHEEP.

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TROUBLES OF THE TEETH.

Sometimes, when the sheep is a year or two old, there will
be a cap of one of the grinders, while shedding the teeth, stick
on the new tooth and not fall off; this causes the animal difficultv
in eatmg.

Symptoms. — The sheep does not do well; would like to eat;
takes food into its mouth and chews it, but throws it out again
and goes off, and although it seems to be failing and does not
eat, still it does not seem sick. It will sometimes be noticed to
be working its tongue around its mouth.

Treatment. — Catch the animal and examine the mouth, and if
it is a cap you can tell it, for it will be higher up than the other
teeth in the row. Remove the cap with a pincers and the animal
will soon be all right.

PIECES OF WOOD OR ANY SUBSTANCE LODGED IN THE TEETH.

In eating, the sheep gets hold of a piece of stick or some
other substance and it gets caught between the teeth or around
the lips or gums, and it cannot work it out with its tongue.

Symptoms. — The animal is not eating and keeps its tongue
working around in its mouth as if trying to work something out.

Treatment. — Examine the mouth, and if you find anything
caught in it, remove it, either with your fingers or a pincers.

OLD SHEEP LOSING THEIR TEETH.

Sometimes an old ewe that has lost some of her teeth
gets with lamb; you want to keep her over another year, and
she only has two or three front teeth, which interfere greatly with
her eating, and she runs down and gets so poor that you think

■ she will not pull through.

Treatment. — Catch the ewe and pull out the remaining front
teeth and let her gum it, ana as soon as the gums heal up she
will do well and be able to eat, and will be good for a year or so.
The reason why the sheep did not do well was because all the food
she could get to eat was mei^ely what she could catch with the few
s; .lbs of teeth that remained in her mouth, and when they are pulled

^ovi she can take the food in all right with her gums and chew it
«• ..h her back teeth, which are generally all right at this age.

CHOKING In sheep.

t This is not nearly so common in sheep as it is in cattle, but
sometimes it occurs when they are fed on sliced roots.

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF SHEEP.

297

Sjrmptoms. — The animal stops feeding, froths at the mouth,
coughs and keeps working its tongue, and in some cases is
bloated and the.eyes bloodshot.

Treatment. — Pour down a little raw linseed oil as a drench;
in some cases this will start whatever is lodged in the throat causing
the trouble. Feel along the bottom of the neck, and if you can
find the obstruction try to work it up' or down with your hands,
but be sure you do not mistake the larynx or Adam's apple for
the lump. If this treatment fails, get a probang that is used for
choking in -cattle and pass it down in the same way as* is
explained for choking in cattle, being very careful in -passing it
down, for the sheep is a more tender animal than the cow. Oil
the probang well before passing it down.

BLOATING (TYMPANITIS) IN SHEEP.

This disease in sheep affects the first part of the stomach or
paunch.

CEUSes. — From a change of food of some kind ; getting a feed
of wet clover; getting a feed of grain; by chilling the stomach
with a big drink of cold water ; or by eating frozen roots or grass.

Symptoms. — The sheep is uneasy; keeps getting up and
down and seems in pain; breathes heavy and keeps moaning; on
examining the sheep it is found bloated on the left side ; if you
separate the wool on the left side over the paunch and tap on it,
it gives a hollow, drum-like sound, showing that there is gas
inside.

Treatment — The treatment must be quick. Give the follow^
ing mixture :

Epsom Salts i pound.

Sweet Spirits of Nitre ^ ounce, or 2 tablespoonfuls.

Common Soda 1 teaspoonful.

Ginger 1 " *

Dissolve in a pint of luke warm water and give as a drench.

If this does not give relief in one hour, give :

Raw Linseed Oil 1 teacupful.

Spirits of Turpentine ^ ounce, or 1 tablespoonful.

Mix and give as a drench. If this does not give relief in

two hours, follow up with the following:

Sweet Spirits of Nitre ^ ounce, or 2 tablespoonfuls.

t Comm(<u Soda 1 teaspoonful.

Ginger , 1 "

Mix in a half pint of luke warm water and give as a drench
every two hours until it gets relief. In very urgent cases, where

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'298 DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF SHEEP.

the bloating is so bad that it endangers the sheep's life, tapping is
performed by measuring Prst half way between the point of the
hip and the last rib, and about three inches down ^ from the back
bone, then clip the wool oflf that space about the size of your hand
and cut a small hole in the skin just large enough to allow the
trocar and cannula to go in; the one used for tapping cattle will do
for the sheep by oiling it first and pressing it through the hole
that you cut in the skin downwards and inwards right into the
paunch. Leave the cannula in and pull th(e trocar out, and the gas
will all escape through the hole in the cannula and save, the sheep's
life. *As soon as the gas is all out, draw out the cannula and let
the hole heal up itself. If you have not a trocar and cannula, run
a penknife in the same place as described; this will let the gas out.

IMPACTION OF THE FIRST PART OF THE STOMACH WITH FOOD.

Causes. — From the sheep getting at some food that it is not
used to eating, such as grain, or being turned into a good pasture
after feeding in a poor one. Feeding a poor quality of peas,
straw or clover hay, especially if it lis a little musty or over ripe,
will sometimes cause it.

Symptoms. — The sheep will not be eating, looks dull, grates
its teeth, does not chew its cud, and has a short, quick grunt
while breathing, caused from the food in the stomach pressing on
the lungs. The animal walks about in a stupid manner, and has
very little passage from the bowels, and what does pass is hard
and dry. By pressing on the left side over the stomach it is
found to be hard, and by tapping on it, it makes a dull, heavy
sound, showing that there is food lying in the first part of the
stomach or paunch.

Treatment. — Give the following:

Epsom Salts »• J pound.

Ginger I leaspoonful.

Common Soda 1 •*

Sweet Spirits of Nitre ^ ounce or 2 tablespoonfuls.

Mix in a pint of luke warm water and give as a drench, then

wait for twenty-four hours to see if this dose will physic and clean

out the stomach; if it does not physic in that time, give:

Raw Linseed Oil i pint.

Spirits of Turpentine | ounce or 1 tablespoonful.

Mix and give as a drench. After the physic operates, to
strengthen the animal give:

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DISEASES AND TREATMENT OP SHEEP. 299

Whisky 1 winej<lMiful.

Ginger 1 teaapoonful.

Common Soda 1 ««

Oatmeal Gruel J pint.

Mix and give as a drench three times a day until the sheep

gets strong.

, COLIC IN SHEEP. »

This is cramps of the bowels.

Causes. — From eating frozen grass or roots; from taking a
cold drink of water; or from eating anything that disagrees with
the bowels.

Symptoms. — The sheep will lie down, moan, strike its feet up
against its belly, jump up and seem quite easy for a few minutes,
and then the pain will come on again. This is the only disease
where the sheep acts like this.

Treatment. — Relieve the spasms by giving

Tincture of Laudanum ^ ounce or 1 tablespoonful.

Ginger 1 teaspoonful.

Common Soda 1 '*

Mix in a half pint of luke warm water and give as a drench every

hour until the animal gets relief. In some cases, after you give

a few doses and it does not get relief, try this drench :

Raw Linseed Oil ^ pint.

Spirits of Turpentine : J ounce or 1 tablespoonful. '

Mix and give as a drench and this will sometimes give im-
mediate relief.

INFLAMMATION OF THE BOWELS.

This is a common disease in young sheep.

Causes. — From eating a lot of snow; from eating dirty pea
straw; or from a severe chill caused from being out in a cold rain
and getting the wool very wet.

Symptoms. — There is severe pain, the animal gels up and
down and keeps pawing first with one foot and then other, the legs
and ears are cold, and when you press on its belly it causes it to
moan with pain. This disease differs from colic for the sheep
does not get easy spells but the pain continues all the time.

Treatment. — Give the following as soon as noticed :

Tincture of Laudanum J ounce or 1 tablespoonful.

Fleming's Tincture of Aconite 3 drops.

Mix in a half pint pf raw linseed oil and give as a drench. Turn
the sheep on its back and rub m one-quarter ot a pound of
mustard, wet up with vinegar, on its belly where the wool is
short. If it is a ram be careful that you do not get any of the

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DISEASES AND TREATMENT OP SHEEP.

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mustard around the point of the sheath, for it will cause the
sheath to be sore and irritate him, afterwards grease where you
blistered ; keep it very dry, and in a comfortable, warm place, and
give the following drench every hour after the first one until
the sheep gets relief :

Tincture of Laudannm | ounce, or 1 tablespoonful.

Fleming's Tincture of Aconite 3 drops.

Mix in a half pint of luke warm water and give as a drench.

TAPE WORM IN SHEEP.

Tapeworm usually affect young sheep, but may affect , old
ones. The disease is generally seen in sheep that are pasturing
on low, rich pasture fields, where dogs that are affected with tape-
worm often run across and leave their droppings, for this
is the way the disease is carried, and spreads Irom one flock
to the other. When one sheep becomes affected with tapeworm,
the worm grows rapidly until it assumes the length of Irom ten to
fifty feet, and is made up of flat joints about half an inch long. After
the tapeworm gets large, frequently these joints become broken
off and pass away with the manure, this joint is alive when it
comes away and remains alive and crawls about on the grass, and
very often another sheep comes along and picks it up, and as soon
as it reaches the bowels it begins to grow and forms a new
tapeworm, this is the way the disease spreads among the flock
of sheep.

Symptoms. — The animal falls off in condition, and the eyes
have a peculiar, dull look. The animal has a good appetite, but
what it eats does not do it much good, for the nourishment all
goes to nourish the tapeworm. As soon as these symptoms are
noticed in one or more young sheep, look out for tape-
worm and watch their droppings very closely, and if you
see joints of flat worm about half an inch long coming away, you
can be sure that they are affected with tapeworm. This is a
dangerous disease, and sometimes before the owner is aware, he will
lose a lamb or two, and it is best treated as soon as first noticed.

Treatment. — Separate the diseased sheep from the ones that
do not show the symptoms and put them in a stable, not allowing
them to eat anything for twelve hours ; at the end of this time
they are ready for treatment. Give the following:

Oil of Male Shield Fern 1 dram or 1 teaspoonf al.

Raw Linseed Oil ^ teacupful.

Mix and give as a drench to each of the affected sheep.
After this drench feed them light, keeping them in the stable so

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DISEASES AND TREATMENT OP SHEEP.

301

you can watch their droppings, and if it works on any of them
as it generally does, you cannot miss it, for there will be a bunch
of worm as large as your two hands come away. If it should
not act on the sheep, starve it again for twelve hours and
repeat the dose, and if it is a large sheep, give a teaspoonful and
a half of the oil of male shield fern. Keep this treatment up until
the worm has passed away. Watch the other sheep to see if any
of them become affected. The dose for a small lamb is :

• Oil of Male Shield Fern ^ dram or A teaapoonfnl.

Raw Liuaeed Oil | teacupf ul.

Note. — This disease affects sheep and lambs far more than

stockowners have any idea of. Often these pieces oL white, flat

worm are seen coming away with the manure, without considering

the danger the flock of sheep are exposed to ; they allow it to run

on, not treated, until a few lambs or sheep die, then treatment is

given to the balance after there is a heavy loss ; so you see the

importance of watching things like this. A trifling cost and a

little trouble will often save heavy losses in your flock.

PLUKE DISEASE IN SHEEP.
This is a disease of the liver and is very common in England,
but not very common in this country, not so much so as it is in
the cattle of this country. This disease is fully described- in
connection with fluke disease in cattle, for the causes, symptoms
and treatment are the same. You will find a thorough explana-
tion given there.

GI<UB IN THE HEAD OF SHEEP.

This is a common disease in some localities, especially if the
sheep are pasturing on low-lying swampy lands where there are
pools of stagnant water.

Causes. — The way this disease spreads is by allowing a sheep
that has died of grub in the head to lie and be eaten by dogs of
the neighborhood, and when they are going across pasture fields
they leave their droppings, which contain the grub, in the pasture.
The grub, being still alive, crawls onto the grass, and the sheep,
while eating the grass, takes the grub into the stomach,
and in this way it gets into the blood along with the nourishment
and passes around in it' until it comes in contact with the brain,
where it settles itself in the upper side of it as near the
centre as it can lodge. >

Symptoms. — The symptoms are very peculiar. The sheep
holds its head to one side and a little higher than natural, and for

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DISBASBS AND TREATMENT OF SHEEP.

a few days will go around in this manner acting very strange.

The symptoms become worse; the animal will take spells

of running, and if there is a fence in its road it will run up against

it, or if there is a ditch, it will run into it as if it were blind

and fall over, then take a fit of jerking for a minute or so, then

get up and be apparently all right for half an hour or so, when

another fit will come on. In other cases, if the grub settles a

little to one side of the brain the animal will keep running around

and around in a circle. These symptoms gradually get worse,

and the fits come on oftener, and if not relieved will die in a few

weeks.

Treatment. — As soon as first noticed the grub can be killed

and absorbed away by giving

Spirits of Turpentine . ;^ ounce or 1 tablespoouful.

R-\w Linseed Oil \ teaoupful.

Mix and give as a drench every second or third day for
a week or so. This will kill the grub, which will gradually
absorb away itself, and the sheep will soon be all right. During
treatment, keep the sheep in a small field where it cannot hurt itself;
catch it every day and feel around the top of the head for a soft
spot in the bone over the brain by pressing hard on it, and when
you find it take a shaVp knife and cut the skin off the soft spot
about the size of a twenty-five cent piece, and then cut the
diseased bone, being careful not to touch the brain. As soon as
you have cut around it, raise the piece of sqft bone out and leave
it out. This soft piece of bone, being over where the grub is,
will at once give the sheep relief, for the grub will bulge up in
the hole and take the pressure off the brain. Do not attempt to
remove the grub, for nature will remove it in a few days itself.
The only thing to be done after the bone is cut out is to keep the
sheep in a cool place where flies will not bother it and cause
maggots. If they should, wash it out clean with luke warm water
and soap, then apply the white lotion with a few drops of carbolic
acid in it once or twice a day and it will be all right. The hole
in the bone will soon heal over. Providing you should lose a
sheep with this disease, bury it deep so the dogs will not get at it
and carry it to other sheep. Never, in any case, pour spirits of
turpentine in the nostrils, for it will do no good, is cruel, and
sometimes kills the sheep itself. ' Always give the turpentine as
above mentioned.

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF SHEEP.

303.

SCAB IN SHEEP.

This disease somewhat resembles mange in hordes. It is a
very serious disease in some countries, but is not much seen in'
Canada or United States.

Causes. — it is a contagious disease and is caused from little
germs or parasites getting down into the skin. The disease
spreads by these germs or parasites getting from one sheep to
another.

Symptoms. -^There is extreme itchiness, and the sheep is
continually rubbing itself against something. The wool, on
account of the germs or parisites working in the skin, falls off
in patches, the sheep fails off in condition, and if you examine
the scabs with a microscope you will see the minute germs or
parasites. When one sheep is affected in a flock it soon spreads
and affects them all. Be careful in handling them, as you are
apt to get the disease yourself.

Treatment. — Clip the remaining part of the wooj off short
enough to get the medicine down to the skin. A very cheap and
effective remedy is creolin water, made by adding two teaspoon-
fuls of creolin to a pint of rain water. Shake well and rub in all
over the body with a brush. Do this every second day until the
disease stops and the wool starts to grow. If this should fail,
there are regular sheep dips for this disease which can be bought
at drug stores ; it is done up in a package and it contains the full
directions how to use it. As soon as you notice the disease among
your flock, separate the affected sheep from the sound ones, and
thoroughly clean the stable out and burn sulphur in it with the
doors closed.

WOOL FALLING OFF SHEEP IN THE SPRING.

Causes. — From feeding on hot food, spch as pea or wheat
meal, and keeping them in a place that is too hot.

Symptoms. — in the spring, just about lambing time, the wool,
will become loose and fall off in patches. The animal does not
seem itchy to any great extent, but will rub some.

Treatment. — As soon as. noticed, change the feed and put

them in a cooler place, being careful they do not catch col^, and,

instead of the rich food, feed roots of some kind to get the blood.

cool. In very bad cases give :

Nitrate of Potash or Saltpetre j pound.

Sulphur i "

Ground Gentian Root | "

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DISEASES AND TREATMENT OP SHEEP.

Mix well together and give a teaspoonful on the tongues of
the affected sheep every night. To prevent sheep from loosing
their wool, keep them in a cool place,feed chopped oats and plenty
of roots, such as mangels, to keep the blood cool.

SHEEP TICKS.

Sheep ticks are best got rid of about shearing time, by catch*
ing the lambs and sheep and giving them a good rubbing all over
with creolin water, using two tablespoonfuls of creolin to a pint of
water, by rubbing it in well with a brush dne dressing will
generally cure the whole flock. If in other times of the year, it is
best to use a regular sheep dip whibh can be bought at almost
any drug store, the full directions are given in the package.

MAGGOTS IN WOUNDS ON SHEEP.

Maggots are a very common thing in sheep when they have a
wound that has been neglected, or they will in some cases form
around their bag when it has festered or bealed.

Treatment. — Wash the parts well with soap and w?trm water;
then apply creolin lotion, containing creolin, two tablespoonfuls to
a pint of water. The first time you apply the lotion put a good
lot on to kill the maggots, then bathe twice a day and apply the
creolin lotion to the parts each time after bathing, until healed.

DIARRHCEA IN SHEEP.

This disease does not occur so often in sheep as it does
in cattle.

Causes. — Ffom a very cold drink when the animal is dry;
fr6m a sudden change in the feed, or from eating anything that is
frozen or very green, will sometimes cause it.

Symptoms. — The sheep will be dull ; will not eat much, and
passes a thin, watery manure often, and the hind legs and tail gets
wet and dirty looking.

Treatment. — Give the following :

Castor Oil i teaoupf ul.

Tincture of Laudanum | ounce or 1 tablespoon! ul.

Ginger 1 teaspoonful.

Common Soda 1 "

Mix in a half teacupful of luke warm water and give as a
drenc|^, then follow up with :

Tincture of Laudanum i ounce, or 1 tablespoonf nl.

Common Soda 1 teaspoonful.

Ginger 1 "

Mix in a half pint of luke warm water and give as a drench
«very three hours until the diarrhoea stops. In very bad cases

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF SHEEP.

305

add one-quarter ounce, or one tablespoonful of tincture of catechu

in each drench and this will make a sure cure. Give luke warm

water to drink with dry flour dusted in it to make a sort of a thin

gruel.

BITES FROM DOGS WORRYING SHEEP.

Bathe the wound off with luke warm water and soap twice
a day each time after bathings, then wipe dry and apply the white
lotion and this will soon heal it up. ^'

SORE EYES IN SHEEP.

Causes. — From something getting into the eye ; from an in-
jury to the eye ; from getting cold in the eye, or anything that will
cause it to be irritated.

Symptoms. — The eye is partly closed and water runs from the
corner, and when you open the eye it is found to look red,
very sore, and inflamed, and may have a scum over it.

Treatment. — Catch the sheep and examine the eye, and if
there is anything in it, remove it. To get the soreness and in-
flammation out of the eye, bathe twice a day with new milk or
warm water, and then apply the ej e wash mentioned among the
receipts in the back of this book in and around the eye. Keep
this treatment up until it is all right.

BROKEN LEGS IN LAMBS OR SHEEP.
Causes. — From being run over by anything on the road, or
from a kick or an injury of any kind that will cause a fracture of the
bones. Providing that the fracture or break is so bad that the
bones pierce through the skin, it is best to kill the sheep. If it is
fat, butcher it and use it for meat. But if the fracture is not so
bad and the sheep is young and you want to save it, set the bones
to their place and apply a starch bandage, which is a bandage
saturated in starch, and in drawing it out of* the starch, drr-.w the
bandage between your fingers, so as to scrape as much of the
starch out of the bandage as you can, for it will harden quicker
and better; then wrap it moderately tight around the leg over the
place where it is broken, being sure to have the bones set
straight, then have someone to hold the sheep and keep the leg
straight until the bandage hardens, after this the bandage will
hold the leg to its place ; leave the bandage on for a month or six
weeks. Keep the sheep as quiet as possible during treatment.
Watch the sheep's leg where the bandage is on for fear it would
make the leg sore or be on too tight ; if it should, change the
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DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF SHEEP.

bandage. Leave tha bandage on until the sheep can walk on
the leg all right, then cut the bandage off.

INFLAMMATION OF THE TESTICLES IN RAMS..

This is sometimes seen in rams and is caused from an iniurv
of some kind, such as the bunt of another sheep or a kick of some
kind.

Symptoms. — This disease is very painful. The ram walks
stiff; the bag will be swollen and sore to handle; he will not eat
much, and lays down most of the time to relievo the testicles as
much as possible. If the inflammation is allowed to run on tiie
bag and testicles will become blackened and mortified; it will
pass up the cords of the testicles into the belly and soon kill the
ram.

Treatment. — .As soon as the trouble is noticed, separate him
from the rest of the flock ; keep him in a quiet, cool place and
poultice the bag with a hot poultice of half linseed meal and bran,
change the poultice every three hours, and each time while chang-
ing the poultice bathe the bag with hot vinegar for a while before
applying the next poultice. If the ram is fat give the following :

Kpsom Suits I pouiid.

Tincture of Ltiudainini h ounce, or 'J tabltspoonfuls.

Mix in half a pint of luke warm water and give as a drenc'.i.
In cases where the bag festers and forms matter, which you can
tell by the feel of it, you can tell when it is ready to open by feel-
ing for a soft spot in the bag, and as soon as you tind the soft
spot lance it to let the matter out, and continue poulticing until all
the matter is drawn out and the ram seems better. After the
inflammation is pretty well out poultice only about half the time.

HOW TO CASTRATE RAMS.
Throw the ram dOwn and have him held firmly, take a sharp
knife and make a cut lengthwise near the bottom of the bag so it
will not torm a pocket afterwards, cut the hole large enough for
the testicle to slip otit, as soon as the testicle is otit you will
notice where the covering is attached at the back part of the
testicle,' separate the covering from the testicle with your knife,
pull the testicle up three or four inches and tie a strong string
around the cord, tie it tight enough to stop the blood,
leaving the ends of the string four or five inches long so they will
hang out of the cut and not heal up in the bag, in a few
days they will rot off the end of the cord and drop out themselves;

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OK SHEEP.

307

as soon as this is done cut the cord off half an inch below the
strinj^, then operate on the other testicle in a similar manner. As
soon as both testicles are cut off fill the holes up with salty bultor
and let the sheep up. If he swells afterwards bathe the bug and
cuts with luke warm water and open the cuts by putting' salty
butter on your finj^ers and run them up into the cuts. The main
thiny after castration is not to let the sheep get wet. In castrat-
ing young ram lambs, perform the operation in the same manner
as in rams onlv it is not necessary to tie the cord, but cut it off
with a sharp scissors and this will stop it from bleeding and be
better than tieing. As soon as the cords are both cut off fill the
hole up with butter and let the lamb go, and if it swells afterwards
give it the same treatment that is given for swelling in rams after

castration.

CUTTING LAMBS' TAILS.

This operation is generally performed on ewe lambs and on
ram lambs that arc being kept for breeding purposes; the opera-
tion is best done in the lAtter end of May when the lambs are from
two to six weeks old. The best way to do this is, catch the
lambs and have someone to hold them while you take hold of the
tail to find the second or third joint; after deciding at which joint
you wish to cut, place the knife at that joint and cut it right
off with one stroke, which is very easily done. They
usually do not bleed much, but if they do put some of Monsell's
solution of iron on, with a feather, and if you have not this, burn
with a red hot iron by touching it to the end of the tail.

LAMBING.

Sheep are usually put in with the ram in the month of
November, and a good way to tcil when a ram has served a ewe
is to shake dry red paint on the ram's breast and when he has
served a ewe the paint will be on her back. The length of time
the ewe carries the lamb from the time the ram served her till she
is delivered is five months.

^ SIGNS OF LAMBING.

In the young ewe about the third month she commences to
to make a bag; in the old ewe it is about the fourth month when
she begins to make a bag; after this time the bag keeps getting
larger until a day or so before she lambs; her bag and teats get hard
and full for a few hours before lambing; she is very cross to dogs and

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DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF SHEEP.

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other animals; her eyes have a wild look and she tries to get
away by herself; finally the labor pains come on and she seems in
great pain, the water bag soon appeat^s and breaks, then if the
lamb is coming all right the front legs and head will come out and
she will soon be delivered of her lamb.

TROUBLES MET WITH IN LANBING.

Sometimes the lamb will be coming with the front legs out
and the head turned back. In a case of this kind, raise the ewe's
hind end up high, then oil your hands and shove the front legs
back, and pass your hand inside and turn the head straight, then
draw on the head and legs and it will come all right. Sometimes
a. lamb will be coming. with only its head and neck out, the front
legs being turned back inside, in this case raise the ewe's hind
«nd up high, oil your hands and shove the head and neck back in-
to the womb and straighten the legs, then draw gently on them
and the head and it will come all right. Sometimes one front leg
and the head will be out; the lamb cannot come in this
position; raise the ewe's hind end up high and shove the leg and head
back into the womb and straighten the leg that is bent back and
bring it up with the other leg and the head, then it will come
all^ right. Sometimes in a case where there are twin lambs, a leg
of each will be out, in this case watch when you shove them back
and be sure you get hold of the two legs that belong to the one
lamb, because sometimes a mistake is made and they draw on a
leg of each lamb and injure both the lambs and ewe. Sometimes
the ewe will try to lamb but nothing will come — the only thing
you can feel in the passage is the tail and rump of the lamb ; the
trouble in this case is, that the lamb is coming backwards with the
hind legs turned forward under it. In this case raise the ewe's
hind end up high, oil your hand and shove the lamb upwards and
forwards in the womb, then slip your hand down along the
hind leg of the lamb until you can hook your finger around it,
then draw it upwards and then backwards until it sticks straight
out in the passage, as soon as you have this leg up do the same
to the other, and when you have both of them up, draw the lamb
out backwards. When you find a lamb coming backwards
never attempt to turn it, for this is impossible in the ewe, but take
it away backwards. As soon as a ewe has lambed get her on her
feet to allow the lamb-bed or womb to go back to its place, also
try to get her to lick the Iambs. Sometimes in a young ewe where

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DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF SHEEP.

309

the "passage is so small you cannot get your hand in, you will need
a boy with a small hand to turn the lamb, while you instruct him.
Sometimes the ewe will trj' to lamb and the neck of the womb will
remain closed, not allowing the lamb to come out ; in this case
medicine will have to be used. Give the following:

Epsom Salts ^ pound.

Fluid Extract of Belladonna 15 drops.

Mix in a half pint of luke warm water and give as a drench,
then follow up with the following :

Fluid Extract of Belladonna 15 drops.

Mix in a half pint of luke warm water. Give this drench
every two hours until it acts on the neck of the womb and opens
it so she can lamb without diflficulty.

THE CLEANING NOT COMING AWAY AFTER LAMBING.

In a case of this kind give the ewe a hot drink, and then

leave her alone, allowing her to lie down, and if it does not come

away then, give :

Epsom Salts J pound.

Sweet Spirits of Nitre J ounce, or 1 tablespoonful.

Fluid Extract of Belladonna 15 drops.

Mix in half a pint of luke warm water and give as a drench,

and as soon as the medicine operates it will loosen the cleaning

and it will come away all right.

. LAMB BED TURNED OUT.

Causes. — From a ewe, after lambing, lying with her hind parts
too low, and the womb gets shoved up in the pelvic or hip cavity,
which causes her pain, and on account of this she commences
straining and does not stop until she turns the lamb bed inside out.

Symptoms. — The ewe seems very weak and will generally
be lying down with the bed out behind. The bed is about as
large as a man's head and is covered all over with little processes
like buttons; it is to these little buttons the cleaning is attached.

Treatment. — As soon as noticed, if there is any cleaning
attached to the button-like proctisses, take it off, then bathe the
bed well with luke warm water and place a sheet or clean bag
under the bed to keep it up and also keep it clean. Have a man
on each side to hold the hind end of the sheep up, and, having
your hands well oiled, start to turn it in, commencing at the vulva
and keep turning it in until it is all in the passage, then shove the
womb back to its natural place with your hand before you leave
it. With a needle and twine used for sewing wounds, put two or

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310 DISEASES AND TREATMEN'T OF SHEEP.

three good stitches in, leaving only enough space for her to malce

her water through, and in a day or two, when she is all over the

straining, take the stitches out. After the womb has been

returned she will likely strain some; to relieve this, give the

following :

I'lpaain Salts } pound.

Tincture of Laudanum i ounce, or,l talilespoonful.

J'lenung' fiucture of Aconite 3 dropy.

Mix thoroughly ai^d give as a drench. After this, give a

warm bran mash, and give tlie following drench every hour until

she is through straining:

Tincture of L -udftnum J ounce or 1 tablespoouful.

Sweet ^^' ..f Nitre Jf *' 1

Flemi; ^, » Ti". . i .» of Aconite .2 drops.

Mix in li >' :. , , i of water and give as a drench.

IN'^LAMMATiON OF THE MILK BAG (GARGET).

Causes. — .nls ; gcir r.'il!y noticed after lambing by getting
cold, or from an overflow of milii. ; from an injury; or sometimes,
when a ewe loses a lamb, irom not being milked enough will
cause it.

Symptoms. — The bag becomes largely swollen with milk —
is hard, hot, tender and inflamed. The ewe seems feverish and is
in pain; if you try to milk .her at this stage, only a watery,
curdy milk comes out. If it is not checked now, the inflamed
part of tht bag will commence to fester and form matter, and will
either break or have to be lanced. .Sometimes, instead of the
bag festering, it becomes mortified, and if not checked, the
mortification will go up into the belly and kill the ewe.

Treatment. — it is always best, if a ewe loses a lamb, or when
the lambs arc being weaned, to watch the bag and milk her
out onoe in a while until she goes dry. When the bag is swollen
and inflamed, milk her out once or twice and bathe her bag three
times a day with warm water and vinegar, and in a day or so she
will come all right. When it has been neglected until it festers,
watch the bag and keep bathing it with warm water and vinegar.
As soon as a soft spot comes in the bag, lance it to let the matter
out, then continue bathing and applying the white lotion twice a
day until all the swelling is gone and the bag is healed up.
In cases where the bag becomes mortified, give it lots of bathing
with warm water and vinegar, and keep applying white lotion
three times a day, each time after bathing, until the mortification is
checked, and then the mortified part will separate from the

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF SHEEP.

311

h.\'ilt!iy part in the course of time, and drop off, then bathe well
wirh warm water and soap twice a day and apply white lotion
each time -after bathing. As soon as it is healed up it is best to
fatten the ewe and butcher her. During treatment, feed well and
take extra care of her to keep her strength up until she gets
better.

DISEASES OF YOUNG LAMBS.

WEAKNESS.

Causes. — Sometimes, where the ewes have been poorly fed,
not getting any grain, and has a couple of lambs, the lambs will
naturally be weak and unable to stand, and seems very dumpish ;
or this weakness may be caused from a lamb coming on a cold
night and getting a chill; or where a ewe has bother lambing and
the lamb has to be pulled away.

Treatment. — If it is a cold night, take the lamb where it is
nice and warm, and give it a good rubbing until it is perfectly
dry, and pour down with a spoon the following :

Whisky 1 teaspoouful.

Mix in a tablespoonful of its mother's milk. Give this
amount every hour or two until it is strong enough to suck.

CONSTIPATION.

This is where the young lamb's bowels get stopped.

Causes. — Sometimes from a lamb getting cow's milk in its
full strength. Cow's milk should be weakened down about one-
third by adding water and sugar before giving it. It is noticed in
lainbs sometimes, when no causes can be given.

Symptoms. — The lamb seems to be a little fuller at the sides
than natural, is dull in appearance and keeps* straining occasional-
Iv as if trving to pass something from the bowels— but nothing
comes. Soon it gets in pain and refuses to suck.

Treatment.— Give the following :

Raw Linseed Oil 1 tablespoonful.

Whisky 1 tefispooufu!.

Mix this in a tablespoonful of the ewe's milk and pour it down
with a spoon once a day until the bowels seem all right. Give an
injection of half a teacup of luke warm water and a little soap into
the back bowel with a small syringe three times a day until the
bowels move, also keop the lamb good and warm.

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312

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF SHEEP.

DIARRH(EA.

Causes. — Sometimes from a chill, or from the milk not agree-
ing with it.

Symptoms. — The lamb will often pass a watery manure from
the anus, and the tail and hind legs soon gets wet and sticky.
The lamb will not suck and seems quite dull, and soon becomes
very weak if the diarrhoea is not checked.

Treatment. — Give, a teaspoonful of whisky and one of castor
oil in a tablespoonful of its mother's milk, mix and shake well and
pour it down with a small spoon. If not relieved in four hours,
give five drops of tincture of laudani.m and a teaspoonful of
whisky mixed in a tablespoonful of the ewe's milk. Give this with
a spoon, being careful not to choke the lamb ; repeat this dose
every four hours until the diarrhoea is checked, also be sure and
keep the lamb in a warm, comfortable place until it is all right.
As well as attending to the lamb in those cases, see that the
mother's bag is kept milked out so it will not become inflamed.

FOOT ROT IN SHEEP.

In some parts of the country this is a very common disease
and resembles foul in the foot in cattle.

Causes. — This disease is sometimes brought on from the feet
growing too long and splitting up and setting up inflammation in
the feet. Sometimes when they are pasturing on a low, damp
pasture from continually getting the feet wet, it irritates the
foot and sets up the disease. It may be caused from the sheep
walking through mud or dirty places, and the mud or dirt getting
up between the trotters and getting hard, which irritates the foot
and sets up the disease. In some localities this disease is of an in-
fectious nature, that is to say, where the matter from the feet of an
affected sheep gets on another sheep's feet it will set up the disease.

Symptoms. — The sheep are lame and stiff when walking, and
if the disease runs on the feet will swell and little boils will form
around the top of the hoof, which break and run matter, and the
sheep will become exceedingly lame. If the disease is allowed to
run on for a time, the hoofs become loose and fall off, and the
sheep will then die from exhaustion. When one sheep becomes
affected, the same cause will usually affect more ; so you see it is
advisable to try and find out the cause and remove it, for the
same cause that brings it on in one sheep is likely to bring it on
in all of them.

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF PIGS.

313

Treatment. — Separate the affected sheep from the sound ones
and put the affected ones in a quiet, dry place, and if it is caused
from the sheep being in a wet place, remove the sound ones to a
dry field. Catch the affected sheep, lay them on their side, and
bathe the feet well with luke warm water and soap, cleaning all the
dirt from between the trotters. As soon as you have bathed the
feet, poultice them with a hot poultice of half linseed meal and
bran ; leave the poultice on all night, and poultice every night
until the sheep is better. Each time before putting on the
poultice, and after taking it oflF, dress the foot with white lotion
with a few drops of carbolic acid in it. If this does not effect a
cure, then try the following mixture :

Sweet Oil 4 ounces.

Carbolic Acid 20 drops.

Apply this the same as the lotion before putting on the

poultice and after taking it off.

CHAPTER II.

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF PIGS.

Pigs are not subject to as many diseases as cattle or sheep.

CHOKING.

This is not a very common thing in pigs, but is sometimes
met with when they try to swallow some hard substance which is
too large for the throat.

Symptoms. — The pig keeps coughing, and saliva runs from the
mouth; when it tries to eat or drink, the food or water will run
back out of its mouth, and if it does not get relief will
soon die.

Treatment. — Pour down a little raw linseed oil, and then if
you can feel the obstruction in the tube along the neck, try and
work it around with your hand to get it to slip down. If the

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DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF PIGS.

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obstruction is caught in the back part of the mouth, remove it by
prying- the mouth open with a stick and working it out with
another stick or a long pincers. If the obstruction is so solid that
you cannot get it out or rub it down aiter giving the oil, take a
probang, which is used for cattle when choking, and pass it back
through the throat into the oesophagus, and push the obstruction
down into the stomach. Before attempting to pass the probang,
lie a rope around the upper part of the mouth and have the head
held up, then place the gag across the mouth (the same as is
done when cattle are choking) and run the oiled probang down.

SORE THROAT.

This is more often met with in young pigs from three to six
months old, but may occur at any age.

Causes. — Generally from getting cold; by changing from a
warm to a cold pen; or from getting wet in cold weather.

Symptoms. — The pigs will sneeze and cough ; in drinking,
the water will run out through the nose ; the throat will be
s\lollen and sore to press on. When one pig becomes affected
others generally get it from the same cause.

Treatment.— Make the pigs as comfortable as possible, by
having the pen dry and lots of bedding in it. Feed on soft, warm
food, with a large tablespoonful of sulphur in it, which will be
enough for six small pigs. Give the sulphur twice a day. When
the pigs get so bad that they do not even attempt to eat, take
a quarter of a pound each of sulphur and nitrate of potash or
saltpetre, mix together and throw half a teaspoonful back on the
tongue three times a day; this will gargle the throat. Rub white
liniment around their throats each time you give the medicine,
and if it is a valuable pig, and a bad case, poultice the throat
with hot poultices of half linseed meal and half bran. Change
the poultice every couple of hours until the pig is better.

ACUTE INDIGESTION.

This is where the stomach is distended with food and gas.
It is mostly seen in pigs six to twelve months old.

Causes. — Generally from a pig that is poorly fed getting into
a field of peas or grain and getting a big feed, or sometimes when
the pigs are not used to grain and on being brought in to fatten
they are given a large feed of peas or wheat which will sometimes
set up this disease. , ^

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF PIGS. 315

Symptoms. — The pig- refuses to eat, seems bloated, very un-
easy, and in pain. If the sickness is after any of the above
causes, you may then be sure it is acute indigestion.

Treatment. — The dose for a pig from six months to a

year old is as follows :

Epaoin S'lUs .3 tablespoonfuls.

Common Soda 1 teaspoouful.

(iingiT I "

Swetit Spirits of Nitre 1 tubledpoonful.

Mix in a haff pint of luke warm water and pour down the pig
after it has been caught and turned on its back. Give only luke
warm water to drink and no feed until the medicine operates. If
it is not better the next day repeat the dose. In giving the
drench do not pour it down too fast for fear of choking the pig.
If the cause is from getting a large feed of wheat or peas it some-
times swells so much that it ruptures the stomach, in this case
nothing can be done. As soon as the rupture takes place the pig
soon dies; if you want to be sure of it being a rupture, open
the pig and you will find a hole in the stomach.

STUNTED OR CHRONIC INDIGESTION.

This is a common thing in young pigs where they are being
weaned and started to feed and before they get used to it they are
fed on strong food such as peas, wheat and corn ; this is too much
for the young pig's stomach and sets up indigestion. It is also
caused from worms.

Symptoms. — The pig seems to eat plenty but does not grow
or thrive.

Treatment. — To prevent this disease from coming on pigs,

when they are being weaned they should never be fed on hard, hot

feed, but should get milk and swill until about three months old,

then bring them gradually to hard feed by giving a little at a

time. In young pigs, they are so much troubled with worms

that they should get a. handful of hardwood ashes and charcoal

put in the feed twice a week, one handful being enough for six

young pigs, also give them plenty of salt, for pigs getting ashes,

charcoal and salt in this way seem to thrive half as well again.

When the pigs are stunted change the feed from hard to soft feed,

and for six pigs give ot :

Sulphur ^ pound.

Common Soda .% "

Nitrate of Potash or Saltpetre ^ "

I

316 DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF PIGS.

Mix thoroughly and give a tablespoonful in their feed night and
morning until they begin to thrive, also give them plenty of hard-
wood ashes, charcoal and salt in their feed, as is explained above.

CONSTIPATION.

This is liable to aflfect pigs at any age, but is more often
noticed to affect stunted pigs.

Causes. — In young pigs it is generally caused from chronic
indigestion, or worms in the stomach, while in older pigs it is
caused from feeding on dry food without getting exercise, that is,
being kept in a small pen.

Symptoms. — The pigs are very dull; refuse their food; lie
do\Vn most of the time, and seem fuller than natural; they will
strain to pass something but nothing comes. In young pigs,
they will not thrive well; the rectum, or back bowel, will be
bulged out, and in some cases will be turned out entirely; they
seem full and do not eat as they should, and if not attended to
will become stunted and pine away until they die.

Treatment. — in young pigs, catch them and pour down a

tablespoonful ot Epsom salts and a half teaspoonfui each of

ginger and common soda dissolved in half a teacupful of luke

warm water; give this every day until the bowels get nice anJ

loose ; after the physic, continue the treatment by giving the

hardwood ashes, charcoal, sulphur and salt, as recommended in

chronic indigestion. In older pigs, give:

Epsom Salts 2 tablespooufuls. ,

Ginger 1 teaspoonfui.

Common Soda 1 '•

Dissolve in a teacupful of luke warm water and pour down
as a drench, after catching the pig and turning it on its back;
also give the hardwood ashes, charcoal, sulphur and salt as
mentioned in chronic indigestion. In aged pigs (that is where
they are two or three years old) use the same treatment as is
given for medium sized pigs, only give a larger dose. They can
stand about a quarter of a pound of Epsom salts with a tea-
spoonful of common soda and ginger dissolved in a pint of luke
warm water ; repeat this dose every second day until it works the
bowels. As well as giving the medicine, give them exercise ever}'
day which will help the physic to operate.

food
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DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF PIGS.

317

DIARRH(EA.

This is the very opposite of constipation.

Causes. — It is generally caused from a sudden change in the
food ; from eating something that is frozen ; or from excitement
by being chased.

Symptoms.- -The manure runs away like water; the pig is
dull and refuses to eat its food, but is very thirsty and greedy to
drink.

Treatment. — Change the food, and give a gruel drink of

Dry Flour 1 teaoupf ul.

Common Soda 1 tableapoonf ul.

Ginger 1 "

Mix in a half pail of luke warm water and give as a drink

three times a day. The above is the. proportion to give six

small pigs. In a case where it is in young pigs sucking a sow,

give the sow

Dry Flovr i teaoupful.

Common Soda 1 teaspoonful.

Ginger 1 "

Mix in a half pail of luke warm water and give three times a

day. As well as the above treatment, keep the pigs warm, dry

and clean, and they will soon get all right.

WORMS.

This is mostly seen in young pigs.

S3'mptoms. — The pig eats plenty but does not seem to thrive
well, and sometimes you will see small worms pass away in the
manure.

Treatment.— Give a handful of charcoal and hardwood ashes
in the food twice a week ; also give half a teaspoonful of sulphur
for each pig twice a day in their food and this will generally kill
the worms.

TURNING OUT OF THE RECTUM OR BACK BOWEL.

Causes. — This is generally caused in young pigs by getting
dry food to eat, and the bowels become costive, and while
straining to pass manure, it turns the back bowel out ; or where
pigs rise on their hind legs with their front feet upon the front of
the pen every time you go to feed them; or from going to jump a
low fence and getting caught, and while lying with the belly
over the fence, the back bowel becomes turned out.

Symptoms. — There is a bulging out of the back bowel from
half the size of a hen's egg to even larger than a hen's egg,

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which will be red and angry looking-, and after a time become
blackened.

Treatment. — As soon as noticed give the back bowel a
syringing out with hike warm water and soap so as to clean anv
hard manure out of it, then wash it off clean and oil the bulged
out part of the bowel and shove it back to its natural place. As
soon as this is done, if it is a small pig, g^ive a tablespoonful or
epsom salts mixed in half a ttacupful ot hike warm water and
pour down as a drench, and give one-half teaspooirful of sulphur
mixed in sloppy feed twice a day, this will keep the bowels free
and the pig will generally be all right. Have the pig fastened in
its pen so it cannot jump up on its hind legs ; in a case where the
bowel is blackened or comes out two or three times after putting
it in, do not return it but leave it alone and the piece of dead
bowel will drop off of its own accord, and the pig will
be all right in a week or so, but give the physic and sulphur as
mentioned to keep the bowels loose.

BLIND STAGGERS.

This is a disease that affects the brain and nerves.

Causes. — From pigs being kept in a dirty, ill-ventilated, poor-
ly drained, small pen. The blood gets in such a bad state that it
becomes stagnant. This disease is mostly seen in pigs under a
year old.

Symptoms. — The pig will be dull, stands in a corner with its
ears iopped over, will not eat, and when it goes to walk will run
against anything in its way. In a short time, the ears, nose, and
around the head turns to a blue color which is caused by the
stagnant blood. The bowels are costive, and the pig becomes
duller and duller, until convulsions come on— and it dies. When
one pig becomes affected in a pen where there are thirty or forty
pigs kept, what caused it in that one will cause it in the othef pigs,
and we have seen cases where farmers would have lost half a
dozen pigs in a few hours, so when you find the disease is affect-
ing your pigs, let them out of the pen where they are kept into
open air, and clean out the pen thoroughly.

Treatment. — As soon as one pig becomes affected let them all
out of the pen into the open air for a few hours, and afterward put
them in a clean pen. In treating the affected one, drag it out into
the open air and rub it well with cloths to get the circulation
started, and give the following :

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF PIGS.

31'V

For a pig 3 montha' old, give 1 tablespoon ful of Epsom Salts.
" 3 to () " " '2 " " "

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As well as this put from a teaspoonful to a tablespoonful or
two (accordini^ to the age of the pig) oi' good brandy, also a
teaspoonful oi' ginger and common soda in the drench. Dissolve
in half a teacupful of hike warm water, and pour down the pig
as a drench after turning it on its bacU. As soon as the drench
operates it will relieve the pig. In some cases persons have been
known to cut off the ears and tail with a view to getting the
circulation of the blood started, but tiie hand rubbing is better
and is not so cruel and does not disfigure the pig.

FOUNDER OR SORE FEET.

CtlUSes. — This is a very common thing in pigs, especially
when fattening them and feeding them on hard, dry feed, when'
they are in a small pen with very little straw on the floor. Driving^
them on a hard road or from getting a feed of wheat when not
used to it will cause it.

Symptoms.— ''"he pig will be dull and lie most of the time
and when it moves around it is so sore on its front feet that it
walks with its hind feet well under it with the front feet stuck
out ahead of it, in some cases the feet are so sore that tlie pig"
squeals when it is forced to put its weight on the front feet.
From the severe pain of the feet and not being able to get around
to eat its food it soon falls off in condition and becomes very
gaunt.

Treatment.— if it is in the summer time, turn the affected
pigs out where they can root in the ground, and pour water in the
hole where they lie every day to keep the ground wet, as this
will help cure the sore feet, as well as this mix half a pound
each of sulphur and nitrate of potash or saltpetre, and give a tea-
spoonful of the mixture in a slop twice a day to each of the
affected pigs. If it is in the winter time, keep the pig in a warm,
dry place. Give it a physic of Epsom salts (use the proportion
given in blind staggers), feed light and give the mixture above
mentioned, also poultice the front feet every night and tiie pig

will soon get all right.

WOUNDS.

Causes. — From a bite of a (.\oi; or other pigs ; from going

through a barb wire fence and getting caught on a barb, or froni

running against a nail and tearing itself.

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DISEASES AND TREATMENT OP PIGS.

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Treatment. — Where it is a very bad rip or tear, it is best to
catch the pig and sew it up with the same kind of a needle and
thread as is used to sew up wounds in horses. Put the stitches
three-quarters of an inch apart, then fill the wound up with green
salve ; let the pig go and it will soon heal up, for pigs' flesh heals
very quickly; but wat^h the wound that maggots do no get in it,
if they do, wash the wound out well with luke warm water and
soap, then apply the white liniment to kill the maggots, and fill
the wound up with green salve and it will soon heal up.

CASTRATING.

Old boars can be castrated at almost any time of the year,
but it is said that the colder the weather the better, as long as the
weather is dry and they are kept in a dry place. Catch the boar,
turn him on his back and tie him securely with a rope so he cannot
get up or hurt you, then take hold of the testicle with the left
hand, and with a sharp knife in the right hand make a cut in the
bag large enough to allow the testicle to come out ; make the cut
in the underside of the bag so it will not form a pocket afterwards.
As soon as the testicle is out, separate the covering from the
testicle, where it is attached to the underside, by cutting it off".
Pull the testicle and cord out three or four inches and tie a strong
string tightly around the cord to prevent it from bleeding; leave
the ends of the string four or five inches long so they will hang
out of the cut. As soon as the cord is tied, cut the testicle off
half an inch below where it is tied, then operate ot) the other testicle
in the same manner. If it is a young boar you are castrating,
instead of tying the cord with a string, cut it off" with a sharp
scissors and this will stop the bleeding. In very young pigs,
after the testicle is out scrape the cord with a knife until it is
worn off", or cut it off" with a sharp scissors. In all cases after
you are through castrating the pig, and before you let him up,
fill the cuts where the testicle comes out of with salty butter.
If the cuts swell much and the pig seems stiff" and sore in a few
days after he is castrated, catch him and open up the cuts with
some butter on your finger and allow the matter that has formed
in the bag to run out; this is one thing that should never be
neglected after castrating any animal.

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF PIGS.

321

HOW TO CASTRATE PIGS THAT ARE RUPTURED IN THE BAG.

Causes of Rupture. — Generally from a young pig standing on
its hind feet with its front feet up on the front of the pen
when you go to feed them ; in other cases it is noticed as soon as
it is pigged.

Symptoms of Rupture.— The bag is enlarged by the bowels
coming out into it, and when you catch the pig and press on the
enlargement, you can press the bowel back into its place, but as
soon as you let go it will fly out again.

How to Operate. — it is best to castrate ruptured pigs when
they are young — about five or six weeks old. If it is a large
boar, starve him for twenty-four hours before operating, so his
bowels will be empty, for they will slip back to their place easier
while you are castrating him. Have help enough to hold the hind
end of the pig well up while you press the bowels back, which is
easily done when they are empty, and his hind end being
higher than his front they will stay back better while you are
operating on him. Take the testicles out in the same manner as
you would a pig that was not ruptured, only make the cuts as
small as you can. After each testicle is out, sew up the cut with
a needle and thread (the same as used for sewing up wounds);
put the stitches in about one-quarter of an inch apart, so the
bowels cannot slip out. If it is a small pig, let him run with the
others ; but if a large pig, keep him in a quiet place and do not
give him much to eat for a few days until the cuts swell, which
will keep the rupture back. Leave the stitches in until they rot
out of their own accord.

BLACK TEETH IN YOUNG PIGS.

These are very small black teeth which are found in the sides
of the mouth when young pigs are pigged; and continue growing
for some time, but after the pig gets larger they drop out of their
own accord. These teeth sometimes grow in such a manner
that they cut and poison the tongue and make it so sore
that they cannot eat, and in a little while, if not attended to,
the tongue becomes so badly swollen that often the pigs
will die from starvation and blood-poisoning. We have seen
cases where three or four pigs in one litter died from black teeth.

Treatment. — Catch the young pigs and examine each one of
them, and if they ha\ie black teeth, pull them out with a pincers
and they will soon be all right. It is a good practice to catch and
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DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF PIGS.

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examine a litter of young pigs, for if the black teeth are taken out

in time it will often prevent some of them from dying before

you notice them sick.

LICE ON PIGS.

These lice are large and resemble ticks on sheep, only they
can run very fast. We have seen cases where the pigs were
literally covered with them. Pigs that have lice on them do not
thrive well, and they are a great preventive to fattening pigs,
because they irritate and cause them to be continually rubbing
and scratching themselves.

Treatment. — Wash the sheep well with creolin water, which
is a sure, cheap and simple remedy. The strength of creolin to
be used is two tablespoonfuls to a pint of water. Rub the creolin
water in all over the pig with a stiff brush. It generally takes
two washings to make a complete cure; the second application is
to be put on about a week after the first one. As well as this,
clean the pen thoroughly, shake lime around the floor, and put
fresh, clean straw in for them to lie on.

FRACTURE OF A PIG'S LEG.

Causes.— This may be caused in various ways, such as being
hit by a stone, being kicked, or from getting the foot through a
hole in the floor and giving the leg a wrench.

Symptoms. — The pig cannot use its leg in walking; it will
hang loose. If you take hold of the leg and twist it you can hear
the ends of the broken bones grating on each other.

Treatment. — if it is a fat pig, and about ready to kill, it is
best to butcher it. If it is a pig you want to save, and the ends
of the broken bone are not out through the skin, try and treat it.
Take a long bandage, soak it in starch (same as is used for
starching clothes), when you are drawing the bandage out of the
starch, draw it between your fingers and scrape it with a knife to
get 'as much of the starch out as you can, so it will harden
quicker; roll the bandage up so it will be handy to put on the leg,
then set the broken bone to its place, and put the bandage on the
leg moderately tight. After it is on, hold the leg and bandage
straight until the bandage hardens, after that it will hold the
bone to its place. Keep the pig very quiet, and feed it so it
will not have to stir around. Leave the bandage on for three or
four weeks, until the pig can use the leg* all right, then remove
the bandage by cutting it off. If the break is in the hip, or some

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF PIGS.

323

place where you cannot bandajje it, leave the p\g in a very quiet
place, and sometimes the broken bone will knit together itself.

BROKEN BACK IN PIGS.

This is very often seen in sows when they are very thin and
weak after suckling pigs. It will happen very easily sometimes ;
a very little tap on her nose will sometimes break a sow's back;
getting hit over the back, slipping, or from something falling and
hitting her over the back will sometimes cause it. It may occur
in other pigs in the same manner, but they are not so liable to be
hurt as weak sows just after you wean the little pigs.

Symptoms. — All at once she will loose power of her hind
quarters and drag them after her. If you prick the hind parts
with a pin she cannot feel it, and will lie there quite helpless.

Treatment. — Put the sow in a small, clean pen with a
good bed, and feed her so she will not be hungry and try to move
around. Give one or two teaspoonfuls of sulphur a day in her
feed to keep the bowels loose. Keep her as quiet as possible
and she will probably get well in the course of time.

HOG CHOLERA.

This is an infectious blood disease, and is sometimes called
anthrax ; it is noticed to break out in herds of hogs all over the
country.

Symptoms — The first symptoms are dullness, drooping of the
head and ears, loss of appetite, and the pig will go away by itself
to lie down ; the pig seems very feverish, hot, and in some cases
will lie quiet and die very suddenly, while in other cases, as the
symptoms advance, the pig has pains in the bowels, will lie on its
side, moan with pain,' then jump up, run around, squeal and grunt
in a very painful manner. The pig at times gets easy spells and
becomes quiet ; if you catch and examine it you will find that the
skin of the belly, thighs, front legs, throat, and around the nose
will be of a purple color, and in some cases on account of the high
fever, the skin breaks out in a rash. In the last stages of the
disease there is diarrhoea, and the manure which is very thin, is of
a black color and has a very bad smell. The pig rapidly loses
strength, gets a cough, begins breathing very heavy, and in a few
hours is so weak it can hardly stand. In some cases the pig dies
in from six to ten hours after being smitten with the disease,
while in other cases it lives for a few days. The rash that comes

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DISEASES AND TREATMENT OP PIGS.

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out on the skin soon causes it to slough, and the skin will drop off

in places, giving the animal a bad appearance — and will soon die.

Although this is a very fatal disease and most of the pigs die that

are affected with it, occasionally we have a case get better when

the treatment is taken in time.

Treatment. — As soon as any of the pigs are noticed sick,

separate the sick ones from the others that are not sick, and put

them in a di ^ , clean pen, and give the following medicine to each

pig, using your own judgment as to the proportion to give the

different sized pigs :

Epsom Salts 2 to 4 tablespoonfuls.

Sweet Spirits of Nitre 1 teaspoonful to 1 tablespoonful.

Sulphur 1 " 1

Mix in half a teacupful of luke warm water and pour down as
a drench after turning the pig on its back. If this drench
operates on the bowels before the disease gets too bad, it will
often save the life of the pig. If this disease breaks out in your
herd of pigs, send for the government veterinary inspector ; he
will come and examine the pigs to make sure about the disease
and help you to prevent the disease from spreading.

DIFFICULTIES MET WITH IN SOWS PIGGING.

The average time it takes a sow, after being put to the boar,
before she has pigs is three months, three weeks and three days.
In a month and a-half after being put to the boar, she begins to
get larger and continues getting larger until pigging time. Just
before she pigs she is noticed to be uneasy, and starts to make her
bed ; if anything disturbs her she makes a fuss and seems excited.
After her bed is made she seems sick and lies down for a short
time, then the labor pains come on — she will strain and the water
bag will appear and break, if the pigs are coming all right, she will
soon be delivered of one ; the front feet and head should come first
but sometimes they come with the hind feet first ; in a few minutes
more she will strain again and another pig will be delivered, and
so on until they are all delivered. After this there is usually no
trouble unless the sow has too much bedding and she smothers
the little pigs. Sometimes, when a sow is pigging, a pig will
come crooked and get lodged in the passage and she cannot pig
without a little assistance. The pig may be coming head first
with the front feet turned back, or coming with its hipd end first
and its legs turned in under it, and all you can feel while examin-

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF PIGS.

825

ing is the tail and rump. If the sow is large enough for you to
pass your hand into the passage, oil your hand and pass it up; if
the front legs of the little pig are turned back shove it back into
the womb ; catch the legs with yolir finger and bring them up
even with the head, then pull on the legs and it will come all
right. If it is coming backwards, and the hind legs are turned
under it shove the pig back into the womb and straighten out the
legs so as to have the hind feet coming first. In case the sow is
too small for a man's hand to go into the passage, get a boy that
has a small hand and have him oil it and pass it up into the pas-
sage, and by you telling him what to do he can bring it away all
right. In working with sows always keep your hand well oiled,
and try and not bruise the passage, for it will swell and make it
worse for you to ^♦ork at.

MILK FEVER IN SOWS.

This disease is occasionally met with in sows, but the causes
of it is not clearly understood.

Symptoms. — They are generally noticed as soon as the sow is
through pigging, when the little pigs go to suck they cannot get
any milk ; if you try to milk her no milk will come ; the teats are
soft instead of being full and hard, showing that there is no milk
being secreted in the teats, the sow seems very sick, is feverish
and does not take notice of her little ones, nor eat, but is very
thirsty and will drink a great deal if she can get it to drink.

Treatment. — Give the following for a large sow :

Epsom Salts J pound.

Sweet Spirits of Nitre Jounce, or 1 tablespoonful.

Ginger 1 teaspoonf ul.

Mix in half pint of luke warm water and pour down as a drench,

first turning the sow on her back and prying her mouth open with a

stick to get the drench down. After giving the drench follow up

with the following powder :

Nitrate of Potash or Saltpetre ^ pound.

Sulphur ^ "

Mix thoroughly, and. for a large sow, give a teaspoonful on
her tongue with a spoon twice a day, or in soft feed. Give her plenty
of luke warm slops to eat, bathe her milk glands three times a day
with luke warm water, rub the parts dry each time after bathing and
keep the little pigs sucking to try to bring her back to her milk.
By attending to her in this way for a few days she will get all
right. While the sow is sick keep the little pigs alive by feeding

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DISEASES AND TREATMENT OK PIGS.

them milk from a newly calved cow ; weaken the milk down one-
third with luke warm water and sweeten it with sug"ar, pour this
down with a spoon, or let them suck it out of a bottle, also keep
them suckingf the sow as much as you can.

INFLAMMATION OF THE MILK GLANDS IN A SOW (GARGET).

This is generally noticed right after pigging.

C<lUSes. — From catching cold, or from losing some of the
pigs and not having enough left to keep the bag sucked out, and
6n account of this the glands get so full of milk that they swell
become sore and inflamed-

Symptoms. — The sow seems dull, feverish and does not care
to eat, and when the pigs go to suck her it causes pain and they
do not get much milk. On examing her the milk glands will be
found swollen, hard, hot and tender.

Treatment. — Give the same medicine inwardly with the same
directions as is given for the treatment of milk fever in sows, be-
sides this bathe the milk glands well three times a day with luke
warm water and vinegar, each time after bathing rub the glands
■dry, and in severe cases where the young pigs are not sucking
her, rub the glands with white liniment, and after putting on the
the liniment oil the parts with oil or lard to soften the glands and
keep the liniment from blistering. In cases where the disease runs
on, and the glands fester and form matter, they will have to be
lanced to let the matter out; then treat by bathing with luke
warm water and soap twice a day, and apply the white lotion
€ach time after bathing until the glands heal up. In^bad cases it
is best to wean the young pigs.

PIG BED OR WOMB TURNED OUT.

This is generally noticed right after pigging, where the sow
is left lying with her hind end lower than her front, which causes
the pig bed to work back into the passage, and when it does, it
causes her pain, and she starts to force and forces the pig bed
inside out.

Symptoms. — The womb, or pig bed, is turned out behind,
which is larger than a man's head, and in a very short time
bfecomes very red and swollen, and is a miserable looking sight;
it should be put back as soon as noticed before it swells much.

Treatment — As soon as noticed, bathe the womb well with
luke warm water to take the swelling down and make it clean and

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF PIGS. 327

warm ; then have a couple of men to raise the sow's hind end
straig-ht up while j'ou start turninj^ the womb in at the passage,
and keep turning it in until it is all in the passage ; then oil your
hand and arm, if the sow is large enough for your hand to pass
into the passage, but if not, get a boy with a small hand, and
press the pig bed right back into its place. As soon as you have
done this, sew up the vulva or the opening of the passage to the
womb; put two or three stitches across it; put them in good and
deep, just leaving space enough at the bottom for her to make
water. Leave the stitches in for a day or two until she stops
straining, then cut the stitches, 'pull them out and she will be all
right. After you have put the bed back, if she keeps straining,
giv^e her the following:

Tincture of Laudanum J ounce, or 1 tablespoonful.

Sweet. Spirits of Nitre j " 1 *'

Fleming's Tincture of Aconite 2 to 3 drops.

Mix in a teacupful of luke warm water and pour down as a

drench, after turning her on her back and prying her mouth open

with a stick. If she does not get relief in two hours, repeat the

drench, and keep repeating it every two or three hours until sh§

is all over the straining.

HOW TO RING A PIG.

The object of ringing pigs is to keep them from rooting.

The best way to ring them is to first make a noose on the end of

a small rope, slip the noose into the pig's mouth, draw it tight on

the upper jaw, and have the rope over a beam or something to

draw the pig's head up tight; have a pincers and ring, which can

be obtained at any hardware store, place the ring in the pincers,

and while the pig is pulling back, close the ring on its nose so as

to catch about one-quarter of an inch of gristle ; this is done by

pressing on and closing the handles of the pincers. Be careful

not to put the ring back farther than one-quarter of an inch, also

see that there is no rust on the ring before putting it in. Put in

from one to three rings, according to the size and age of the pig.

If the nose should fester after ringing, it is best to take the ring

out.

FITS IN YOUNG PIGS FROM WORMS.

Symptoms. — The pig is first noticed not to be thriving well,

and after a time is noticed to take fits, its legs begin jerking, its

head and neck bends back and it keeps champing its teeth, and

after working in this manner for a while, falls over as if it were

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DISEASES AND TREATMENT OP DOGS.

dead, but in a short time gets up and seems all right for a little
while, then another fit comes on. The pig keeps on taking those
fits every little while for a few days, but finally gets so bad it dies.
Treatment. — For a pig two months old give

Raw Linseed Oil im ■ ■ i teaoupful.

Kpirits of Turpentine 1 drain or 1 teaapoonf ul.

Mix well and pour down as a drench. Repeat this dose once
a day until the bowels move -and the pig seems relieved, after-
wards feed lots of charcoal, hardwood ashes, salt and sulphur, the
same as is given to stunted pigs to get rid of the worms.

CHAPTER III.

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF DOGS,

MANGE.

This is a very common skin disease among dogs.

Causes. — From parasites, or germs, getting down into the skin,
and as soon as they do they commence to breed and spread all
over the body, mostly affecting the skin on the back, head and
neck. This disease will soon spread among dogs and to other
animals, even to the human being.

Symptoms. — The dog becomes extremely itchy, keeps rubbing
and biting himself until the hair falls off, and in some cases the
skin gets so sore and irritated that it will bleed ; the hair is dry
and scruffy-looking, and the dog soon falls off in condition. To
make sure of this disease examine the scales under a microscope
and you can see the parasites or germs.

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF DOGS.

329

• Treatment. — If the weather is warm clip the hair cfF the dog

good and short, and give him a thorough good washing with luke

warm water and soap, after this rub him dry and apply the

creolin wash by rubbing it well into the skin all over the body;

use two tablespoonfuls of creolin to the pint of water and apply it

once a day until the dog stops rubbing himself, the skin heals and

the hair starts to grow out ; as well as this, give a teaspoonful of

sulphur in his milk twice a day if it is a large dog; give the

sulphur in proportion to the size of the dog ; if it is in the winter

time just clip the hair off and apply the creolin wash, but do not

wash him with water.

FLEAS.

Fleas are a very common thing in dogs, especially if they are
kept tied up and not properly taken care of.

Treatment. — Clean out the place where the dog is kept and
whitewash it to get it thoroughly clean and put in fresh bedding,
then, if it is in the summer time, wash the dog with luke warm
water and soap, then rub him dry, after which rub him thoroughly
with creolin wash every third or fourth day until the fleas are
killed. One washing is usually enough to kill the fleas. Use
two tablespoonfuls of creolin to the pint of water to wash him with.

CANKER IN THE EAR.

Causes. — This is a common disease in dogs that run through
long, wet grass.

Symptoms. — There is a discharge of matter from the ear
which has a bad smell ; the dog holds his head to one side, and if
you go to catch him to examine the ear he will be very much
afraid, showing that it is very sore.

Treatment. — Bathe the ear well with luke warm water and

castile soap once a day; wipe dry each time after bathing and

inject a little white lotion into the ear with a syringe and he will

soon get all right.

DEAFNESS.

This is very common in old dogs.

Symptoms. — ig seems stupid, and when you call him

he does not hear you.

Treatment. — if it is an old dog, and the cause is from age,
there cannot be anything done ; but if it is a young dog, and the
deafness is caused from wax in the ear or anything like that, wash the
ear out with luke warm water and soap, after which drop a few drops

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DISEASES AND TREATMENT OP DOGS.

M

of sweet oil into the ear; do this every second day and in a short
time it will effect a complete cure.

SORE EYES.

Thi^ is an inflammation of the eye and its covering".

Causes. — From something getting into the eye; from a bite
or scratch, or anything that will irritate the eye.

Symptoms. — The eye is very red, sore and inflamed, and after
a time a little scum will form over the sight. The eyelids, in
some cases, are swollen and tears keep running from the corners.

Treatment. — Catch the dog, examine the eye, and if there is
anything in it, remove it at once; after this, bathe the eye with
new milk twice a day, and each time after bathing apply the eye
wash mentioned in the back of this book until he gets all right.
While treating him keep him in a cool, dark place.

ENLARGEMENTS OR GROWTHS IN THE EYE.

In some cases the eye itself will become so enlarged that it
will bulge out of its socket, which gives the dog a very unsightly
appearance. In other, cases cancerous growths affect the eye,
and the cancer grows until it hangs out of the eye onto the cheek.

Treatment. — in either of the above cases treat by removing
the eye. First, put a muzzle on him or tie his mouth with a
strong, small rope so he cannot bite you, then tie his legs firmly.
When you have the dog securely tied, stick a hook into the
affected eye and pull outwards and upwards, then with a sharp
knife cut around the eye and separate it from the eyelid and draw
the eye up as far as you can. You will find the eye attached at
the back by the muscles, nerve and artery of the eye. Tie a
string tight around the back part of the eye, so it will
prevent bleedmg, then cut the eye off in front of the st in>7
leaving the string on. The after treatment is to bathe t'
with lukewarm water and castile soap once a day; each ti aici
bathing apply the white lotion and it will soon heal up. Keep the
dog in a dark, cool, quiet place during treatment.

WOUNDS OR CUTS OF ANY KIND.
If the wound is torn much, tie the dog's mouth with a rope or
muzzle him so he cannot bite you, also tie his legs to hold them firmly,
then stitch the wound up with a needle and twine (the same as is
used for sewing wounds on horses). There is no necessity for
using medicine on it afterwards, but just leave the dog in a dark.

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF DOGS.

331

quiet place, and allow him to lick the wound, which is the best

medicine you can use. If the v ound is where the dog" cannot yfet

at it to lick it, bathe it twice a. day with luke warm water and

castile soap, and each time after bathing wipe dry and apply the

white lotion.

TUMORS OR GROWTHS ON THE SKIN.

As soon as they are noticed it is best to cut them out clean.
First secure the dog in the same manner as is given in the
treatment for "enlargements and growths in the eye," then take
a sharp knife and skin the lump right out; let the dog go and do
nothing more to it, only let the dog lick it, for it is; dangerous to
put medicine on cuts or wounds where the dog can lick it, for the
medicine might poison him.

CONSTIPATION IN DOGS.

This is where the bowels have stopped working.

Symptoms. — The dog will not eat, seems very dull and
dumpish; the belly seems fuller than natural; he is often
noticed to strain, but does not pass much, and anything that does
come away will be hard and dry.

Treatment. — For a small or young dog give
Syrup of Bnokthorn ^ ounce or 1 tablespoonful.

Pour this down twice a day, night and morning, until the
bowels are moved. For a large dog give one-half ounce or two table-
spoonfuls of syrup of buckthorn twice a day until it acts on him.
Castor oil is also recommended to be given in the same propor-
tions as the syrup of buckthorn. As well as giving the medicine
mentioned give an injection of a teacupful of luke warm water
with a little soap in it twice a day. Give the dog gentle exercise
once a day and see that he has nothing but new milk to* drink
during the time he is sick.

DIARRH(EA IN DOGS.

This is not a very common disease in dogs, but is sometimes
seen, and is generally caused from a change in his food.

Tr itment. — Keep the dog very quiet, and in some cases by
giving II boiled new milk with a little dry flour in it, it will
checl- diarrhoea without any medicine. If this fails, give to a

sma ig half a dram or half a teaspoonful of tincture of laud-
anum J a teaspoonful of whisky in a tab'^spoonful of new milk
as a di nch. For a large dog give one dram or a teaspoonful of
tincture of laudanum and a tablespoonful of whisky mixed in half

332 DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF DOGS.

a teacupful of boiled milk and flour and give as a drench. Re-
peat the drench three times a day until he gets all right. During
the treatment keep the dog veny quiet and give very little to eat
except boiled new milk with a little dry flour sifted in it.

WORMS.

»

Symptoms. — The dog has a good appetite, but does not
thrive well, his hair is dry lo6king,and dusty. Occasionally there
will be a worm noticed to pass away in his manure. Sometimes
dogs affected very badly with worms will take fits.

Treatment. — For a medium-sized dog give one dram of
oil of male shield fern mixed with four tablespoonfuls of
new milk. Pour it down by putting it well back in the mouth
with a spoon or bottle and holding his head until he swallows it.
Give this dose every third day until the bowels are moving free
and the dog is relieved of worms.

DISTEMPER IN DOGS.

This is a very common disease in dogs from three to six
months old, but may affect them at any age, and is mostly seen
during the fall, winter and spring. This disease somewhat re-
sembles distemper in horses.

Causes. — It is caused from parasites, or germs, getting into
the blood and setting up the disease in the same manner as dis-
temper in horses. By allowing the affected dog to be with other
dogs they will catch it from him.

Symptoms. — The dog is very dull and sleepy looking, tries to
get in a quiet, dark place and refuses to eat, his eyes keep run-
ning water, and after a time t!iey become very sore. In a few
days his hair becomes dry, there is a discharge from the nose,
eyes, and sometimes from the penis, the bowels are costive, the
dog falls off in condition, the symptoms gradually get worse, and
if he does not get relief he will go into convulsions or fits and
soon die. Like other diseases of this kind it must run its course,
which should last about nine days.

Treatment. — The treatment is very simple. Give the affected

dog nothing to eat but new milk and the following medicine:

Nitrate of Potash or Saltpetre J pound.

Sulphur i "

Grouud GLtitian Root • • • • i "

Mix thoroughly together, and for a large dog give half a
teaspoonful of the mixture three times a day on his tongue with a

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF DOGS.

333

spoon or in his milk. Regulate the dose in proportion to the size
of the dog. Keep the dog in a quiet, clean place; wash off the
discharge from his eyes and nose with luke warm water, and
afterwards wipe drj' with a soft cloth. If his bowels are costive,
give from a teaspoonful to a tablespoonful, according to the size
of the dog, of syrup of buckthorn once a day until the bowels
move freely; after that give a dose once or twice a week to keep
the bowe^ls free, and in a week or so the dog will begin to get
better. Be careful not to let him get cold until he gets all right.

MAD DOG (HYDROPHOBIA OR RABIES).

This disease originates spontaneously in dogs and cats with-
out being bitten, and is mostly seen in very hot weather and in
hot climates. It may also be caused by dogs or cats being
bitten by another mad dog or cat.

Symptoms. — The r .Tected dog is first noticed to become
excited; runs about and bites at everything that comes in his way;
saliva keeps running from his mouth and his eyes are blood-
shot. After this, the 'dog will take a spell of quietness, and
will go and lie down in an out-of-the-way place. He seems to
have a depraved appetite ; will eat clay and all sorts of dirt.
Suddenly, he will again become excited and run about biting at
everything that comes in his way, the same as at first. A mad
dog rarely, if ever, goes out of his way to bite anything.
In running about he keeps snapping his teeth, and once in a
while gives a peculiar howl. He has great difficulty in swallow-
ing, and in some cases cannot swallow at all. These symptoms
gradually get worse until the dog dies. The time the disease
affects a dog after being bitten varies from ten to fifteen days.

Treatment. — As soon as the dog is .noticed to be mad, have

him destroyed, for he is very dangerous to have around, and,

besides, there is no cure for it. In cases where a dog has been

bitten by a mad dog o/ cat, cut tlie piece out where he was bitten

and burn the hole with caustic potash, nitrate of silver or a red

hot iron, which will destroy the poison before it gets into the

system.

CHOREA.

This is a disease that affects the nerves, causing the affected
part to keep jerking.

Causes. — It is very often noticed after a dog has had a very
severe attack of distemper, or it may be caused from an injury.

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Symptoms. — There is a continual jerking of the muscles
around the affected part when the dog is resting.

Treatment. — There cannot be much done for it after the
disease has once set in, but by giving from one-quarter to one- half
a dram of bromide of potassium twice a day on his tongue with a
spoon or in a little new milk, according to the size of the dog, as
soon as the disease is noticed, it' will nearly always effect a cure.

DOGS POISONED WITH RAT POISON, STRYCHNINE OR ARSENIC.

Symptoms. — All at once the dog seems in great pain ; takes
fits; slobbers at the mouth; the eyes are bulged out and blood-
shot, and he keeps trembling all over. If the dog shows the above
symptoms, and you have had poison around the place, or he has
been anywhere that he could possibly get it, you may conclude
he has been poisoned..

Treatment. — The treatment must be quick. Give the dog
an emetic to make him vomit ; this is the only way you can save
his life. The idea is to get him to throw up the poison out of his
stomach before it gets absorbed into the blood. Give him one
tablespoonful of salt dissolved in a half teacuplul of luke warm
water as a drench, or one teaspoonful of mustard dissolved in a
half teacupful of luke warm water as a drench ; either of the
above will cause vomiting. But the best of all, if you have it, to
make him vomit, is to give him from half a teaspoonful to a
teaspoonful of sulphate of zinc dissolved in a half teacupful of
luke warm water and give it as a drench. If you can get him to
vomit soon enough it will generally save his life.

FRACTURES OR BROKEN BONES IN DOGS.

Causes. — Fractures of bones in the dog may occur in various
ways, such as a kick or being struck with anything.

Symptoms. — The symptoms vary according to the part
affected. If it is a fracture of the neck bones the dog dies instant-
ly ; if in the back it causes paralysis of his hind quarters; if it is in
the hip or hind leg it is easily told, for the dog cannot use the leg
and hops along on the other three while the broken one will be
dangling; if it is a fracture in the front leg, he acts similar to when'
the fracture is in the hind leg. To make sure it is a fracture,
catch the dog and move the affected parts and you can hear the
ends of the broken bone grinding on each other. ,

Treatment. — If the fracture is in the back, there can be noth-
ing done but to destroy the dog, to put him out of pain. If it is

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF DOGS.

335

the hip or ^shoulder bone that is fractured and it is a young do^,
keep him perfectly quiet and the bones will soon knit together, but
if it is a very old dog there is not much chance of the bones
knitting together, although they might. If the fracture is down
on the leg set the broken bone to its place and have a long, starch
bandage (which is a bandage soaked in starch and then wrung out
as dry as possible), roll the bandage around the fractured leg
letting it go two or three inches above and below the fracture,
wrap it moderately tight and hold the leg and bandage straight
un^il the bandage hardens. Keep the dog quiet and leave the
bandage on for three or four weeks until the bones are healed and
he can use his leg all right.

BREEDING PUPS AND TROUBLES MET WITH AT PUPPING TIME.

Bitches usually (Tome in heat about twice a year, but some
come oftener than that. She is nine days coming in heat and nine
days going off, during that time she will take the dog about nine
or ten days. It is best to keep the bitch shut up during the
eighteen days, so that no other dog but the one you want to bree.'l
to can get at her. If you want to get bitch pups, let the dog to
her as soon as she will take him; while if you want to get dog
pups, let her go for seven or eight days after she would have taken
the dog, before you let the dog to her and you are almost sure to
get dog pups. The bitch carries her pups nine weeks. At the end
of that time, and a few hours before pupping, she will try to get away
to some quiet place and make a nest. As a general thing after she

once starts to pup.

it' does not take her lonjr to have them all.

Sometimes we have cases where she cannot pup alone, that is, where
one of the pups is coming wrong — sometimes head first with the
front legs turned back, and it gets caught at the shoulders. In
this case shove the pup back a little, slip your finger in under the
front legs and bring them forward, and it will then come all right.
If the front legs are coming out and the head and neck are turned
back, shove the pup back a little, and straighten the head and
neck up along with the front legs, and the pup will soon come all
right. Sometimes the pup comes backwards with only his rump
and tail up in the passage, in this case shove the pup back and
straighten up the two hind feet, and bring the pup away
backwards. Before starting to work at a job of this kind, have
your fingers and hands oiled so as not to irritate the bitch, some-
times a small hook will be of some use, but if you use one be very
careful not to tear her. Bitches are not very liable to disease after

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336

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF DOGS.

pupping and the only thing to be done is to see that_^ she is dry
and warm, and that the pups are sucking her all right.

HOW TO CUT PUPS' TAILS.

This is usually done when the pup is about a month old. The

length of the tail to be left on varies with the breed of the pup ;

find out the length you want to leave it and then find the joint,

and cut it through with one stroke of a sharp knife'. They do not

usually bleed, but if it should, touch the spots with Monsell's

solution of iron, or if you have not got that just touch it with a

red hot iron which will stop it, but in most cases it will be all rig;ht

without anything.

HOW TO CASTRATE A DOG.

This operation is done at all ages — but like other animals it is
best done when he is young ; it is very simple. Catch the dog and
roll him up in a blanket, turning his front legs back and his hind
legs forward so as to catch them in the blanket, and have him held
on his back with his hind end stuck out of the blanket enough to
get at the bag. Take hold oi the testicle with your left hand, and
with a sharp knife in your right hand, let out the testicle by
making a cut in the bag large enough to let it out, separate the
covering which is attached to the back part of the testicle with
your knife, as soon as this is cut draw the testicle well up, and if
he is a young dog cut the cord off with a scissors which will stop
the bleeding, but if he is an old dog, tie the cord tight with a piece
of strong string, leaving the ends long enough so they will hang
out of the bag, then cut the testicle off about one-half an inch
below where it is tied, operate on the other testicle in the same
way, and fill the holes with salty butter and let him go.

HOW TO SPAY A BITCH.

This operation is taking the ovaries away from the bitch, to
prevent her from coming in heat i ui getting with pup. It is best
to perform this operation when the bitch is between six and nine
months old and before she comes in heat for the first time, but it
can be done at any time, and we have even done it when she was
with pup, and be all right, but, if it is done when she is with pup
she will generally lose her pups. It is best to have the bitch thin
in condition, not giving her anything to eat or drink but milk the
day before the operation. What is needed for this operation is a
sharp knife, a sewing needle and string (the same as is used for
sewing up wounds), and a probe, 'which can be made out of a

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337

piece of wire about eight inches long having one end rounded so
it will not hurt her while it is being passed up-into the womb, and
a scissors. As well as these you need a large sponge and about
eight ounces of sulphuric ether which is used to put her asleep.

Catch the bitch and place her on a table or box where you
are going to operate ; saturate the sponge with sulphuric ether
and hold it tight to her nose, making her breathe right through
the sponge. Watch her carefully, and as soon as she is under
the influence of it so much that she has no power of herself then
take the sponge and ether away from her nose and commence to
operate. Have some one to watch her head all the time, and
when she commences to stir a little place the sponge saturated
with ether to her nose again until she is quiet, and keep doing
this all through the operation, but be careful not to give her too
much, just enough to keep her asleep. Have the bitch on her
back; commence operating by oiling the probe and passing it
•carefully up into the passage until it is in the womb ; make a cut
about an inch long in the center of the belly, between the four
last teats ; oil your fingers and insert the first finger of the left
hand into the cut, while with your right hand you take hold of the
probe and press it down at the end so the end inside of her
will be raised toward the hole in the skin of the belly; with your
finger in the cut feel the end of the probe ; the part you feel is the
womb ; now slip your^finger forward under the womb and bring
the two horns that branch out from the womb up and out through
the hole with your finger, then draw one of the horns well up
until the ovary, which is about the size of a pea, comes outside,
then with the scissors cut it off ; do the same with the other horn,
cutting off the other ovary ; wash the parts off clean with carbolic
water — five drops of carbolic acid to a pint of luke warm water —
and shove the parts carefully back to their place and sew up the
skin by putting in a few stitches ; after this take the sponge away
from her nose ; pour a little cold water into her mouth^and on her
head and let her come to, then keep her very quiet for a week or so,
feeding her mostly on new^ milk and she will come all right. The
operation is very simple when once you have performed it and
know how to go about it. A person wishing to become an ex-
pert at spaying had better thoroughly examine the womb, horns of
the womb and ovaries in a dead bitch before trying the^operation
on a live one, as it will give a better idea how to go about it.

22

338

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF POULTRY.

Another thing to bear in mind in this operation, as well as in
other operations, always have everything perfectly clean. When;
this precaution is taken the operation is generally successful.

CHAPTER IV.

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF POULTRY.

ROUP.

This disease affects hens and turkeys, especially when they
are young. It is seen at all times of the year, but is mostly-
noticed in the fall, and is more often seen in hens than turkeys.

CilUSCS. — It is caused from parasites, or germs, getting into
the lining of the throat, causing it to swell and set up the disease.

Symptoms. — About the first symptom noticed is that the fowl
has difficulty in breathing, goes around with its mouth open and
occasionally makes a croaking noise with its throat. If they do
not get relief in a few days the throat swells so much that they
will die.

Treatment. — For a chicken, or a small turkey give one drop
of spirits of turpentine mixed in half a teaspoonful of raw linseed oil ;
pour it down the throat with a spoon. For a hen, or turkey, give
from three to four drops of spirits of turpentine in a teaspoonful of
raw linseed oil. Repeat this dose once a day until it is relieved;
also rub the throat around the outside well with white liniment
once a day. If taken in time this is a sure cure.

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DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF POULTRY.

339

BIG HEAD IN TURKEYS.

This is a disease mostly seen in turkeys, but occasionally is
seen in other fowl. It may affect turkeys at any age, but is seen
mostly when they are young.

Causes. — This disease is caused from small germs or parasites
getting into the system and affecting the head. When one turkey
becomes affected it generally spreads through the whole flock.

Symptoms. — The first symptom noticed is swelling around
the head, usually in front of the eyes. In some cases the swelling
only affects one side of the head, and keeps swelling until it closes
the eye right up, and the turkey goes around with its head to one
side, while in other cases both sides become swollen at the same
time, and closes both the eyes. Although these swellings are
mostly seen in front of the eyes, it may affect other parts of the
head, and even the feet in some cases. If not treated, the swelling
gradually increases around the head until it works into the throat
and kills the turkey ; if in the foot, it swells and becomes so bad
that it finally dies.

Treatment. — When this disease gets into a flock of turkeys,,
if it is not treated it will kill nearly all the turkeys in the flock,
before it stops. Separate the diseased turkey from the sound
ones, and give to a medium sized turkey three drops of spirits of
turpentine mixed in a teaspoonful of raw linseed oil. The best
way to give it is to pour it down with a spoon. Give this dose
once a day and rub around the swelling with white liniment once
a day; this will gradually cure the turkeys if taken in time. If the
swelling is very large before you start to treat it, split the lumps
open with a sharp knife and squeeze the cheesey matter out of it,
then fill the hole and rub the swelling with white liniment; keep
this treatment up until the turkey is all right. Be careful not to
let the liniment into the eye while applying it to the head.

HEN LICE IN A HEN HOUSE AND ON HENS.

When orice hen lice get started they increase very rapidly
and become a perfect nuisance to the hens and the owner, and in
some cases they will spread to other buildings and get on the
stock. Hen lice are very small and have a reddish appearance.

Treatment. — The first step to be taken to get rid of the
hen lice is to drive all the hens out of the hen house, close up the
windows and doors, put a pound of sulphur in a pot, put some.

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DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF POULTRY.

coals in it to start the sulphur burning, and keep it burning for
about half a day. The fumes from the sulphur will go into all
the cracks and thoroughly fumigate the place and kill the lice ;
after this open the doors and windows and clean the place out
thoroughly and put plenty of hardwood ashes and coal dust in the
hen house for the hens to roll about in; this kills the lice on the
hens. In the course of a week drive the hens out of the hen
Jbouse again and burn sulphur as you did before, this will rid you
rentirely of the pest, and by watching the hens and giving them
,plenty of ashes and coal dust to roll in, will keep the lice off them
.after this. Whitewash the walls, ceiling, roosts and nests of the
hen house, and put clean straw in the nests, this will effect a com-
• plete cure. If the lice are in other buildings treat just the same
way as mentioned for a hen house. This treatment for killing
'.the heu lice will also kill the germs of other diseases such as roup,
(fitc, and is a process that a hen house should have every fall and
spring to keep diseases from the fowl.

PART V.

Medicines and Receipts.

i

CHAPTER I.

MEDICINES.

Medicines are got from three great sources, viz. : The animal,
vegetable and mineral kingdoms. This part of the book is very
important and should be carefully studied by persons interested,
as it gives the names of the medicines, the sources they are got
from, their action and use, the dose to each of the animals and
how long it takes to operate.

ACONITE. *

Aconite is got from a plant that grows in cool, mountainous
countries. The form of aconite we recommend and use is Flem-
ing's Tincture, which is got from the root of the pldnt.

Its Action and Use. — Aconite acts on the heart and blood
vessels, causing the heart to beat slower, and in this way lowers
blood pressure in the system, thus it is good in most kinds of
inflammation where the animal is in good condition, and is used
now in nearly every case in place of bleeding.

Dose. — Fleming's Tincture of Aconite — For horses, 8 to 10

drops; cattle, 8 to 12 drops; sheep, 2 to 3 drops; pigs and dogs,

1 to 2 drops.

ALCOHOL.

Alcohol is got from certain kinds of wood, grapes, beets,
potatoes, etc. It is not used much in its pure state for doctoring
stock, but is used in the form of liquors for medicines. One
preparation, known as methylated spirits of alcohol is used in
making liniments.

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Its Action and Use. — Its action is as a stimulant, and it also
acts on the kidneys as a diuretic, and is mostly used in the form of
liquors, such as whisky, gin, beer and ale. For external use see
where methylated spirits of alcohol is used in making up white
and acid liniments among the receipts.

Dose. — For horses (whisky), 1 to 2 wine glassfuls; cattle,
2 to 4 wine glassfuls; sheep, 1 wine glassful; pigs and dogs, 1 to
2 tablespoonfuls. For horses (gin), 1 wine glassful; cattle, 1
to 2 wine glassfuls; sheep, 1 to 2 teaspoonfuls; pigs and dogs,
1 teaspoonful. For horses (beer and ale), ^ to 1 pint,' cattle,

1 pint; sheep, i to J pint; pigs and dogs, 1 wine glassful.

ALOES.

Aloes is got from a plant grown in the West India Islands.
There are three kinds of Aloes: Barbadoes, Socotrine and Cape.
The Barbadoes is the best, and is the kind mostly used for stock.
It is a liver-brown color, bitter to taste and is usually bought
either in the form of a powder or lumps.

Its Action and Use. — Aloes acts as a phasic and blood puri-
fier and is used in a great many diseases, especially in the
horse.

Dose. — For horses, 8 to 10 drams; cattle, 1 to 2 ounces; sheep,

2 to 4 drams ; pigs and dogs, 1 to 2 drams. In preparing aloes
for a drench it must be dissolved in water that is just luke warm,
for if the water is too warm it spoils the action of the aloes, and if
-it is too cold it will not dissolve properly. In giving it as a ball,
■see receipt of physic ball in the back of this book. It takes aloes
twenty-four hours to operate on the bowels in horses and cattle,
and after giving them a dose they should always be left standing
quietly for forty-eight hours after giving them the medicine.

ALUM.

Alum is got from the alum salts, which is a mineral.

Its Action and Use. — It is mostly used externally in the form
of washes for healing wounds. It is also dusted onto wounds in
the form of a powder, and is very drying and healing. It is also
used in gargle powders for sore throat, influenza and jhtha or
sore mouth.

Dose. — The way it is used internally is best seen in the receipt
for gargle powders at the back of this book. For making a wash
it takes a tablespoonful of alum to a pint of water.

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AMMONIA.

Ammonia is obtained from plants and animals. There are
several forms of ammonia, but the one mostly used in the
practice is strong liquor ammonia, which is used mostly for mak-
ing liniments. For how to use it see th^ receipt of white liniment

at back of this book.

ANISEED.

Aniseed grows in the form of berries on bushes that grow in
Spain, Germany and Southern Russia. The berries are dried and
ground, this being the form we get them in.

Its Action and Use. — It stimulates digestion, sweetens the
stomach, and in cases where the stomach is deranged it relieves
the gasses that form. It is a splendid thing for animals that are
recovering from weakening diseases to give them an appetite and
build them up.

Dose. — For horses, 1 tablespoonful ; cattle, 1 tablespoonful ;
sheep, 1 teaspoonful; pigs and dogs, ^ to 1 teaspoonful.

ARNICA.

Arnica is got from a plant ^that grows in mountainous coun-
tries in Central Europe, Asia and America. The form we use is
the Tincture of Arnica, which is taken from the root of the plant.

Its Action and Use. — It is not used much internally, but is

used externally in the form of a cooling lotion for sprains, wounds,

etc. — one ounce or 4 tablespoonfuls of arnica to a pint of water

and applied twice a day. It is also used to rub race horses' legs

before and after bandaging to keep them from getting stiff

and sore.

ARSENIC.

Arsenic is got from the mineral kingdom. In its pure form
it is not much used in practice because it is too strong and power-
ful. The form that is used is known as Fowler's Solution, which
is prepared from arsenic, and is in the form of a liquid.

Its Action and Use. — It is a powerful tonic for the stomach
and system in general, and is especially used after weakening dis-
eases, such as distemper, and will often start the animal to thrive
when everything else will fail.

Dose. — For horses, J ounce or 2 tablespoonfuls; cattle, ^
ounce or 2 tablespoonfuls; sheep, 1 dram or 1 teaspoonful; pigs
and dogs, ^ dram or ^ teaspoonful. Give this medicine combined

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with an ounce of whisky and half a pint of gruel twice a day until
the animal gets better and is strong.

BELLADONNA.

Belladonna is got from a pl^nt known as Deadly Nightshade.
It grows wild in some parts of Great Britain, and it is also culti-
vated to a great extent. The form that is used mostly in practice
is the Fluid Extract of Belladonna.

Its Action and Use. — It soothes, softens and relaxes the parts
applied to, and is greatly used where there is inflammation and
pain in almost any part of the body to relieve the pain and check
the inflammation. The Extract of Belladonna is strong and must
be used carefully.

Dose. — Fluid Extract of Belladonna — For horses, 1 dram or
1 teaspoonful; cattle, 1 dram or 1 teaspoonful; sheep, 10
drops; pigs and dogs, 3 to 5 drops. Belladonna is greatly
used for diseases of the eyes in the form of an eye wash.
For further information look at the receipt for eye wash at
the back of this book. It is also greatly used for dilating or
opening the neck of the womb, in any animal, where it remains
closed when they are ready to be, delivered of their young. It is
used a great deal for this trouble in cows.

BLACK ANTIMONY.

Black antimony is got from the mineral kingdom, and the
form we get it is in a black, heavy, grayish powder that has neither
smell nor taste.

Its Action and Use. — It is not used much in the way of
medicine, only to color condition powders, etc., but should
not be used, as it is very irritating and injurious to the system.
When it is used as a cdloring material for powders it is in this
porportion : one teaspoonful of black antimony to a pound of
whatever you want to color.

BUTTER OF ANTIMONY.

Butter of antimony is also got from the mineral kingdom, and
is used in the form of a brown liquid.

Its Action and Use. — It is never used internally, for it is an
irritating poison, but it is used externally for curing thrush in
horse's feet, and for burning growths off around the feet that
come from the quick of the foot. It is also good in cases where

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a nail has run in the foot, afterthe nail is pulled out and the nail-hole

pared out, to drop a few drops in the hole to kill the rust and

poison of the nail.

BENZOIN.

Benzoin is got from a tree called styrax benzoin, which
grows in the southern part of Asia. It is got by cutting a hole
in the bark and catching the* sap which afterwards soon becomes
hard and brittle.

Its Action and Use. — The form we use this in is known as
Compound Tincture of Benzoin, or Friar's Balsam, which is pre-
pared from the gum. Its chief action is for healing wounds by
painting the wound over with a feather twice a day, and is especi-
ally useful for caulks, or where a nail has run in the foot, to kill
the poison. It is not used much internally.

BROMIDE OF POTASSIUM.

Bromide of Potassium is prepared from seawater, and the
form we usually get it in is in a white crystal powder, which has a
salty taste.

Its Action and Use. — Its chief action is to quiet the nerves
in nervous diseases, such as lockjaw (tetanus), or in convulsions,
chorea and other painful diseases.

Dose. — For horses, 1 teaspoonful; cattle, 1 teaspoonful;

sheep, j4 teaspoonful ; pigs and dogs, ^ teaspoonful. The dose

can bt given three or four times a day, according to the severity

of the case.

BINIODID OF MERCURY (RED PRECIPITATE).

Biniodid of Mercury is got from the mineral kingdom. It is
bought in the form of a heavy, bright-red powder.

Its Action and Use. — It is chiefly used for blistering bony
enlargements, such as spavins, ringbones, sidebones, splints, etc.
The proportions in which it is used is 1 to 2 drams to the ounce
of vaseline, or lard, according to the br^d of the horse and thick-
ness of the skin. Have the mercury and vaseline, or lard,
thoroughly mixed before using, and three days after applying the
blister grease the part with lard. For further information look at
mercury blister among the receipts.

BUCKTHORN. ^

Buckthorn is got from the ripe berries of a shrubby bush that
grows along the North Pacific Coast. The form we use it in is
known as Syrup of Buckthorn.

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Its Action and Use. — it is principally used as a mild physic
for dogs.

Dose. — For a dog give 1 to 2 ounces ; cats, }4 ounce. A
very good plan is to give a tablespoonful of the syrup every night
and morning until you get the desired results.

CAMPHOR.

Camphor is got from a tall, evergreen tree known as the
Laurel Camphor, which grows in Japan, China, and different
parts of Europe. The branches are cut and boiled in water and
the camphor rises to the top in the form of a gum.

Its Action and Use. — It is mostly used in mixtures for
coughs, sore throat and heaves. How to use it is best seen in
the receipt for chronic cough, and heaves or broken wind.

CANTHARIDES OR SiANISH FLY.

Cantharides are got from flies which receive the name Spanish
Fly on account of so many of them coming from Spain. The flies
are of a green color, and an inch in length, and are captured in
nets, then killed by pouring boiling water or vinegar on them,
after this they are dried in the sun or by artificial heat, and are
then ground and made ready for use in practice.

Its Action and Use. — Its chief action is as a sweat blister
and is one of the principal ingredients in sweat blisters which are
used for sweating thickenings or lumps on any part of the body,
that are not on the bone, such as cuibs, tumors, thickenings left
after a wound has been healed up, etc. As to how to use
Powdered Cantharides see the receipt for sweat blister at the
back of this book. Cantharides can also be got in che form of
a tincture, but is not much used. The proportion to use
Powdered Cantharides for a sweat blister is, 1 to 2 drams of
the Canthardies to an ounce of ■aseline or lard according to
how heavy the skin of 4he horse is. For cows use it a little
stronger than for the horse.

CARBOLIC 4Cm.

Carbolic Acid is got from coal tar and petroleum. The pure
Carbolic Acid is got in the form of a crystal, but the way it is
generally bought is in the form of a liquid.

Its Action and Use. — It has a very cleansing effect on a
wound, and is greatly used for that purpose and is also used for
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MEDICINES AND RECEIPTS.

347

very rarely, if ever used internally. The strength Carbolic Acid
should be used in bathing a wound is 10 drops to half a pail of
water ; for a lotion use 20 drops to a pint of water ; for making
Carbolic Oil use 25 drops of Carbolic Acid to a half pint of olive
or sweet oil, that is about two or three drops of acid to the ounce of
oil. It is a mistake to put too much acid in a wash or lotion, for
instead of it having a cleansing effect it will burn the wound and
stop the healing action. A very good healing salve is made out
of 5 drops of Carbolic Acid to an ounce of vaseline.

CASTOR OIL.

Castor Oil is got from the seeds of a shrubby tree that grows
in Africa, Southern Europe, and South America.

Its Action and Use. — it is a m.ild physic, similar to raw lin-
seed oil. It is not much used for horses or cattle, but is some-
times given to dogs, pigs, and young animals.

Dose. — For horses, 1 pint ; cattle, 1 pint ; sheep, j{ pint ;

pigs and dogs, 1 ounce or 4 tablespoonfuls. In horses and cattle it

takes about twenty-four hours to operate on the bowels, while in

sheep, pigs and dogs it only takes about twelve hours to operate

on them. The best way to give Castor Oil to pigs and dogs is to

give 2 tablespoonfuls every night and morning until you get the

action required. ^

CATECHU.

Catechu is got by boiling the chips from a tree that grows in
Africa and Southern Asia. The form that it is mostly used in
practice is known as Tincture of Catechu.

Its Action and Use. — It acts as an astringent on the bowels
for diarrhoea. Thus it is used in cases of diarrhoea, and it che( .s
it in most animals, li is also used for coloring the White Lotion,
and a few drops makes it a nice dark color.

Dose. — Tincture of Catechu — For horses, 2 to 4 drams r 2
to 4 teaspoonfuls; cattle, 4 to C drams or 4 to 0 teaspoonfuls; sheep,
2 drams or 2 teaspoonfuls; pigs and dogs, 1 dram or 1 teaspoonful.
These doses may be given in gruel or a pint of luke warm water
three or four times a day until the diarrhoea is stopped.

CALOMEZ.

Calomel is got from the mineral kingdom. It is prepared
for medicine in the form of a heavy white powder.

Its Action and Use. — Its chief action is as a physic, and also
clears tne bile from the liver. It is given in cases of jaundice and

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other liver troubles. It is also used for drying up thrush in the teet
of horses, where it is explained how to use it.

Dose. — The way to give it to a horse is to combine i dram
of calomel with 4 drams of bitter aloes and give it in the form of
a ball. For how to mix a ball look among the receipts at the
back of this book. For cattle give 1 dram of calomel with 1
pint of raw linseed oil.

CROTON OIL.

Croton Oil is got from the seeds of a tree that grows in the
southern parts of Asia. '

Its Action and Use. — It is a very severe physic when given
internally. It is sometimes given to cattle and horses when the
bowels are stopped and you cannot get a passage, but is never
given until all the milder physic medicines fail.

Dose.— Fcr horses, 15 to 20 drops; cattle, 30 to 40 drops;

sheep, 5 to 10 drops; pigrs and dogs, 2 to 3 drops. For horses

and cattle, give it in a pint of raw linj-eed oil; for sheep, give in a

half a pint of oil, and for pigs and dogs, give it in two tablespoon-

fuls of castor oil.

CHLORATE OF POTASH.

Chlorate of Potash is got from mixing other medicines to-
gether, and is bought in the form of crystals or in a white powder.

Its Action and Use. — Us principal action is to thicken the
blood in diseases where the blood is too thin, such as in button
farcy. It is also very soothing in cases of sore throat.

Dose. — For horses, 2 to 4 drams or 1 teaspoonful; cattle, 2 to
4 drams or 1 teaspoonful; sheep, 1 dram or ^ teaspoonful; pigs
and dogs, h dram. The way it is used for sore throat is to put
a teaspoonful on the tongue three times a day.

CAUSTIC POTASH.

Caustic Potash is got from pearl ashes. It is put up in white
pencil-like sticks.

Its Action and Use. — It is never given internally, but
is used to burn warts and growths by wetting the stick and rub-
bing it over them. It is also used for burning poisonous wounds
to kill the poison, such as dog bites. The sticks must be kept
in A corked bottle, for the air dissolves them. While using
the stick wrap a piece of paper around the end you hold in your
hand so it will not burn vour fingers.

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349

CHLORIDE OF ZINC.

Chloride of Zinc is got from the mineral kingdom. This
medicine is generally bought in the form of round white pencil-
like sticks.

Its Action and Use. — Its principal action is as a powerful
caustic for burning off growths, warts, etc. It is not used in-
ternally.

CREOLIN.

Creolin is one of the many products of coal tar which is got
from the mineral kingdom. It is bought in the form of a thick,
dark fluid and smells like tar.

Its Action and Use. — It is used in the form of healing lotions
for wounds, scratches, grease and such like diseases. The
strength to use it in the form of a lotion is ^^ ounce or i table-
spoonful to the pint of water, shake well before using. It is also
■'. very effectual remedy for killing lice, ticks or fleas o" any
uimal; also used in mange and scab in sheep; the strength to use
it in cases of this kind is ^ to i ounce or from 2 to 4 tablespoon-
fuls to the pint of water, shake well before using. Creolin is a
very cheap medicine, it is used a great deal now and is siill gaining
in favor. It is best to buy the Creolin in its pure state and mix it
into washes and lotion as you want to use it, for when it is mixed
with water for some time it loses its strength, so you see the
necessity of buying it in its pure state and mixing it as you want

to use it. ■

CRUDE PETROLEUM OIL.

Crude Petroleum Oil is got from the mineral kingdom and is
the oil as it comes out of the ground.

Its Action and Use. — It is principally used for oiling horses'
feet in the form of hoof oils; it is also a great remed}*for killing
ringworm on cattle, horses and other animals; the way to use it in
cases of this kind is to paint it around the ringworm; it is a very
cheap and effectual remedy. See ringworm on cattle.

DIGITALIS.

Digitalis is got from the leaves of a plant that grows in many
parts of the country. The leaves are dried and ground, and this
is the form we buy it in.

Its Action and Use. — It is a heart and lung tonic. It is used
mostly mixed in powders that are given in weakening diseases,
such as influenza, distemper, and lung troubles. It is also some-
times mixed in powders that are given for heaves.

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GAMBOGE.

Gamboge is got from the sap of a tree that grows in Southern
Asia. The form gamboge is used in is a yellow-white
powder.

Its Action and Use. — It is a powerful physic, mostly used for

cattle where mild physics, such as salts and linseed oil, fail.

In giving it to cattle it is combined with other- medicines in

this form :

Epsom Salts 1 p( and.

Common Salt 2 tablespbonf uls.

Gamboge 1 ounce.

Common Soda and Ginger 1 tablespoonful each.

Mix in a quar: of luke warm water. By giving it this way it

makes a powerful physic ; it very rarely fails, and is used in bad

cases of constipation of the bowels and impactions ot the

stomach.

GENTIAN.

Gentian is g ' from the root of a plant that grows in the
mountainous parts of Europe. The root is dried and ground, and
this is the form it is used in.

Its Action and Use. — It is a bitter tonic for the stomach and
system in general. It is used in all kinds of powders that are
given to animals that are weak and run down in condition and
require a tone.

Dose. — For horses, 1 tablespoonful ; cattle, 1 tablespoonful ;

sheep, 1 teaspoonful; pigs and dogs, l4 teaspoonful. These

doses may be given twice a day in food or on their tongue

with a spoon.

GINGER.

Ginger is got from a plant grown in South America and the
West India Islands. The plant is dried and ground, and this is
the form it is used in.

Its Action and Use. — It acts as a stimulant, relieves the
gasses and sweetens the stomach, and is used to a great extent
with physic drenches to keep it from griping; and is also used in
medicines used for colic, indigestion and a great many other
diseases.

Dose. — For horses, 1 large teaspoonful ; cattle, 1 tablespoon-
ful; sheep, 1 small teaspoonful; pigs and dogs, ^2 teaspoonful.
These doses can be given every two or three hours.

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351

HYPOSULPHITE OF SODA.

Hyposulphite of Soda is got from the mineral kingdom, and
is used in the form of a white powder or crystals.

Its Action and Use. — It is a great blood purifier and is
combined with equal parts of gentian, and is used to clean the
blood and build up the system after weakening diseases. The
way t( use it is to take hyposulphite of soda one-half pound and
gentian one-half pound, mix well together and give of the [mixture
as follows:

Dose. — For horses, 1 tablespoonful; cattle, 1 tablespoonful;
sheep, 1 teaspoonful; pigs and dogs, Y-z teaspoonful. The above
dose can be given two or three times a day according to the case.

IODINE.

Iodine is got from sea plants, and is used in the form of a
dark brown tincture.

Its Action and Use. — It is not often used internally, but is
used externally for a sweat blister, for blistering thickened glands
by painting it on the lump with a feather once a day until it
blisters, then grease the parts and let it go for two or three days
until it heals up, then wash it off with hike warm water und soap
and blister again as before mentioned.

IODIDE OF POTASSIUM.

Iodide of Potassium is got from the mineral kingdom, and is
used in the form of a white crystal powder.

Its Action and Use. — Its chief action, when given internally,
is an absorbant, t. e., it is given in dropsy of the belly and chest
to absorb the fluid ; it is also used where there is a thickening
around the throat, legs or miil: glands; but is not used to any
great extent on account of it being very expensive.

Dose. — Mix it with equal parts of ground gentian root and give

a teaspoonful tc a cow or horse twice a day; one-half teaspoonful

to other animals. »

LIME.

Lime is got from the mineral kingdom. Internally it is used
in the form ot lime water, and is used where the stomach is
deranged, also in cases of diarrhoea, and is a good thing to
sweeten the stomach.

Doses. — For horses, 1 ounce or \ tablespoon fuls; cattle, 1
ounce or t tablespoonfuls; sheep, ^ ounce or 1 tablespoonful;
pigs and dogs, 1 teaspoonful. Lime water is sometimes used for

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heavy horses by throwing 1 ounce or 4 tablespoonfuls into their
drinking water twice a day. Unslacked lime is used for disin-
fecting stables, etc., by dusting it in its dry form around on the floor.

LINSEED.

. Linseed is used mostly in the forms of linseed meal and raw
linseed oil, which is got from flax seed.

Its Action and Use. — Raw linseed oil is given as a very mild
physic, or what is called a laxative. The dose of the oil is one
pint poured down as a drench. In all cases, after giving it to a
horse or cow, allow them to stand in the stable the next day and
feed light for a few days. Linseed meal is used mostly, when
given internally, for fattening cattle and for animals recovering
from weakening diseases; but the flax seed itself boiled up is
better for feeding young and sickly animals than the linseed meal.
Linseed meal is also used for drawing poultices, and is one of the best
that can be got, and should always be mixed with boiling water.

LAUDANUM.

Laudanum is used in the form of a tincture, and is a prepara-
tion from opium, which is got from a plant that grows in warm
parts of Asia.

Its Action and Use. — It is sometimes used externally for rub-
bing on painful swellings. In usin^- it this way use one-third
tincture of laudanum and two-thirds white liniment, apply three
times a day after bathing. It is used internally in almost every
disease where there is pain (which can be seen by looking through
the diseases anu . i eatment of this book), it relieves pain and spasms,
and in this way helps greatly to check inflammation.

Dose. — For he -ses, 1 to 2 ounces or 4 to ■'^ tablespoonfuls ;
caftle, 1 to 2 ounces or 4 to 8 tablespoonfuls ; sheep and pigs,
2 to 4 drams or 2 to 'i- teaspoonfuls; dogs, 20 to 25 drops. It is
given in a pint of luke warm water as a drench, and may be given
as often as every two hours in severe cases.

MONSELL'S SOLUTION OF IRON.

Monsell's Solution is a preparation of iron which is got from
the mineral kingdom. It is used ui the form of a brown,
sticky liquid.

Its Action and Use. — Its chief action is for stopping blood in
a wound of any kind, and also for scabbing the wound over. It
is a. great remedy for open joint and leaking of the navel in foals.
It is applied to the parts with a feather four or five times a day.

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353

MARSHMALLOWS.

Marshmallows is gfot from a plant that grows in this country,
generally in the neighborhood of rivers.

Its Action and Use. — It is chiefly used in poultice, mixed half
and half with linseed meal. It makes one of the most effectual
drawing and soothing poultices there is. It is also used when
boiled, the tea from it is mixed with luke warm water for bath-
ing the milk-bag, for garget, milk-fever, etc.; it also makes a
very soothing bath for sore or irritated wounds or swelling. Use
one teacupful of the tea to a pint of luko warm water.

MUSTARD.

Mustard is got from a plant which grows in most parts of
Europe. The seeds are dried and ground, and this is the form we
use it in.

Its Action and Use. — It is chiefly used for m^ustat-d plasters
which are applied over the bowels in severe cases of colic or in-
flammation to relieve the pain and check the inflammation; also in
lung troubles, applied over the ribs and chest, and also the back in
disease of the kidneys, and around the throat for sore throat.
To make a mustard plaster of ordinary strength for a thin-skinned*
horse take a quarter of a pound of mustard, two tablespoonfuis of
flour and enough vinegar to make it in the form of a paste. In
very severe cases use the mustard and vinegar without the flour
on cattle and horses with a very thick skin. Instead of applying
it to an animal with a cloth just rub it into the hair over the parts

you want blistered.

NUX VOMICA.

Nux Nomica is got from the seeds of a small tree that grows
in India and Australia. These seeds are dried and ground, and it
is used in this powdered form.

Its Action and Use. — It is a nerve stimulant, and is used in
all cases of paralysis where the nerves have lost their power to
strengthen them. The way to use it is to take equal parts of
gentian and powdered Nux Vomica, mix thoroughly, and as a
dose for horses and cattle give one teaspoonful three times a day
in the feed or on their tongues with a spoon; for sheep, pigs or
dogs give one-half teaspoonful.

NITRATE OF SILVER.

Nitrate of Silver is got from the mineral kingdom, and is
used in the form of white pencil sticks.
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MEDICIXIiS AM) RECEIPTS.

I

Its Action and Use. — It is used for burning,'- ofi' warts, proud
flesh in cuts and tjrowths in any part of the body by just wetting
the stick and rubbinj^- it to the parts. Keep the sticks corked in
a bottle for they dissolve when exposed to the air.

NITRATE OF POTASH OR SALTPETRE.

Nitrate of Potash or Saltpetre is got from the mineral king-
dom, and is used in the form of a white crystal powder.

Its Action and Use. — Its chief action is on the kidneys and
blood, it causes the kidneys to secrete an .extra amount of urine.
It is used a great deal in practice in almost all lung troubles, also
in cases where the blood is bad and where the sheath and legs are
swo len.

Dose. — For horses, 1 teaspoonful ; cattle, 1 teaspoonful ;

sheep and pigs, ^"feaspooniul. If given for the kidaeys, give

once a day ; if for lung troubles, see diseases of the breathing

organs.

OLIVE OIL.

Olive Oil is got from the seeds of an evergreen tree that
grows in Southern Europe.

Its Action and Use. — It is not used internally to any extent,
but is used externally for soothing and healing irritated wounds.
It may be used in its pure state or be mixed with carbolic acid —
10 drops of carbolic acid to 4 ounces of olive oil.

OIL OF TAR.

Oil of Tar is a product of the pine tree, and the form it is
used in is of a dark, thick, sticky liquid with a tar-like smell.

Its Action and Use. — It is chiefly used in cases of chronic
cough and is a very eff'e'ctual remedy. Give a teaspoonful three
times a day in the horse's feed, or on his tongue with a spoon.

OXIDE OF ZINC.

Oxide ol Zinc is got Irom the mineral kingdom, and the form
we get it in is of a white, fine powder.

Its Action and Use. — It is mostly used in making up healing
salves, and is used in the same proportion as the rceipt thr' is
given in chapped or sore teats in cows.

OIL OF MALE SHIELD FERN.
Oil of Male Shield Fern is got Irom a shrub that usually
grows along the hide of the road in most temperate counti-ies. It
is got in the form ot a dark, thick, oily liquid.

MEDICINES AND RECIilin'S.

.355

Its Action and Use. — This medicine is a most eflfcctual
remedy for worms, especially tapeworms-, in all animals.

Dose. — F"or horses, 3 to 4 drams ; cattle, .'5 to 4 drams ;
sheep and pi.irs, 1 to 2 drams ; dog's, i to I dram. In givins^ it to
cattle and horses have them starved for twenty-four hour>, then
g-ive the above mentioned dose mixed in a pint of raw linseed oil or
g-ruel ; feed very light for three days, and if the worm has not
como away repeat the dose every third day until it does. In
g'iving" it to sheep and pig^s, give it in the same manner, only in
half the quantity mentioned of raw linseed oil or gruel. In giving
it to dogs, give it in half » teacupful of new milk, in the same man-
ner as for horses and callle. For further particulars how to use
it look at tapeworm in the different animals.

PEPPER.

Black pepper, which is the kind mostly used for animals, is
got from the berries of a climbing plant that grows in the 'West
Indies.

Its Action and Use. — it is used internally as a stomach
stimulant to heat the stomach and bowels, and in this way helps
to relieve the pain in colic, indigestion, etc.

Dose. — For horses, 1 tablespoonful ; cattle, 1 tablespoonful ;

sheep and pigs, 1 teaspoonful; dogs, A teaspoonful. In mixing

up this drench it is often combined with whisky, and makes a

good colic drench.

. QUASSIA CHIPS.

Quassia Chips are got from a handsome tree that grows in
the West India Islands. It is odorless but bitter to taste.

Its Action and Use. — It is used mostly as an injection for

pinworms. To prepare it for iniectian reter to pinworms

in horses.

SULPHURIC ACID.

Sulphuric Acid is a product o! llie mineral kingdom, and is
got in the I'orm of a light brown lic|uid.

Its Action and Use. — At one time it was used a great deal as
a caustic for burning warts, etc., but is not so mucli used now as
it is loo irritating, its place being taken by belter caustics, such as
chloride of zinc, nitrate oi' silver and caustic potash. It is used ex-
lenially in the lorm ol liniments. How to mix and use it, refer to
the receipt for acid lir.inient in the back oi this book.

M

35 G

MEDICINES AND RECEIPTS.

1^

t-i'

SULPHURIC ETHER.

Sulphuric Ether is prepared from sulphuric acid and rectified
spirits of alcohol, and is used in the form of a clear liquid with a
very strongf odor.

Its Action and Use.— It is used a great deal for putting
animals asleep for operations, especially for dogs. As to how to
use it, refer to "how to spay a bitch." It is sometimes given for
indigestion or colic, both in horses and cattle, to relieve the pain
and gases.

Dose. — For horses and cattle, 1 ounce or 4 tablespoonfuls
mixed in a pint of luke warm water, and can be given every two
hours. Where the pain is severe, it is a very eflfectual remedy.

SULPHATE OF COPPER.

Sulphate of Copper, blue vitriol or blue stone is got from the
Tnineral kingdom, and is got in a blue crystal form.

Its Action asJ Use. — its chief action when given internally

is for checking discharges, such as nasal gleet or chronic catarrh,

and whites or leucorrhcea. When used for this purpose, refer to

the receipt to be used internally in the above named diseases.

When used externally, it is used for wounds that are not healing

well and have proud flesh in them by grinding it fine and dusting

it on the wound every two or three days according to how much

it burns it.

SULPHATE OF IRON.

Sulphate of Iron, or commonly called green vitriol, is got from
the mineral kingdom, and is used in the form of a crystal, similar
to sulphate of copper, only of a lighter shade in color.

Its Action and Use. — It is one of the best mineral tonics that

we have, and is used combined with gentian, in equal parts, for

almost every case where the system is run down and needs

building up. For horses and cattle give a teaspoonful three

times a day ; for sheep and pigs give one-half a teaspoonful.

It is also used in the same form for killing long round worms

and pinworms in horses. For full directions as to how to use it in

this case refer to the receipt of worm powders given at the back

of this book. x

SULPHATE OF ZINC.

Sulphate of Zinc is got from the mineral kingdom. , It is
used in the form of a white crystal powder, and resembles Epsom
salts in appearance.

TO

MEDICINES AND RECEIPTS.

357

Its Action and Use. — When used internally it is in the form
of an emetic that is to cause vomiting. As to how it is used
refer to "dogs poisoned with rat poison, strychnine and arsenic. "^
When used externally it has a healing action. How to use it,
refer to the receipt of white lotion at the back of this book. It is
also used as a drying wash for clap or gonorrhoea in horses
and whites in mares. As to how to mix it refer to those diseases.

SUGAR OF LEAD.

Sugar of Lead, also called Acetate of Lead, is got from the
mineral kingdom. •

Its Action and Use. — It is not much used internally, but is used
outwardly for healing washes, such as white lotion and eye wash,,
which are fully explained at the back of this book.

SALICYLIC ACID.

Salicylic Acid is got from a plant. It is used in the form of
a white powder.

Its Action and Use. — It has a special action in cases of
rheumatism. As to how to use it, refer to the receipt given for
rheumatism in horses and cattle.

is^t

SALT.

Common Salt is ^t from the mineral kingdom.

Its Action and Use. — It is an essential article of food, and
something every animal should have regularly. Horses, cattle>
sheep and pigs should have it in front of them all the time for, it
should be remembered, stock cannot thrive well without it. Rock
salt is the best form in which to have it as the animals can lick it
whenever they want it. It is used externally by throwing a hand-
ful of salt in a pail of luke warm water, and in this form it makes
a very effectual wash for bathing swellings and wounds.

SWEET SPIRITS OF NITRE.

Sweet Spirits of Nitre, or Nitrous Ether, is chiefly a prepara-
tion of alcohol. It is got in the form of a clear liquid which has
a sweet taste and smell.

Its Action and Use. — In small doses it acts on the kidneys
and skin. For this purpose give horses and cattle a quarter of an
ounce or one tablespoonlul in drinking water once a day. For
sheep, pigs and dogs give a teaspoon! ul in their drinking water or
food once a day. In large doses it acts on the bowels and
stomach to relieve pain and gases. Thus it is good in the differ-
ent forms of indigestion and colic.

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33 WEST MAIN STREET

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(716) 873-4503

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35H

MfCDICINES ANO RKCEIPTS.

Dose. — For horses, 1 ounce or 4 tablespoonfuls; cattl«, 1
ounce or 4 tablespoonfuls ; sheep, ^ ounce or 2 tablespoonfuls ;
pigs and dogs, ] ounce or 1 tablespoonful. Mix in a pint of luke
warm water and give as a drench. For how often to give it refer
to the different diseases it is used in. This is a mediciiie that is
used a great deal in practice, as you will see all through the book,
and should be thoroughly understood.

SPIRITS OF TURPENTINE.

. Spirits of Turpentine, alfo called Oil of Turpentine, is got
from a tree. It is used in the form of a clear, oily looking liquid.
Its Action and Use. — Internally for horses and cattle it is
used in one ounce or four tablespoonful doses mixed with a pint of
raw linseed oil in severe cases of acute indigestion and colic to re-
lieve the pain and gases; it is also used in this proportion for
killing the long round worms and bots in horses. For further
particulars turn to bots and long round worms in horses and
other diseases it is used in. Internally for sheep and pigs the dose
of turpentine is one-quarter of -an ounce or one tablespoonful
mixed with half a pint of raw linseed oil. It is used for the same
purposes as it is in horses and cattle. Qgfl|lkrdly it is used for
making liniments, and for how to use it refer to the receipts for
making white linement and acid liniments at the back of this book.

SALTS.

Salts are used in two forms, Epsom and Glober. Both kinds
are got from the mineral kingdom, and are in a white crystal form.

EPSOM SALTS.

Its Action and Use. — Its chief action is as a physic for cattle,
sheep and pigs, and is used to a great extent, as you will notice
on reading the treatment of the above mentioned animals.
Although salts is a good physic it should not be given to horses,
aloes being far the best physic for them.

Dose. — Cattle take from one pound to one and one-half
pounds dissolved in a quart of luke warm water with a tablespoon-
ful each of ginger and common soda and given as a drench. This
physic takes twenty-four hours to operate on the bowels. It is
always best after giving a dose to wait twenty-four hours for an
action before giving any more. Sheep and pigs take one-quarter
of a pound dissolved in a pint of luke warm water with a tea-
spoonful each of ginger and common soda and given as a drench.

";nii"inwiil!!^y

mnjiiji.iii.pi

MEDICINES AND RECEIPTS.

359

Wait from twelve to sixteen hours for an action on the bowels be-
fore giving^ any more.

GLOnER SALTS.

Its Action and Use. — it is not so much used as the Epsom
S^lts, but is used in horses and cattle for their blood by grinding
it up fine and giving a tablespoonful in a hot mash every night.

SULPHUR.

Sulphur, or Brimstone, "^is got from the mineral kingdom.
It is used in a yellow powdered form.

Its Action and Use. — It is a great medicine, wuen given
internally, to act on the blood and clear it. It also acts on the
skin and helps to kill parasites or germs in the skin, thus it is
good in mange and other skin diseases.

Dose. — For horses, 1 tablespoonful ; cattle, 1 tablespoonful ;
sheep, 1 teaspoonful ; pigs and dogs, 1 teaspoonful. Give every
night in a hot mash or so^c food; but it is best given combined
with gentian root and nitrate of potash or saltpetre as is explained
in the treatment of swelling of the limbs (anasarca) in horses.

. VASELINE.

Vaseline is got from the mineral kingdom and is Qsed in the
form of a yellow salve.

Its Action and Use. — Vaseline has a very healing and sooth-
ing action on wounds or irritated parts, and is used in nearly all
kinds of healing salves, also for mixing blisters, etc.

VERDIGRIS.

Verdigris is a preparation got from the copper salts, and
comes from the mineral kingdom. It is used in the form of a
blue, fine, heavy powder.

Its Action and Use. — It is not much used now internally, as
sulphate of iron and copper take its place. It is used for making
up healing Salves for wounds, etc. For how to use it see the
receipt for green salve.

.♦

360

MEDICINES AND RECEIPTS.

CHAPTER 11.

RECEIPTS.

WHITE LDflMEIfT.

Proportions to make one quart of the liniment. Use either a
quart bottle or a quart self-sealer to mix it in:

First. — Put in one-half pint of hard water.

Second. — Put in two o!inces or eight tablespoonfuls of spirits
of turpentine and shake thoroughly Tor five minutes.

Thyrd. — Beat up one hen egg and put it in and shake
thoroughly for five minutes.

Fourth. — Put in two ounces or eight tablespoonfuls of
methylated spirits of alcohol and shake thoroughly for five
minutes.

Fifth. — Put in two ounces or eight tablespoonfuls of strong
liquor ammonia and shake thoroughly for five minutes.

Sixth. — Put in enough hard water to make up a quart, then
shake thoroughly and the liniment is ready for use.

This is one of the most effectual remedies known for all kinds
of sprains and bruises where the skin is not broken. The longer
this liniment stands (if the bottle is kept corked) the stronger
and better it gets for using. For making larger or smaller quan-
tities of the liniment add to or take from the proportions given

for one quart.

WHITE LOTION.

Proportions to make up one quart of White Lotion. Use
either a quart bottle or a quart self-sealer to mix it in.

Put in one-half ounce of each of the following: Sulphate of
zinc, sugar of lead and pulverized alum, add enough water to
make a quart and shake thoroughly.

This makes a most efi'ectual lotion for healing all kinds of
wounds and bruises where the skin is broken, also where the skin
is irritated, such as scratches, grease, etc.

ACth LINIMENT.

Persons getting this liniment that are not experienced in
handling drugs had better get the druggist to mix it for them, as
it is a little dangerous mixing the sulphuric acid with other drugs,
and it requires to be carefully handled. The follow>.ig are the pro-
portions for one quart which is best mixed in a quart bottle or a
quart self-sealer:

♦ .

MEDICINES AND RECEIPTS. 361

First. — Put in two ounces or eight tablespoonfuls of spirits
of turpentine.

Second. — Put in one-half ounce of sulphuric acid; pour this
very slowly into the bottle by letting it run down the inside of the
bottle which is better turned sideways. Take about five minutes
to pour it in.

Third. — Pour slowly into the bottle two ounces or eight
tablespoonfuls of methylated spirits of alcohol.

Fourth. — Pour in enough cider vinegar to make a quart,
then shake well and it is ready for use.

It is a most effectual sweat blister for removing puffy en-
largements, such as bog spavin, wind galls, thoroughpins and
other puffy swellings around the legs, by applying it every third
day. It is also an effectual remedy tor sweeny, curbs, etc., where
you want to work the horse. This is also an effectual remedy for
rheumatism by rubbing the affected joints every third day. It is
also used in various other ways as you will notice through the

booki

CREOLUf LOnON. '

The following proportions are for one pint of Creolin Lotion :

First. — Pour in one-quarter ounce or one tablespoonful of
creolin into a pint bottle.

Second. — Pour in enough hard water to make a pint, shake
well and then it is ready for use.

This makes an excellent healing lotion for wounds, and by
making it double strength it makes a most effectual wash for de-
stroying germs, parasites, lice or ticks on all animals. It is used
in various other places as you may see in this book.

EYE WASH.

The following proportions are to make an eight-ounce bottle

of eye wash:

Sulphate of Zinc ^ dram.

Sugar of Lead \ "

Fluid Extract of Belladonna 30 drops.

Add enough hard water to make eight ounces, shake thor-
oughly and the wash is ready for use.

This makes a very cheap and effectual wash for sore eyes, or
sores around the eyes in all kinds of animals by applying twice a
day after bathing with luke warm water or new milk.

I''S ,

362 MEDICINES AND RECEIPTS.

CARBOLIC OIL.

The following proportions are for a four-ounce bottle :

Olive or Sweot Oil 4 ouncea.

Carbolic Acid 20 drops.

Shake well together and this makes a splendid application

for healing wounds.

PHYSIC DRENCH FOR HORSES.

Bitter Aloes 8 drains.

(^oniinon tSada < I teaspoonf ul.

( iinger I "

Dissolve in a pint of luke warm water and give as a drench,
always allowing the horse to stand in the stable a day after
giving it.

This is one of the best physics known to clean out a horse's
stomach and bowels, and also to purify his blood.

PHYSIC DRENCH FOR CATTLE.

Kpsoin .Salts 1 pound.

Krown Sugar. A pound.

Common Salt '2 tablespoonfula.

OiDger 1

Common Soda .1 "

Dissolve in a quart of luke warm water and give as a drench.
This makes a good general physic for a cow that is not thriv-
ing well.

PHYSIC BALL FOR HORSES.

This contain', the same ingredients as the physic drench, only
it is prepared in a different way, as follows :

First. — Grind up eight drams of bitter aloes good and fine.

Second. — Add a few drops of water to make it sticky when
rolled.

Third. — Roll it in a teaspoonful of ginger into the form of a
long ball, so it will be about one-half inch in diameter and two or
three inches long.

Fourth. — Roll it neatly in a piece of paper, and before giving
it to the horse oil the paper, so it will slip down easily; shove it
well back into the mouth and hold the horse's head up until he
swallows it. The action of this ball is the same as the action of
the physic drench.

BALL TO ACT ON THE LIVER AND WORMS.

First. — Grind up four drams of bitter aloes, moisten it and
roll it into the form of a ball.

Second. — Make a hole in the end of the ball and drop in
one-halt dram of calomel, wrap it< in paper, oil the paper and give
it as you would a physic ball.

MEDICINES AND RECEIPTS. 363

GREEN SALVE.

The foHowing are the proportions for making' green salve:

First. — Tai<e mutton tallow, one-half pound; lard, three-
quarters of a pound; beeswax, two ounces; put in a pot and stir
tver a hot fire until it is melted.

Second. — Keep on stirrint,"", and pour in one-half ounce of
verdigris. Keep stirring it over tlie fire for fifteen minutes.

Third. — Then take it off the fire and add one ounce of spirits
of turpentine and keep stirring it until it is cold, then it is ready
for use.

This is one of the btst healing salves known, especially when

a wound is nearly healed up, for it keeps the wound soft, draws the

edges together and allows the hair to grow over better. The way

to apply it to a wound is to melt it in a spoon and apply it with a

feather.

MERCURY BLISTER.

Biniodid of Mercury or Red Precipitate I J drums.

V^aseline or Lard I ounce.

Mix thoroughly and this is one of the best blisters for blister-
ing bony enlargements, such as splints, spavins, ringbones, side-
bones, etc. Rub into the part well, grease it three days after,
and in three weeks repea*^ the blister, and repeat in like manner
until you have the required action. In case you want a heavier
blister add another half dram of the biniodid of mercury. For
further directions look at the separate diseases above mentioned.

FLY BLISTER.

Powdered Cantharides or Spanish Fly I J| drama.

Vaseline or Lard 1 ounce.

Mix thoroughly, and this is otxe of thctjest sweat blisters for

blistering thickenings or enlargements in any part of the body

where they are not on the bone. Use the same directions as are

given in the mercury blister.

POWDERS TO ACT ON THE KIDNEYS AND BLOOD.

Nitrate of Potash or Saltpetre \ pound.

Sulphur i "

Ground Gentian Root J "

Mix thoroughly and give a teaspoonful three times a day in

the horse's food or on its tongue with a spoon. If it is a cow,

give a tablespoonful twice a day; if a sheep, give a teaspoonful

twice a day. This is a good powder for starting an animal to

thrive, but before giving it, it is best to give a physic drench.

If it is a horse, give aloes; if a cow, give salts.

li

pp

364

MEDICINES AND RECEIPTS.

WORM POWDERS.

Sulphate of Iron ^ pound.

Ground Uoniian Koot | "

Mix thoroughly and give a teaspoonful three times a day in

the animal's food or on its tongue with a spoon. This powder is

only intended for bots, round worms and pin worms in horses.

It is also a good tonic powder. Before and after using the

powder give a physic drench.

GARGLES.

Sulphur i pound.

Nitrate of Potaah or Saltpetre | "

Powdered Alum j^ "

Mix thoroughly and give a teaspoonful three times a day on

a horse or cow's tongue with a spoon, if it is a sheep, pig or dog,

give half a teaspoonful throe times a day on the tongue with a

spoon. This is a splendid powder for a gargle in all cases of sore

throat, or sore mouth, and also makes a good cough powder.

GENERAL CONDITION POWDER.

Nitrate of Potaah or Saltpetre ... J pound.

Common Soda i ••

Ground Aniseed | "

Femigreek \ *'

Mix thoroughly and give a tablespoonful every night in a

bran mash, but if in a case where you want to fatten the animal

in a hurry, give a tablespoonful twice a day in a bran mash. In

horses that are working hard give a tablespoonful every Saturday

night in a bran mash to keep them in good working condition.

RECEIPT FOR COLIC AND INDIGESnON.

Sweet Spirit* of Nitro 1 ounce or 4 tablespoonfuls.

Tincture of Laudanum 1 ounce or 4 tableapoonfuU.

Fleming*! Tincture of Aconite 10 drops.

Common Soda 1 teaspoonful.

Ginger 1 "

Mix in a pint of luke warm water and give as a drench every

two hours in cases of colic, indigestion and inflammation. For

further particulars refer to diseases of the stomach and bowels.

NOTICE.

All the doses of medicines which are mentioned in this
section of the book, dealing with Medicines and Receipts, are in-
tended for an average sized animal, unless otherwise mentioned,
so in giving doses to smaller animals you must regulate the dose
to suit the animal.

pp

MEDICINES AND RECEIPTS.

366

LIST OF MEDIQNES TO BE KEPT ON HAND.

The following is a list of medicines that every stockowner

should keep on hand for cases of emergency, that is, where he

has an animal take sick with inflammation, colic, indigestion, or

any other disease that requires his immediate attention, he

can give these medicines, while if he had to go to a drug store for

them at the time, he might lose the animal:

Sweet Spirits of Nitre 4 ouncet.

Tinoture ot' Laudanum 4 "

Fleming'* Tinoture of Aconite 4 "

Raw Linseed Oil 1 pint.

Epsom .Salt« 1 pound.

Bitter Aloes 8 drams.

It is also advisable to have a bottle of white liniment and a
bottle of white lotion on hand for, :is they do not cost much when
mixed by the quart, they are very hundy to have on hand lor
sprains, sore shoulders, cuts, etc. As for the other medicines in
the book they can be got at a drug store any time, as the cases
they are used in are not so urgent. The cost of the list of medi-
cines given is trifling, and by having them on hand and able t"«
give it at the time the animal is noticed to be sick will often save
the animal's life, whereas, if you had to go to a drug store at
the time, the delay would cause the loss of the animal.

COr^SULTATION AND ADVICE FREE OF

CHARGE.

Any person buying a copy of The Vktkrinary Science from
one of our authorized agents, will have the privilege of free
consultation on any disease they do not understand, or anything in
the book they want more information about. In cases where a
new disease should break out, by sending the symptoms of the
case in full, and causes of the trouble as near as you can tell,
we will furnish you by return mail, advice and prescription in
full — free of charge. Parties living in Canada should enclose a
three cent stamp, if in the United States, five cents in silver, for
return postage. Advice given on all kinds of operations,
(castrating rig or original horses a specialty). Address all mail
under this heading to J. E. Hodgins, V. S., or to T. H. Haskett,
Secretary of the Veterinary Science Company, Toronto, Canada.

1

IND2X PART I.

ANATOMY OF THK HORSE.

Abdominal .Muscles

Bladdor, the

Bone

Bowels, the

Breathing

Broni'liial Tubes or Air Cells. . . .

Carpus or Knee

Cervical or Neck Bones

Circulatory System

Clas.ses of Bone

Coccygeal or Muscles of the Tail.

Coccygeal or Tail Bones

Coffin Joint

Considemtion of Joints

Contents of Bone

Covering of Bone

Digestive Organs

Dorsal or Back Bones

Ear, the

Elbow Joint

Eye, the

Fallopian Tubes, the

Female Genital Organs, the

Fetlock Joint

Fetlock, Pastern, Coffin Joints..
Foetus or Young Anim.'>l before

birth

Frog, the

Geiital Organs

Genital Organs of the Ilorso. . . .

Glands, tlie

Gluteal Muscles

Gullet, the.

Hair

Head Bones

Hip Joint

Hip or Pelvic Innu-s

Hock or Tarsus Joint

Hoof, the

PA(iR .

9

26

I

30

25
24

6
2

•4

I

10

3
6

S

I

I

18

3
38

5
39
3'
3'

6

7

34
3«
28
28
21

9

•9

36

• 2

6

3

7

36

PAOK

How to tell when a mare is with

•"•■'l • • • •, 35

How l») tell vhen an .Artery is

cut 16

Important points in E.\treniities. 5

Involuntary Muscles 12

Joints of Hind Leg 6

Kidneys, the 26

Larynx or .Adams .Apple 24

Liver, the 21

Lumbar or Small of Back Bones. 3

Lungs, the 25

Lymphatic System 17

Mammary GlantIs 33

Membranes of the Body 22

Mucous .Men»br;ines 22

Muscles of Kvont Leg 10

Muscles of Hind Leg 11

Muscular System 8

\asal Chambers or Chambers of

the Head 24

Xer\ous System 12

Nostrils, the 23

Number of Bones in Skeleton of

Horse 4

Oesophagus, tlu- 19

Organs of Kespiraiiou 23

Ovaries, the 31

Pancreas, the 21

Pastern Jo'tit 6

Penis, the 30

Process of Digest inn 23

Rectum or Hack Out, 21

Ribs 4

•Sacral or Rump Boiu--. 3

Salivary Glanils 18

Scrotiun, tlu- 2S

Semen, the 30

Serous Membranes 32

368

INDBX — ANATOMY OP THE HORSB.

PAOK

Shenth, the 30

Shouldtfr Joint 5

Shoulder iVluscle 10

Si^s of Foaling 35

Skin, the 36

Sole, the 37

Spermatic Cords 29

Spleen, the 33

Sternum or Breast Bone 4

Stifflc Joint 7

Stomach, the 19

Table of the Teeth 43

Teeth, the ^40

rAoc

Testicles, the 38

Trachea or Windpipe 34

Ureters, the 36

Urethra, the' 37

Urinary System 36

Uterus, the 31

Vagina and Vulva 33

\'as Deferens 30

Vesiculae Seminalcs 30

Voluntary Mu&cles 8

Wall, the 36

Wolf Teeth 41

Womb, the 31

INDEX PART 11.

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF THE HORSE.

PAOB

Abscesses formed in the Scrotum

after CaHtration 1 24

Abscesses of the Bones of the

Head 46

Aciite Founder (Laminitis) 305

Acute Glanders 139

Acute Indigestion 74

Acute Inflammation of the Kid-
neys 97

After Pains in

Apthse or Thrush 68

Azoturia 169

Bad Blood 168

Balls found in the Bowels (Calculi) 89

Barrenness in the Mare 106

Bastard Strangles 145

Big Head (Osteo-Porosis) 171

Big' Leg (Elephantiasis) 164

Bile Stones (Biliary Calculi) 95

Bleeding from Nose (Epistaxis). . 50
Bleeding from the Cords (Hemor-

rhage) 123

Bleeding from the Lungs (Haem-
optysis) 50

Blindness (Amaurosis) occuring

after Castration 138

PAOB

Blood-poisoning 182

Blood Spavin 203

Bloody Flux (Dysentery) 87

Bog Spavin 200

Bone Spavin 1 76

Bots 78

Break Down 1 98

Broken Back 188

Broken Wind or Heaves 58

Bronchitis 57

Bruises of the Shoulder 186

Bruises of the Sole of the Foot . . 212
Button Farcy (Purpura Hemor-
rhagica) 142

Calf Kneed 195

Capped Elbow 192

Capped Hock 201

Cancerous Growth in the Eye ... 1 34

Castrating Originals or Rigs .... 1 28
Castration, Diseases and Troubles

following it 119

Cataract of the Eye 133

Caulks 211

Chills 317

Choking with Oats 72

Chorea 158

I

INDEX— DIMASBS AND TRKATMBNT OF TUB HORSB.

369

PAOI

Chronic Cou^h 49

Chronic (ilanUcrN i.^K

Chronic IndiKOitlion 78

Chronic Inflammation of the kid-

neyM 98

Chronic Sores on Rack or Shoul-

r^eni (Sitfa.st) 188

Clap (Gonorrhoea) 106

Cleaning Placenta or Anerbirth.. 1 1 1

Club (Pumiced) Foot 208

Coffin Joint LaincnexN 213

Concussion of the Brain 154

Congestion and Inflammation of

the Liver ^

Congestion of the Lungs 51

Corns 308

Constipation in young Foals 117

Constipation of the Bowels 84

Contagious Diseases and Fevers

of the Horse 137

Cracked Heels (Scratches) 146

Crib Suckers 66

Crookedness of the Legs of

Young Foals 1 ig

Curb 204

Cuts of any kind around the Feet. 2 1 2

Deafness 1 30

Decayed Teeth (Caries) 64

Diabetes 98

Diarrhoea 85

Diarrhiva in Young Animals 86

Diarrhcca in Young Foals 117

Difliculties met with in a Mare

Foaling 109

Dilitation or Enlargement of the

CEsophagus 73

Diseases and Troubles of Young

Foals 117

Diseases of Stomach and Bowtis 74

Diseases of the Arteries 166

Diseases of the Blood 1 68

Diseases of the Bone's 171

Diseases of the Bowels 79

Diseases of the Brain and Ner-
vous System in General 152

Diseases of the Cartilage of the

Ear ' 130

PAUR

Diseases of the Kar 1 jo

Diseases of the Kye 131

Dist'ases of the Feet 205

Diseases of the Front and Mind

Legs 193

Diseases of the Genital Organs

of the Morse 103

Diseases of the Genital Organs

of the Mare .... 1 05

Diseases of the Heart, Arteries

and Blood 165

Diseases of the Liver and Spleen 94
Diseases of the Lymphatic System 162
Diseases of the Mouth, Teeth,

Salivary Glands and Gullet . 62

L'>iseases of the Ovaries 105

Diseases of the Respiratory or

Breathing Organs 44

Diseases of the Salivary Glands . 70

Diseases of the Skin 146

Diseases of the Urinary Organs. 97

Diseases «. the Veins 167

Dislocation of the Petellu or Stiflle

Out 198

Distemper in Young Foals 119

Distemper (Strangles) 143

Dribbling of the Urine or Water

(Enuresis) 102

Dropsy of the Belly 92

Dropsy of the Scrotum or Bag

(Hydrocele) 103

Enlargement of the Liver (Hyper-
trophy) 96

Falling awjiy of the Muscles of

the Hip after Foaling 190

False Quarter 2 ' 2

Fevers of the Horse 140

Filaria Oculi i34

Fistulous Withers 184

Fo.-»l Bed Turned Out 112

Foalinj;; (I'.'irturilioii) and the Pis-
eases following it 107

Foreign Substances in the Mouth 66
Fracture of the Bones below the

Knee I97

FVacture of the Bones in the

Shoulder , , '. >9'

370

INDEX — DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF THE HORSE.

PAUR

Fracture of the Bones of the Hock 202
Fracture of the Honesof the Knee 194
Fracture of the Bones of the Neck 1 83
Fracture of the Bones of the Tail igo

Fracture of the Hip Bones 189

Fracture of the Thigh Bone 199

Frost Bites of the Ear 131

Genera! Treatment for all kinds of

Wounds 1 79

Glanders 138

Glaucoma 135

Good I'oints Ahout a Horse 214

Grease 1 47

Growths on the end of the Penis. 104
Hanging the Tongue out of the

Mouth 65

Heart Disease 165

Hip Joint Lameness 191

Hipped 189

Horse Eating too much Wheat. . 93

How to Bleed a H.orse 217

How to Drench a Horse 217

How to Examine for Soundness.. 214
How to Feed and Take Care of

a Horse 218

How to Tell a Horse's Age by his

Teeth ... 215

How to Tell when a Mare is with

Foal 107

How to Treat a Colt after Castra-
tion 1 22

Hj'drophobia (Rabies) ill Horses. 160
Intl.-immation of a ^'eiii (I'jilebitis) 167
Infl.'innnation of the Bladder(Cys-

titis) 100

Inflammation of the Bowels t En-
teritis) 82

Inflammation of the Brain .'ind its

Coverings (I'hrenitis) 152

Inflamnic'ition of the Brain aiul
Spinal Cord and their eover-
ings(Cerebro-Spinal Meniiig-

i«i^) •• '57

Inflammation of the Haw of the

Eye (Membrana Nictitans). . 135

Inflammation of the Kidneys

(Nephritis) , . , 97

PACE

Inflammation of the Lungs (Pneu-
monia) S3

Inflammation of the Milk Bag

(Garget) 115

Inflammation of the Parotid Gland 71
Inflammation of the Spinal Cord

and Coverings (Spinitis) .... 155

Inflammation of the Spleen 96

Inflammation of the Testicles. . . . 102
Inflammationof the Tongue (Glos-
sitis) 67

Inflammation of the Vagina and
Vulva or Passage out from

the Womb 114

Inflammation of the Womb (Me-
tritis 114

Influenza 140

Injuries and Diseases Around the

Shoulders and Withers 184

Injuries and Diseases of the Head
Neck, Shoulders, Body and

Hips 182

Injuries and Sprains of the Knee. 193

Injuries or Cuts Around the Ear. 130

Injuries to the Ducts of the Eye. 136

Injuries to the Eyelids 136

Injuries to the Head and Neck.. 182
Injuries to the Hips During Foal-

'"},' 115

Injuries to the Lips and Cheeks. . 69

Injuries to the Muscles of the Belly 188
Injuries to the Muscles of the

Neck 1 83

Injuries to the Tongue 67

Injuries to the Penis 103

hit erfi-ringor Striking the P^etlock 196

Intu.ssuscoption 88

Inversion of the Bladder loi

Irritation of Shedding the Milk

Teeth 62

Ischuria 99

Knee '. ';>rung. 194

Knuclvling 196

Knuckling in Colts. 196

Lampas 62

Laryngitis or Inflammation of the

T'iroat .' 47

mmm

■pnv«wr»^^!P"

Index — diseases and treatment of the horse.

371

PAGR

Leaking of the Navel and Riieu-

matism in Young Fuais 1 18

Lice on Horses 152

Lockjaw (Tetanus) i6o

Lockjaw(Tetanus)afterCastration 1 27

Long Round Worms (Lumbrici).. 93

Mange 150

Mares Losing Their Foals (Abor-
tion) 116

Melanotic Tumors 150

Moon Blindness (Periodic Oph-
thalmia) 132

Mud Fever 147

Nail in the Foot (I'uncturo) 209

Nasal Gleet or Chronic Catarrh, 45

Nasal Polypi or Small Tumors. . 47

Navel or Umbilical Rupture 128

Navel String (Umbilical Cord). . 108

Near Sightedness (Myopia) 137

Nettle Rash (Surfeit) 149

Open Joint 203

Operating by Searing 122

Operating with Ligatures 122

Operating with the Clamps 121

Operating with the Ecraseur. ... 121

Overreach 212

Palpitation of the Heart 166

Paralysis 1 56

Paralysis of the Bladder 102

Paralysis of the Gullet or Pharynx 72

Paralysis of the Lips and Cheeks 69

Parrot Mouth 63

Partial Dislocation of the Stiflle. . 199

Peritonitis 91

Peritonitis following Castration . 1 26

Pink Eye (Epizootic Cellulitis),.. 145

Pin Worms 93

Pleurisy 55

Pleurodynia 59

Poll Evil 182

Precautions Before Operating. . . 119

Pricks in the Foot 210

Protrusion of the Rectum or Back

Bowel 91

Puffy Enlargement Around the
Knee and Fetlocks (Bursal

Enlargements) 194

PAOB

Quarter Crack 211

Questions to Ask and How to Ex-
amine a Sick Horse 43

Rheumatism 205

Ringbone 175

Ringworm on Horses 151

Roaring 49

Rupture (Hernia) 123

Rupture in the Bag (Scrotol Her-
nia) 129

Rupture of an Artery 167

Rupture of the Diaphragm 61

Rupture of the Pass.ige 113

Rupture of the Rectum or Back

Bowel 89

Ruptures ( Hernias) and the Modes

of Treating Them 128

Rupture of the Stomach 77

Rupture of the Valves of the

Heart 165

Rupture of the Womb 112

Rupture (Ventral Hernia) 129

Scalded or Galled Shoulders. ... 186

Scirrhus Cord 1 25

Sharp Edges Along the Teeth, . . 63

Shoulder Joint Lameness 187

Side Bone « 1 74

Signs of Inunediate Fo.iling 108

Simple Catarrh or Cold in Head. 44

Simple Eczema 148

Simple Ophthalmia 131

Slavering or F"rothing at thi'

Mouth 70

Smallpox in the Horse {\'ariola

Equina) 137

Sore Back,. 188

Sore Feet (Chronic Founder). . . . 207
Sore on Top of the Neck from

the Collar 184

Sori' Shins 173

Sore Tail from the Crupper. . . . 190

Spasmodic Colic 79

Spasms of tiie Diaphragm 60

.Spasms of the Muscles of the

Larynx or .Vdain's Apple. ... 50

Splints Affecting the Knee 194

Splints 172

372

INDEX — DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF THE HORSE.

PAOB

Split Teeth 65

Sprain of the Back Tendons 195

Sprain of the Fetlock Joint 195

Sprain of the Hock Joint 202

Sprain of the Muscle on the in-
side of the Hind Leg running

up from the Hock 200

Sprain of the Muscles of the Hip. 191
Sprain of the Muscles on the
Front of the Hind Leg be-
tween Hock and Stiffle Joint 200

Sprain of the Stiffle Joint 198

Staked 189

Star Gazer (Amaurosis) 133

Stomach Staggers (Megrims).. . . 155
Stones in the Bladder (Calculi). . loi
Striking the Knee (Speedy Cut). 193

Stringhalt 159

Sunstroke 153

Sweeny (Shoulder Slip) 185

Swelling After Castration 1 25

Swelling Along the Belly Before

Foaling (Dropsy) 1 16

Swelling Around the Head and

Throat 73

Swelling of the Limbs (Anasarca) 164

Swelling of the Sheath 104

The Different Medicines Used in

Loading the Clamps 128

The Fatty Lining of the Bowels

coming down after castration 1 24

PAOB

The Natural Way for a Foal to

Come 108

The Way to Use a Mare when

with Foal 108

Thickening of the Parotid Gland. 70
Thickenings Around the Fetlock. 197

Thoroughpin 201

Throwing or Casting the Animal

for the Operation 1 20

Thrush in the Feet 209

Troubles and Diseases which

Follow After Foaling 1 1 1

Tumor (Aneurism) 166

Tumors and Cancers 204

Tumors or Abscesses in the Rec-
tum or Back Bowel 90

Tumors or Lumps on the Shoulder 187
Twist in the Bowel (Volvulus). . . 88

Warts 149

Warts Around the Sheath 104

Water in the Chest (Hydrothorax) 56
Weakness in the Legs and Joints

of a Young Foal 119

Weed in the Leg (Lymphangitis) 162

Whites (Leucorrhoea) 105

Wind Galls 197

Wind or Flatulent Colic 81

Wolf Teeth 63

Wounds and Treatment 1 79

Yellows (Jaundice) 95

INDEX PART III.

ANATOMY, DISEASES. AND TREATMENT OF CATTLE.

PAOB

Abscesses 287

Abscesses that Contain Matter. . 287
A Growth on the Haw of the Eye 263
Air Under the Skin caused from

a Wound 268

Anatomy of the Ox 219

Anthrax 283

Barrenness in Cows and Bulls. . . 257
Binder Twine in the Rumen or

Paunch 235

Bites of Insects, Small Snakes,

Hornets, etc 271

Black Quarter 284

Bloating (Tympanites) 231

Bloody Flux (Dysenterj*) 238

Bloody Milk 254

Bloody Urine (Red Water) 242

Blue Milk 255

Broken Neck or Fracture of the

Neck Bones 264

Bronchitis 227

Burns and Scalds 271

Cancer 286

Cancer in the Eye 262

Caps on the Teeth 229

Castration of Bulls and Calves. . . 259
Cataract of the Eye in Cattle .... 263
Catarrh or Cold in the Head. . . . 224

Chapped or Sore Teats 255

Choking 230

Clap in Bulls (Gonorrhoea) 259

Closure of the Neck of the Womb

at Calving Time 245

Colic

Constipation of the Bowels in
Cattle

Consumption in Cattle (Tubercu-
losis)

Contagious Diseases in Cattle. . .

Contagious Pleuro-Pneumonia. . .

238

239

280
279
279

PAGB

Corn Stalk Disease 276

Cow Pox 256

Cows Losing Their Calves (Abor-
tion) 257

Cuts and Fistula of the Teat 256

Decayed Teeth (Caries) 228

Dehorning 274

Diarrhoea 237

Digestive Organs of the Ox 220

Diseases and Treatment of Cattle 224
Diseases of the Digestive Organs

in Cattle 228

Diseases of the Ear and Eye .... 262
Diseases of the Feet, How »o De-
horn, Bleed and Drench 272

Diseases of the Genital Organs

of the Bull 258

Diseases of the Heart, Arteries

and Blood 291

Diseases of the Nervous System. 276

Diseases of the Skin 269

Diseases that are Liable to Affect

any Animal 285

Dropsy of the Belly 240

Dropsy of the Womb Before

Calving 244

Ergotism 289

P^ilaria Bronchitis 225

Fistula of the Foot . , 273

Fluke Diseases in Cattle and

Sheep 241

Foreign Substances in the Eye . . 263

Foul in the Foot (Foot Rot) 272

Fractured Bones 264

Fractured Bones, Wounds, Sprains

of Joints and Tendons 264

Fracture of the Bones of the Hip 265

Fracture of the Lower Jaw 264

Fracture of the Shoulder Blade
or Shoulder Bone 266

374

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OP CATTLti.

PAOR

Fractures of the Bones above and

Below the Stiffle Joint 267

Fractures of the Bones below the

Hock 267

Fractures of the Bones below the

Knee 266

Fractures of the Bones of the

Back 265

Fractures of the Ribs 266

Frost Bites 271

Hair Balls in the Rumen or

Paunch 235

Horn Fly 270

How Rumination or Chewing^ of

thoCud is performed in the Ox 222

How to Bleed a Cow 275

How to Drench Cattle 276

How to Dry an Animal that is

Giving Milk 290

How to Perform the Operation of

Rumenotomy 234

How to Prevent Milk Fever from

coming on ^ 252

How to Ring a Bull 261

How to take away the Cleanings

from a Cow 248

How to tell when a Cow is with

Calf 243

Hydrophobia, Madness or Rabies

in Cattle 281

Impaction of the Manyplies or

Third Part of the Stomach . 236

Impaction of the Rumen or
Paunch with Food 232

Inflammation of the Bowels (En-
teritis) 239

Inflammation of the Brain (Encep-
halitis) 277

Inflammation of the Fourth Part

of the Stomach 237

Inflammation of the Lining of the

Belly Cavity (Peritonitis). . . . 240

Inflammation of the Lungs in

Cattle (Pneumonia) 226

Inflammation of the Milk Bag

(Garget) 252

Inflammation of the Parotid Gland 229

PAOB

Inflammation of the Testicles

(Orchitis) 258

Inflammation of the Womb (Me-
tritis) 248

Injuries to the Eyelids 264

Injuries to the Sheath and Penis. 259

Jaundice or Yellows 241

Laminitis (Founder) 272

Lice on Cattle 269

Lockjaw (Tetanus) 278

Lumps on the Jaw Bones from the

Teeth or from an Injury 229

Lumpy Jaw (Actinomycosis) 2S2

Maggots in Neglected Wounds . . 268

Mange in Cattle 270

Milk Fever (Parturient A|x>^exy) 250

Nail Run in the Foot 274

Paralysis After Calving 250

Paralysis of Hind Quarters before

Calving 244

Pleurisy in Cattle 227

Rheumatism 268

Rig or Original Bulls 261

Ringworm 270

Running Sore (Fistula) 288

Rupture of the Womb or Passage

out from the Womb 246

Sharp Molars or Back Teeth .... 228

Slavering 228

Small Round Lumps in the Pas-
sage of the Teat 253

Small Warts on the Teats 256

Snake Bites 271

Soreness of the Feet from any

cause 272

Sore or inflamed Eyes in Cattle . . 263

Sore Throat 225

Spavin 267

Sprains in any part of the Animal. 267

Stiffle Out in Cattle 267

Stringy Milk 255

Struck with Lightning 288

Sunstroke 278

Swelling of the Point of Sheath in

Steers 261

Tapeworms in Cattle 240

Texas Fever 284

r

INDEX — DISEASES AND TREATMENT OK CATTLE.

375

PAOIl

The Appearance of art Animal

Killed by Lightning 289

The Bowels 222

The Feet 223

The Genital Organs of the Bull. . 224

The Genital Organs of the Cow.. 223

The Liver 222

The Respiratory or Bieathing

Organs 223

The Urinary Organs 223

Troubles in Calving and Diseases

Following 243

Troubles met with in Calving .... 245

PAiiK

Tumors „ . . 285

Turning out of the Vagina or

Passage Leading from the

Womb 246

Vomiting 234

'Warbles 271

Warts and Small Growths on the

Skin 269

White Scowcrs in Calves 242

Whites (Leucprrhnea) 249

Womb, Calf or Foal Bed Turned

Out 246

Wounds of All Kinds 268

INDEX PART IV.

DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF SHEEP, PIGS,
DOGS AND POULTRY.

SHEEP.

Bites from Dogs Worrying Sheep 305
Bloating (Tympanitis) in Sheep. . 297
Krokeii Legs in Lambs or Sheep. 305

Bronchitis 293

Choking in Sheep 296

Cold in the Head (Simple Catarrh) 292

Colic in Sheep 299

Constipation in Young Lambs... 311

Cutting Lambs' Tails 307

Diarrhoea in Sheep 304

Diarrhoea in Young Lambs 312

Diseases and Treatment of Sheep 292

Diseases of Young Lambs 311

Filaria Bronchitis 294

Fluke Disease in Sheep 301

Foot Rot in Sheep 312

Grub in the Head of Sheep 301

How to Castrate Rams 306

Impaction of the First Part of the

Stomach with Food 298

Inflammation of the Bowels 299

Injlammation of the Lungs and

its Coverings 29

PAUB

Inflammation of the Milk Bag

(Garget) 310

Inflammation of the Testicles in

Rams 306

Lamb Bed Turned Out 309

Lambing 307

Maggots in Wounds on Sheep. . . 304
Old Sheep Losing Their Teeth. . 296
Pieces of Wood or Any Substance

Lodged in the Teeth 296

Scab in Sheep 303

Sheep Ticks 304

Signs of Lambing 307

Sore Eyes in Sheep : 305

Sore Tliro'it 293

Tapeworm in Sheep 300

The Cleaning not Coniing Away

After Lambing 30*)

Troubles Met with in Lambing. . . 308

Troubles of the Teeth 296

Weakness in Young Lambs 311

Wool Falling ofl^ Sheep in the

Spring 303

376 INDEX — DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF PIGS, DOGS, ETC.

Acute Indigestion

Black Teeth in Young Pigs

Blind Staggers

Broken Back in Pigs

Castrating

Choking

Constipation

Diarrhoea

Difficulties Met with in ^ows Pig

gingr

Diseases and Treatment of Pigs,
Fits in Young Pigs from Worms

Founder or Sore Feet

Fracture of a Pig's Leg

Hog Cholera

PIOS

PAUB

3'4
321

318

323
320

313
316

3'7

324
3'3
327
3'9
322

323

PAOB

How to Castrate Pigs that are

Ruptured in the Bag 321

How to Ring a Pig/ 327

Inflammation of the Milk Glands

in a Sow (Garget) 326

Lice on Pigs 322

Milk Fever in Sows 325

Pig Bed or Womb Turned Out. . 326

Sore Throat 314

Stunted or Chronic Indigestion.. 315
Turning Out of the Rectum or

Back Bowel 317

Worms '. 317

Wounds 319

DOOS.

Breeding Pups and Troubles Met

with at Pupping Time 335

Canker in the Ear 329

Chorea 333

Constipation in Dogs 331

Deafness 329

Diarrhoea in Dogs. 331

Diseases and Treatment of Dogs 328

Distemper in Dogs 332

Dogs Poisoned with Rat Posion,

Strychnine or Arsenic J 334

Enlargements or Growths in the

PACK

329

Fleas

Fractures or Broken Bones in

Dogs 334

How to Castrate a Dog 336

How to Cut Pups' Tails 336

How to Spay a Bitch . . 336

Mad Dog( Hydrophobia or Rabies) 333

Mange 328

Sore Eyes 330

Tumors or Growths on the skin.. 331

Worms 332

Wounds or Cuts ot Any Kind — 330

Eye.

330 I

POULTRY.

Big Head in Turkeys 339

Diseases and Treatment of Poul-
try 33^

Hen Lice in a Hen House and on

Hens 339

Roup '...'. 338

♦riHI

;, ETC.

PAOR

that are

321

327

k Glands

326

322

325

^d Out. . 326

3>4

jest ion.. 315

ictum or

3'7

3>7

3'9

PAOB
329

tones in

334

336

33(>

336

Rabies) 333

328

330 •

e skin.. 331

332

Cind.. . . 330

INDEX PART V.

and on

PAGE

339

338

MEDICINES AND RECEIPTS.

Aconite 341

Alcohol 341

Aloes 342

Alum 343

Ammonia 343

Aniseed 343

Arnica 343

Arsenic 343

Belladonna 344

Black Antimony 344

Butter of Antimony 344

Benzoin 345

Bromide of Potassium 345

Biniodid of Mercury (Red Pre-
cipitate) 345

Buckthorn 345

Camphor 346

Cantharides or Spanish Fly .... 346

Carbolic Acid 346

Castor Oil 347

Catechu 347

Calomel 347

Croton Oil 348

Chlorate of Potash 348

Caustic Potash 348

Chloride of Zinc 349

Creolin 349

Crude Petroleum Oil 349

Digitalis 349

Gamboge 350

Gentian 350

Ginger 350

MEDICINES.

PAOB

PAOB

Hyposulphite of Soda 351

Iodine 35 1

Iodide of Potassium 351

Lime 351

Linseed 352

Laudanum 352

Monsell's Solution of Iron 352

Marshmallows 353

Mustard 353

Nux Vomica 353

Nitrate of Silver 353

Nitrate of Potash or Saltpetre 354

Olive Oil 354

Oil of Tar 354

Oxide of Zinc 354

Oil of Male Shield Fern 354

Pepper 355

Quassia Chips 355

Sulphuric Acid 355

Sulphuric Ether 356

Sulphate of Copper 356

Sulphate of Iron 356

Sulphate of Zinc 356

Sugar of Lead 357

Salicylic Acid 357

Salt 357

Sweet Spirits of Nitre 357

Spirits of Turpentine 358

Salts 358

Sulphur 359

Vaseline 359

Verdigris 359

Acid Liniment 360

Ball to Act on Liver and Worms. 362

Carbolic Oil 362

Colic and Indigestion 364

Condition Powder 264

Creolin Lotion 361

Eye Wash 361

Fly Blister 363

Gargle 364

Green Salve 363

RECEIPTS.

PAGB

List of Medicines to be kept on hand 365

Mercury Blister 363

Physic Ball for Horses 362

Physic Drench for Horses 362

Physic Drench for Cattle 362

Powders to Act on Kidneys and

Blood 363

White Liniment 360

White Lotion 360

Worm Powders 364