INFLAMMATION OF THE LUNGS.

This disease is generally brought on by sudden cold, hard driving, high feeding, &c.

Symptoms.

The first appearance of this disease is generally marked by fits of shivering, accompanied with a coldness throughout the entire body, which, however, gradually wears off, and he becomes warm, except the ears and feet; but it sometimes commences slowly, with a hard, dry cough, which appears to give the horse great pain; he appears dull, and refuses to eat his food; the pulse is obscure and oppressed—he heaves at the flanks, the nostrils are extended, the eye-lids and linings of the nose are inflamed with a disagreeable running at the nose, experiences great difficulty in breathing, seems very stiff, is unwilling to lie down or move, and often stands until completely exhausted.

Treatment—Remedy.

Bleed until the pulse becomes round and full, and then the heart will be able to accomplish its object; next hand rub the legs, well, wrap them up with flannel bandages as high as the knees, put a blanket on the horse to keep him warm, but let the stable have a sufficient opening to admit the fresh air, not so much as to make it cold or chilly. In warm weather the horse cannot have too much fresh air. The following prescription will be found very beneficial:

Mix well, give it as a drench and clyster with soap and warm water; when the focus has become softened a little, leave off using the tincture of aloes, but continue to administer the remaining portion of the above prescription, and blister the sides and brisket with the blister ointment every 6 hours. If the ointment should act well on the first application, there is no further need for it, but should it not act properly continue the blistering until it does, or until the parts become very sore, and in two or three days after dress with lard.

In the latter stages of the disease it will be found very difficult to get the blister to act properly on account of the exhaustion of the natural powers of the animal, but it must be continued, and the sinking energies aroused, or the horse is lost. The blister is often prevented from acting by the gig being up.

In this disease the treatment should be prompt and decisive, as not a moment of time is to be lost. The first object should be to subdue the inflammation, and if the mouth continues hot, the extremities cold, and the nose red, the horse must be bled again and again in rapid succession, the good that we can do must be done immediately or not at all.

The first step to be taken in this disease is to bleed profusely—let the lancet used be a large, broad shouldered one, in order that the blood may be extracted as quick as possible and the disease destroyed without impairing the strength of the animal. (If the blood be allowed to flow slowly in a small stream, the strength of the animal will be sapped, while the disease remains untouched.) Let the blood flow until the pulse falters and the horse begins to tremble; no harm will be done however if he should fall by bleeding in this disease. As soon as possible after the bleeding, give the medicine prescribed; then hand rub and bandage, and cover with warm blankets; feed him on bran mash and let him run to grass for a month.