When an animal is infected, remove at once to the burial lot and tie it near the place it is to be buried, to save handling and scattering the infection. When it dies, dig the grave. Then saturate the animal with kerosene or coal oil and set it afire. By means of ropes tied around the fetlocks turn the animal, saturate the other side and fire that, and also the soles of the feet. When every hair has been burned off, dissolve a one-pound carton of chlorinated lime (freshly opened) in sufficient water to make a fluid that will just pour from the cup. Fill the nostrils with this, also the mouth and eyes, which should be pried open with a stick dipped in solution. Saturate some cotton or rags with the lime, and plug up the nostrils or mouth. Treat the rectum likewise. Turn the animal into its grave, sprinkle the ground on which it has stood and laid with a strong solution of chlorinated lime, and shovel the top layers of this soil into the grave. Follow this with the grave soil, banking it up, as in human graves. In cases where the animal is found dead, the same method is to be pursued, except that the animal is hauled to the grave on a sled (never dragged over the ground). In these cases, also, the place where it died must be disinfected by the same means, after hauling out all loose material and burning the same, as near as possible to the place where the animal died. It would also be necessary to disinfect the sled and all tools which came in contact with the carcass.
APOPLEXY.
—A ruptured blood vessel in the brain; usually causes unconsciousness, at least for a time. The control of certain muscles is lost and a general dullness prevails over the animal. In case the apoplectic attack runs a favorable course, the muscles come more or less under control again and the patient in time may recover. It is in rare cases only, however, that animals recover to an extent to be worth much after being affected with apoplexy. Fortunately the disease in animals is rare.
AZOTURIA, OR MONDAY MORNING DISEASE.
—This is a very peculiar affection of the horse, in which the animal shows a special form of lameness upon exercise, after having remained idle for a day or two. The cause is not definitely known, and yet the circumstances under which the disease develops are rather constant, such, for instance, as an animal in vigorous condition, fed liberally upon nitrogenous feed, remaining idle over Sunday, a holiday or at other times. Upon being taken out the following morning the animal usually shows an excess of energy, but before going far begins to go lame in one or both hind limbs until, if urged further, becomes completely paralyzed behind, going down and unable to rise. He also shows considerable pain, as though he might be suffering from some form of colic, with a profuse sweating. On reaching this point the animal usually ceases to void the urine, which, when drawn, appears a very dark brown or coffee color. The pulse and breathing are somewhat accelerated, and frequently there is considerable nervous excitement. The muscles of the loin and thigh are tense and rigid.
The treatment should begin as soon as the lameness shows itself. After a few hours of rest, the distress will be over. The more exercise given the animal after the lameness begins, the more severe the trouble, and the more energetic means of treatment required. In a case showing signs of nervous excitement, it should receive 2 tablespoonfuls of bromide of potassium every three or four hours until becoming quiet. Sweating should be induced by blanketing the animal well, preferably using blankets wrung out of hot water and covered with a dry one. Allow all the water the animal will drink and give it 4 tablespoonfuls sweet spirits of niter three times a day if bladder is not paralyzed. If unable to void the urine, the bladder must be emptied three times daily. A laxative or purgative should be given early in the disease. If the animal remains somewhat stiff, give a teaspoonful in the feed twice a day of the following: Powdered nux vomica, 4 teaspoonfuls; powdered sulphate of iron, 6 teaspoonfuls; powdered gentian root, 6 teaspoonfuls.
BARRENNESS.
—Failure to breed is usually due to an acid secretion of the genital organs, to the germs of contagious abortion, retention of the afterbirth, or to an abnormal condition of the sexual organs of either the male or female. The acid secretion of the genital organs prevents conception by destroying the semen of the male; the germs of contagious abortion set up a catarrhal inflammation and discharge, which also prevents conception; retention of the afterbirth, whether it be removed by force or permitted to slough away, usually leaves the womb in a diseased and catarrhal condition, effecting a discharge; impotency may be due to excessive use of the male, or to advancing age in both male and female.
Any unnatural discharge irritates and scalds the mouth of the womb so that when the discharge ceases the mouth of the womb heals, and it is impossible to make a cow or mare breed without mechanical interference. This kind of treatment is conducive to fertility by increasing the blood supply to the part. Mechanical contrivances are now on the market for the purpose of dilating the mouth of the womb. These increase the probability of pregnancy. If the womb be opened just before service, many troublesome cases can be corrected. This is done by inserting the oiled hand and arm into the vagina, finding the opening into the womb, and gradually dilating it by inserting one or more fingers until the passage is open and free.