The mare should be brought out with a blind bridle and collar on, and tied with the head to a post. The tail should be doubled up and a rope looped around it, and it should be drawn on the back and the rope tied to the collar. Then the whole shape should be washed off with the solution of chloride of lime; then anoint the marks with the nitrate of silver, and also with the tincture of myrrh. At each operation these preparations should be introduced about one and half inches within the shape.
Should any tumors have made their appearance, they must be dressed in the same manner. If they are large and soft, they should be cut open and then dressed in the same way.
The foregoing disease has sometimes reappeared in other animals for four years following my treatment of the above cases but by always bringing them promptly to my notice, I succeeded invariably in checking it, so that it never came to the same state as before.
COSTIVENESS IN COLTS.
Sometimes colts which are foaled early in the Spring, owing to the dry food of the mare, will become so costive, that they will inevitably die, if not relieved. As a general thing, this costiveness is confined to the rectum.
To relieve the colt, it should be drenched with half a teacupful of milk from the mare, which should contain Barbadoes Aloes, the size of a grain of corn, pulverized, and about an equal amount of ginger, every six hours; at the same time an injection should be prepared, as follows: take one quart of wheat bran, and pour on it three quarts of boiling water. When cold draw off the liquid, add one teacupful of sweet milk, half a teacupful of molasses. Then by means of a syringe inject this composition into the rectum. Or, if a syringe cannot be procured, a bladder with a clean piece of elder tied in the neck of it may be introduced into the rectum. In a few minutes after, a finger should be inserted in the rectum, when a small ball of excrement may be taken out, about the size of a hickory-nut. I have often taken out twelve and fourteen such balls in the course of twenty minutes. After this no more medicine is needed.