Symptoms.—The attack is sudden. The body, head, and limbs enlarge; consciousness is partially lost. The horse stands, and the breathing is quickened. Through the skin there exudes serum with blood. The nostrils and lips enlarge, and part of the swollen tongue protrudes from the mouth. The appetite is not quite lost, although deglutition is difficult. Thirst is great.
Treatment.—Bleed till the animal appears relieved. A second venesection may be demanded, but it should be adopted with caution. Give half an ounce of chloroform in a pint of linseed oil, in the first stage. Repeat the dose in half an hour. No amendment following, give two ounces of sulphuric ether in one pint of cold water. In half an hour repeat the dose if necessary. Perform tracheotomy to ease the breathing. Incise the protruding tongue. Squeeze out the fluid and return the organ to the mouth. Should the skin slough, bathe the part with solution of chloride of zinc, one grain to the ounce of water.
QUITTOR.
Causes.—Confined pus from suppurating corn; or prick of the sole; matter results, and this issues at the coronet. Or from injury to the coronet, generating pus, and this burrowing downward, as it cannot pierce the coronary substance. The secretion may also penetrate the cartilage, and thus establish sinuses in almost every possible direction.
Symptoms.—The horse is very lame. The animal is easier after the quittor has burst. Probe for the sinuses. If, after the superficial sinuses are treated, among the creamy pus there should appear a dark speck of albuminous fluid, make sure of another sinus, probably working toward the central structures of the foot.
RHEUMATISM.
Cause.—Generally follows other disorders, as influenza, chest affections, and most acute diseases. Very rarely does it appear without a forerunner.
Symptoms.—Swelling of particular parts, generally the limbs; heat and acute lameness. The disorder is apt to fly about the body. The synovia is always increased when the joints are attacked. The pulse and breathing are both disturbed by agony.
Treatment.—Lead into a loose box; fill the place with steam. (See page 313.) Get ready the slings; put the belly-piece under the horse, but do not pull it up so as to lift the legs from the ground. Keep the steam up for one hour. Then have several men with cloths ready to wipe the animal dry; mind they are perfectly silent. Next rub into the diseased parts the following: Compound soap liniment, sixteen ounces; tincture of cantharides, liquor ammonia, and laudanum, of each two ounces. Afterward incase the limbs in flannel. (See page 314.) Then give a bolus composed of powdered colchicum, two drachms; iodide of potassium, one drachm; simple mass, a sufficiency. Should the attack succeed upon other diseases, the diet must be supporting, everything being softened by heat and water. Next morning repeat the steaming, and give calomel, a scruple; opium, two drachms. At night steam again, and repeat the first bolus. Should the horse be fat, withdraw all corn, if the strength can do without it.