Cause.—Overwork and coarse feed, succeeded by periods of stagnation. It is the warning that true farcy threatens the stable.
Symptoms.—Load less and work less.
Treatment.—Improve the diet, and never allow the horse to remain a day in the stable without exercise. Saturate the swollen limb with cold water every morning, and have it afterward thoroughly hand-rubbed until it is perfectly dry. Should lameness remain after the first day, a few punctures may be made into the limb, but only through the skin. Give the following ball every morning: Iodide of iron, one drachm; powdered cantharides, two grains; powdered arsenic, one grain; Cayenne pepper, one scruple; sulphate of iron, one drachm; treacle and linseed meal, a sufficiency. Mix. The delay even of a day in treatment is attended with danger in this disease.
WIND-GALLS.
Cause.—Hard work.
Symptoms.—Small enlargements, generally upon the hind legs and below the hocks; no lameness; two wind-galls appear above the pastern, one beneath that joint; after extraordinary labor, the round swellings disappear and the course of the flexor tendons becomes puffy. Sometimes continued irritation will cause the wind-galls to greatly enlarge, and ultimately provokes their case to change into bone. During these changes the horse is very lame.
Treatment.—Fold pieces of rags; wet them; put these on the wind-galls; place on the rags pieces of cork, and over the cork lace on an India-rubber bandage. Mind this bandage is constantly worn, save when ridden or driven by the proprietor. Rest is the only alleviation for the change of structure.
WINDY COLIC.
Causes.—Gorging on green food; but more commonly impaired digestion, consequent upon severe labor and old age.
Symptoms.—Uneasiness; pendulous head; cessation of feeding. Breathing laborious; fidgets; rocking the body; enlargement of the belly; pawing. Standing in one place; sleepy eye; heavy pulse; flatulence; the abdomen greatly enlarged. Breathing very fast; pulse very feeble; blindness; the animal walks round and round till it falls and dies.