A STEAMING APPARATUS.
Place a pail of water within easy reach of the horse. Food—even gruel—is not now required. If it is winter, put a hood upon the head and throw a loose cloth over the loins and quarters; then introduce the steaming apparatus, and set it to work with all speed, leaving every window and door open, while the vapor is generated. The air being loaded with vapor, take off all clothing; but give, in the first instance, so soon as it can be procured, the following drink:—
| Solution of aconite root | Half an ounce. |
| Sulphuric ether | Two ounces. |
| Extract of belladonna (rubbed down in half a pint of water) | A drachm. |
Repeat this dose three times in the course of the day and once during the night, keeping up the steam all the time. Watch the pulse and observe the breathing. When the first amends, the quantity of aconite may be diminished; when the last grows easier, the amount of belladonna may be decreased.
These medicines should be persevered with, increasing the ingredients or diminishing them, as the symptoms warrant. Thus, if the pulse prove very obstinate, six, or even nine doses of half an ounce of solution of aconite in a little water, without other ingredients, may be exhibited in the twenty-four hours. Should the breathing be severe, the belladonna may be augmented in a similar proportion. Until the symptoms are more than merely amended, the nourishment ought entirely to consist of hay-tea, with a little oatmeal boiled in it. When improvement decidedly takes place, the hay-tea may be made a little thicker, and a couple of pounds of boiled potatoes allowed per day. So soon as the appetite seems to be eager for food, a pint of crushed oats, thoroughly scalded, may be given six times during the day. Great care, must, however, be taken not to overload the stomach, or to permit a full meal: a single gorge is likely to provoke a return of the disorder. Little and often must be the rule at first; and the quantity may be increased while the frequency is diminished, as recovery is confirmed. Let some days elapse, however, before any hay is presented: this substance rather amuses the horse and fills out the stomach, than nourishes the body. Allow to enter the stable none of the groom's favorite drink, which consists of a handful of flour stirred into a pailful of cold water. The flour is not in solution—it soon sinks to the bottom; and the horse, which you intend should in some degree be nourished, receives nothing but water.
Order the cook to prepare the gruel, and see that she does it with as much care and cleanliness as she would exercise for any Christian. The groom's gruel is hot water, which may or may not be boiling, stirred upon a certain quantity of meal. A lady may conjecture how she would relish such a composition sent to her sick chamber; and the horse is as nice in its taste as any human being possibly can be.
Neither permit any grass to be put before an animal which is recovering from pneumonia. Grasses of all kinds contain the least possible nutriment in the largest possible bulk. The object now is to accomplish the introduction of nutriment in the most concentrated form. A distended stomach impedes the action of the diaphragm, and thereby is most injurious to the breathing.
A MUCH-WISHED FOR SIGHT DURING DISEASE OF THE LUNGS.