Stings of Bees, Hornets, &c.
Sometimes where a horse has been tied near a swarm of bees, if sweaty or offensive to them, the swarm has been known to attack him, producing pain, inflammation, swelling, and sometimes death. Hornets are as bad or worse. Apply freely Humphreys’ Marvel Witch Hazel. Give A.A., fifteen drops, and repeat it every hour.
CHAPTER III.—Part I.
DISEASES OF THE FEET AND LEGS
Lameness
The adage “No roof, no house,” is matched by “No foot, no horse,” because in either case the value of the thing is measured by the part that is wanting. So lameness or its absence is the essential part to be looked after in a horse. Fortunately it is not always necessary to decide in our practice the precise point, structure, tendon or muscle involved in order to cure, but it is always desirable. Hence the following points are suggested.
If the lameness has come on suddenly during a drive or work, it suggests some accident, or other very recent cause, such as picking up a nail or a stone, a bruise of the sole, an over-reach, or a strain of a tendon or joint. If it has come on slowly or gradually, it would suggest some more deep-seated or constitutional cause.
If it occurs of having been out, or worked in cold rains, or after work standing uncovered in a cold chill wind, it suggests rheumatism or rheumatic lameness, or laminitis, “founder of the feet.”
An examination must always be made quietly. If the horse is excited you are liable to be put upon the wrong track. If the fore feet are affected the hind feet will be likely to be brought far forward in order to take the weight off the sore place. If one fore foot points or is advanced some inches beyond the other, it suggests some difficulty in the heel of that foot or back part of that limb; while, bending the knee and fetlock, and resting the foot or the toe without advancing it, suggests a disease of the shoulder or elbow. In all cases of lameness of one foot, that one will rest more lightly on the ground, and be raised more quickly than the other. In exercise when one limb is affected, that foot comes to the ground less heavily than the other, and the head and fore part of the body are elevated, when it comes down and drops again when the sound foot comes down. With lameness in both fore feet the step is short, and the stroke on the ground weak, the shoulders stiff, head raised, and hind feet brought unnaturally forward. In lameness on one side behind the rising and falling of the hip on the affected side is more marked than on the sound side. When both sides behind are involved, the fore feet will be kept well back under the animal to relieve the weight. With these hints in mind the location of the trouble may be usually ascertained and the treatment by external applications facilitated. Consult also the special form of lameness or disease which the examination has indicated as the directions or hints given therein may be valuable as sprain, rheumatism, bruises, corns, stifle, founder, spavin, splint, etc.
Treatment.—In general, when the point of difficulty is known, and if recent, the place swollen, or heated, apply Humphreys’ Marvel Witch Hazel diluted one-half with water, two or three, or more times per day. In severe cases, put on a compress wet with diluted Marvel, which renew as often as it gets dry, and give A.A., if there is much heat or fever in the part, a dose say four times per day. When the heat has subsided, or if there is no special fever or heat apparent, give B.B. as often at first, and later or in more indolent or chronic cases a dose morning and night. Later, and especially if the lameness is worse on first morning, give I.I. in place of B.B., or alternate the one morning and the other night.
The Veterinary Oil, may be used after the use of the Marvel, or when there is local swelling, bruise, or any chafing, cut, scratch, or ulceration or for bruised or broken hoof or corn. Apply it daily.