If during the disease, THE URINE, or staling should become very scanty, or be passed with difficulty, or with straining, or BE SUPPRESSED, then the H.H., for urinary or kidney affections, should be given, a dose of fifteen drops, in alternation with the A.A. That is, give the A.A., and after two hours, give the H.H., then after two hours again give the A.A., and so on until the secretion of water is fully established, when the H.H. may be discontinued.
After the more urgent stage of the disease has passed over, the heat and fever mostly gone, and there yet remains SOME WEAKNESS OR PARTIAL PARALYSIS OF THE LOINS, indicated by swaying, tottering or shambling gait, the J.K. should be given at intervals of six hours. It is the special remedy for partial or complete paralysis, or for the weakness and debility after sickness.
The horse should have a loose box, or wide, roomy stall, well littered and reasonably warm, and in cool or cold weather, be well covered with blankets, and his legs should be occasionally well hand rubbed. Let him have bran mashes, or carrot tea, and pick at some good hay. The animal should not be exercised or worked too soon after recovery.
CHAPTER VII.—Part I.
DISEASES OF THE RESPIRATORY ORGANS
Chill
This term is used to designate a transitory state or condition, which may either terminate in recovery, or in severe inflammatory disease of some important organ or affection, of which the chill is the first stage. When a chill is present it is impossible to say, with certainty, whether or what further derangement will ensue. But it is quite certain an abnormal condition is already present, with the probability that it will develop some disease or inflammation, of which we now have the first or forming stage. Usually the length and violence of the chill is in proportion to the importance of the organ attacked, and the character of the morbid influence.
The direct causes of a chill are: exposing the animal to cold draughts; allowing him to drink freely of cold water, in very hot or during very cold weather; exhausting him with labor and then placing him in a damp stable; washing the legs with cold water, or riding him (while in a state of perspiration), into a stream of cold water.
Symptoms.—The symptoms which are usually observed before the chili proper sets in, are: dullness or want of spirit on entering a stable after a journey; hanging of the head; standing fixedly in one place; taking little or no notice when spoken to; smelling at the food; picking amongst it for a short time and then leaving it altogether. In addition to these, the eye is dull and countenance dejected; the animal grinds his teeth and breathes quicker than usual, while the pulse is rarely or never disturbed at the commencement. Soon the coat will begin to prick and the animal will begin to tremble with considerable violence; his breathing will become more hurried, attended with a harsh blowing sound in the nasal passages; the pulse still retaining its usual slow beat. Sometimes the breathing becomes quick, hurried and loud “panting.” This condition may continue half an hour, or even two hours or more, when the patient will become more quiet, the breathing softer, more tranquil, the skin and extremities warmer, and the pulse rises to fifty or even sixty beats to the minute. From this condition the attack may, under judicious treatment, pass off, and speedy recovery ensue; or, it may pass into a Catarrhal Fever, or Pneumonia, or Bronchitis, or Lymphitis, or Laminitis, or Inflammation of the bowels, or what is quite common, a bad, obstinate cough.
Treatment.—With as little delay as may be, the patient should be comfortably housed and blanketed, and fifteen drops of A.A., should be given. If not better in half an hour, repeat it, and again at intervals of half an hour, until the trembling and respiration have been relieved and the chill has passed off. Then the animal may be safely left under the influence of the same medicine, to be repeated every two or three hours, so long as circumstances seem to require it.
Should any of the diseases above mentioned, or other, have become developed, the treatment must be varied to meet that condition; the particulars of which are to be sought under the respective sections in this Manual. But it will most frequently be found that having met and conquered the enemy at the threshold, but little more remains to be done beyond care and rest, for the entire recovery of the animal.