There is a slow form of this disease, as follows: poor appetite; low spirits; uneasiness; occasional pawing the ground; looking at the belly and groaning; belly painful when pressed upon, and tucked up; quick breathing; small, weak pulse; bound bowels; awkward way of walking with the hind legs; mouth dry; and bad smelling; body thin; coat staring and unthrifty; urine scanty; weakness. As the disease advances, the abdomen fills with a watery fluid, and the disease terminates as dropsy.
Treatment.—From the commencement, the A.A., is the most important remedy, and may be given, fifteen drops, every two hours, during the more urgent symptoms, and then at longer intervals for the acute form.
If there should be purging, alternate the F.F. with the A.A., at intervals of two hours, and then leas frequently as the disease improves.
In the slow form of the disease, the alternate use of J.K. and F.F., four times per day, will be found most effectual in preventing a termination in dropsy, and in restoring the animal.
Jaundice, Yellows, Diseased Liver
Young horses rarely have diseased livers, but at the age of eight or nine years, the disease is more common, and, in some cases, quite suddenly, the covering of the liver gives way, and symptoms of fatal peritonitis appear.
Symptoms.—Jaundice, or Yellows, is more frequent, and is marked thus: The animal is dull, sleepy, and unwilling to move; he eats little or nothing; the coat stares; the urine is scanty; the dung light-colored and in lumps. The nose, tongue, eyes and mouth become yellow, from the abundance of bile in the blood. The urine is very thick, dark-colored and full of bile. The right side is painful when pressed against, and the horse looks towards it, he may be lame in the right fore-leg, or paw the ground with it. These symptoms may increase, and cough, quick breathing, and full, quick pulse, be added, which afterwards becomes quite weak and slow, and the legs very cold. He then becomes more and more dull, stupid and sleepy, staggers, falls to the ground, and dies.
Treatment.—Rarely will anything more be required than the J.K., of which a dose of fifteen drops may be given, four times per day.
Should there be heat, fever or inflammatory symptoms, a few doses of the A.A., will be proper, not merely for the heat and fever, but for the obstruction of the liver as well. In severe cases, these two remedies may be alternated with the most brilliant success, even when there is no fever apparent. Give fifteen drops every four hours, alternately, first A.A., next J.K., and so on.