Salivation—Slavering
Many horses are subject to an increased flow of saliva from the mouth, constituting what is known as slavering or driveling from the mouth. The discharge is commonly, simply glairy slime, or at times—and especially on being driven or excited—a simple froth, dropping or being blown from the mouth. It may be caused by mercury if the horse has been dosed with the drug; is often attributed to Lobelia or Indian tobacco, if the horse only would eat it—but is more commonly the result of swelled gums, irregular or deficient teeth, and irritated or inflamed salivary glands, the result of bad digestion.
Treatment.—See that the teeth are in order, and give J.K., morning and night.
CHAPTER IX.—Part I.
DISEASES OF THE URINARY AND REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS
Nephritis, Inflammation of the Kidneys
The kidneys are not unfrequently the subject of inflammation in the horse. It may be induced by powerful or repeated diuretics, such as saltpetre, which is a most dangerous medicine, or from hard and long riding by a heavy rider, or heavy weights; or by leaping or being suddenly pulled up on his haunches, the inflammation being propagated from the lumbar muscles to the kidneys, or by exposure to cold and wet, by rain dripping upon his loins during exercise, and especially if these organs have been previously weakened.
Symptoms.—The early symptoms are those of fever, the pulse full, hard and quickened, afterward becomes small and weak; the horse looks around anxiously at his flanks; stands with his hind legs wide apart; is unwilling to lie down; straddles as he walks; expresses pain in turning; the back is somewhat arched; he shrinks when the loins are pressed upon, and there is some degree of heat felt there. The urine is voided in small quantities; frequently is high-colored, and sometimes bloody; and there is frequent and often violent effort and straining, but the discharge is very small, sometimes suppressed.
Treatment.—Give fifteen drops of H.H., and repeat every two hours. Should there be very high fever, great heat, etc., the A.A., may be alternated with it, giving fifteen drops every intermediate hour in urgent cases, but in general the H.H., will be quite sufficient, and should be continued at prolonged intervals to entire recovery.
But a few doses will be required to show us the great value and efficacy of the remedy.