Treatment—Remedy.
Commence by bleeding profusely, taking at least 7 or 8 quarts of blood, or as much as the horse can bear, which must be done immediately, or a fatal termination may be looked for. If the horse does not seem to have been relieved or the pulse become round and full, the bleeding must be repeated as the only means of subduing the inflammation, which is the immediate cause of the weakness. If the inflammation is subdued by the extraction of the blood the weakness will soon disappear. After the bleeding, make a strong decoction of aloes and opium or laudanum, say 1 ounce of laudanum with the same quantity of the tincture of aloes, and give it to the horse; this must be quickly followed by back-raking and an injection of soap and warm water or thin gruel, in which epsom salts or aloes may be dissolved in moderate quantities; repeat this until the bowels are completely cleaned out. He should be given as much warm water or thin gruel as he will drink, and half the quantity of tincture of aloes and laudanum should be administered every two or three hours until the bowels are freely opened. Blister the sides and belly with common blistering ointment and bandage the legs up to the knees with flannel, cover him with blankets as directed in inflammation of the lungs, and give him a comfortable stable, but not too hot, with plenty of fresh air. No corn or hay should be allowed in this disease—bran mash will answer very well for feed, but green meat is preferable if it can be had. Turn him out for two or three hours in the middle of the day if not too cold; give the legs good hand-rubbing every day; continue to clyster with thin gruel for two or three days.
BOTS OR GRUBS.
The Bots or Grubs are small worms of a red or brownish color, found in the stomach, and it is considered almost impossible for them to do any harm, but a horse that has the bots, grubs or worms, loses flesh, becomes hide bound and dull.
Symptoms.
In this disease a yellowish matter is often found under the horse’s tail; he has pain, stamps and rolls, switches his tail between his legs, turns up his upper lip, and frequently looks round to his flanks, and often tries to rub his fundament against the wall, or any other place that he can.
Treatment—Remedy No. 1.
First give an active purge, and if that is not sufficient to expel them, take 2 drachms of tartar emetic, with a small quantity of tin or pewter filings, or a little ground glass, make into balls or pills, and give one every morning for two weeks; if it is necessary, the balls can be made with a little tar, which will also improve the condition of the horse.