JAUNDICE

Is known among farriers as "the Yellows," and is generally caused by the stoppage of the passage which conveys the bile from the liver to the intestines. The symptoms are usually irregular appetite, a languid appearance, with yellowness around the eyes and mouth. The urine is highly coloured, and the dung comes away in hard balls.

Treatment.-The first thing is to gently open the bowels; to which end give

Aloes

Calomel

Gentian

2 drachms,

made into a ball, and administered twice a-day till they. produce effect. In some cases bleeding is necessary : a change of food is required in all cases of Jaundice; carrots in winter, and grass in summer, will be found beneficial. If the disease commences with diarrhoea, it should be stopped, as it may generate inflammation. Gibson asserts that this disease is sometimes epidemic. Some practitioners object to bleeding in Jaundice, generally, as it increases the debility which is consequent on the disease. It is seldom dangerous, and in young horses is sometimes brought on by good feeding and too little exercise, when it is very easily cured. In old horses the cure is often effected.

DIABETES, OR PROFUSE STALING,

GENERALLY arises from some pernicious quality of the food; but may be traced to other causes, as irritation

of the kidnies, disorganisation of the digestive powers, &c. However, it is not of very frequent occurrence, and when it does appear, is sometimes very dangerous. The food is the first thing to be looked to, and then bleed and purge according to the symptoms; then have recourse to astringents, as catechu, uva ursi, opium, &c. If the digestive organs be much deranged, and the appetite bad, give

Sulphuretted Potash

Uva Ursi, (powdered)

Catechu

Opium

This may be mixed in an infusion of camomile, and used once a day.

BLOODY URINE,

OTHERWISE distinguished by farriers as "pissing of· blood," is sometimes brought on by violent exertion and severe riding. Occasionally it proceeds from inflammation of the kidnies, and must be treated accordingly.

: Treatment.-Rest is essentially necessary. Mild astringents, as alum, catechu, logwood, &c., may be used-but diuretics must be avoided. Sometimes it has been requisite to resort to a strengthening plaister across the loins.

WORMS

ARE very general among horses, but seldom do hurt, except where they are found in great numbers. There are several descriptions of these animals found in the intestines of the horse, but the most common is the bot, on which Mr. Bracy Clark has taken some pains to treat and illustrate; some assert they are perfectly harmless, and do not interfere with the general health of the animal: others differ in opinion; and Gibson says, "The bots that many horses are troubled with are found sticking to the rectum, and are often thrust out with the dung, along with a yellowish coloured matter like melted sulphur.

"They are apt to make a horse restless and uneasy, and to rub his breech against a post. The season of their appearing is usually in the months of May or June; after which they are seldom to be seen, or rarely continue in any one horse above a fortnight or three weeks. Those that take possession of the membraneous part of the stomach are more irritating and dangerous in causing convulsions, and are seldom discovered by any previous signs before they bring a horse into violent agony." There are beside these the lubricus teres, not unlike the common earth-worm. The tonia, or tape-worm, is seldom found among horses; the whip-worm likewise rare; and the ascarides, or thread-worm, which sometimes exist in large numbers, and are very hurtful.

Symptoms.-An irregularity of appetite as well as of the bowels, and sometimes a dry yellow matter is found under the tail. When the teres abound, the skin generally sympathises with the bowels, the coat stares

and feels rough; occasional gripes, and a bad breath, is not uncommon.

Treatment.It is very difficult to remove worms from the stomach. Oil of turpentine acts as a vermifuge, as does also cevadilla, or Indian caustic barley. The use of salt with the food is said to be particularly obnoxious to these animals. Calomel is sometimes. used to expel them, but the practice is dangerous in the extreme. Tartar emetic and ginger, given in a ball every morning before feeding, will be effective. An injection of linseed-oil used when the ascarides is very troublesome, will oftentimes destroy their pernicious effects. Strong purgatives of all descriptions are beneficial when the horse is afflicted with worms, as numbers are thus brought away.

Gibson strongly recommends calomel and aloe purgatives before the hot weather comes on, and care be taken with the diet afterwards; it is doubtful if they will prevail during that season.

On the first day administer

Calomel

Anniseed (powdered),

1 drachm,

4 drachms,

made into a ball with treacle or honey; the second day let

be mixed into a ball, and these may be repeated at intervals of nine days, until the horse has had three or four doses.

Sulphur given in doses of an ounce every night and morning will destroy the quantity of ascarides which are found occasionally in the horse's stomach. Emetic tartar is a good remedy, and may be used with advantage. Mr. Clark gives the follcving account of the

death of a horse which was very much afflicted with the bots; and which he supposes were gradually producing mortification from their number. He likewise asserts, that the horse was very fat, and exhibited no outward symptoms of morbid affection. "On visiting a horse that had been ill for some days," says he, “ I found the servant giving a drink when I entered the stable, which I was afterwards informed was composed of an infusion of linseed, in which was dissolved an ounce of nitre, with some honey to sweeten it, and into the last hornful was poured from a small phial about half an ounce of spirit of hartshorn.

The horse seemed very uneasy after the drink; he was soon seized with a violent trembling and shaking; a profuse sweat broke out all over his body, and ran down his sides, at the same time his legs and ears were quite cold; he laid down, seemingly in great agony, and was soon convulsed all over, and died in about half an hour after the drink was swallowed. On inspecting the stomach the coats were found to be greatly inflamed. A mortification had taken place on one side, where it appeared of a darker colour like that of the liver; at the same time it was considerably distended and full of food. On turning it inside out, an incredible number of bots were found all round the sides and lower parts, as close to each other as they could possibly be; and such firm hold had they of the stomach, that in endeavouring to pull some of them off when alive they broke in two, and their heads remained sticking behind