Special report on diseases of the horse / by Drs. Pearson [and others].

Date:
1903
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Special report on diseases of the horse / by Drs. Pearson [and others]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    589/690 (page 507)
    their area of invasion. The alterations of meningitis and laminitis are identical with those of sporadic cases of founder and inflammation of the brain. Treatment.—While the appetite remains the patient should have a moderate quantity of sound hay, good oats, and bran; or even a little fresh clover, if obtainable, can be given in small quantities. It is not so important that a special diet shall be observed as that the horse shall eat a moderate quantity of nourishing food, and he may be tempted with any food of good quality that he relishes. The sick horse should be placed in a well-ventilated box stall away from other horses. Grass, roots, apples, and milk may be offered and, if relished, allowed freely. To reduce the temperature, the safest simple plan is to inject large quantities of cold water into the rectum. Antipyrene may be used with alcohol or strychnia. Derivatives in the form of essential oils and mustard poultices, baths of alcohol, turpentine and hot water, after which the animal must be immediately dried and blanketed, serve to waken the animal up from the stupor and relieve the conges- tion of the internal organs. This treatment is especially indicated when complication by congestion of the lungs, intestines, or of the brain is threatened. Quinine and salic}dic acid in 1-dram doses will lower the temperature, but too continuous use of quinine in some cases increases the after depression. Iodide of potash reduces the excessive nutrition of the congested organs and thereby reduces the tempera- ture; again, this drug in moderate quantities is a stimulant to the digestive tract and acts as a diuretic, causing the elimination of waste matter by the kidneys. Small doses of Glauber’s salts and bicarbon- ate of soda, used from the outset, stimulate the digestive tract and prevent constipation and its evil results. In cases of severe depression and weakness of the heart, digitalis can be used with advantage. At the end of the fever, and when con- valescence is established, alcohol in one-half pint doses and good ale in 1-pint doses maj^ be given as stimulants; to these.may be added 1-dram doses of turpentine. In complication of the intestines camphor and asafetida are most frequently used to relieve the pain causing the colics; diarrhea is also relieved by the use of bicarbonate of soda, nitrate of potash, and drinks made from boiled rice or starch, to which may be added small doses of laudanum. In complication of the lungs iodide of potash and digitalis are most frequently indicated, in addition to the remedies used for the disease itself. Founder occurring as a complication of influenza is difficult to treat. It is, unfortunately, frequently not recognized until inflammatory changes have gone on for some days. If recognized at once, local bleeding and the use of hot or cold water, as the condition of the ani-