Part 7

CAUSE.—An ill fitting collar, one tug longer than the other, striking an object when pulling, like a stone or a corner of a building, slipping, kicks, or the animal may have a splint, sprain, ringbone, sidebone, coffin-joint lameness, curb, corns, stifle lameness, in fact anything that tends to make an animal favor the use of certain muscles. It is not a disease, just a lack in the development of the muscles, which waste away or shrink when not used as nature provided. For instance, perhaps you have had or have seen persons that had a fractured leg or arm the muscles of which through lack of use had wasted away (Atrophy), until they were used normally for sometime, when the muscles again came back to their normal size.

SYMPTOMS.—First locate the cause. The animal may be very lame although I have seen Sweeneys where lameness was very hard to detect, being those which were usually due to ill fitting collars. Remember you can have a Sweeney of the hip as well as the shoulder, and keep in mind the above mentioned cases.

TREATMENT.—When you have an animal affected with Sweeney, find the true cause and remove it if possible. Unless the Sweeney is a chronic one, it is successfully treated with Aqua Ammonia Fort., four ounces; Turpentine, four ounces; Sweet Oil, four ounces. Mix and apply well over wasted muscles once a day. If the application is too irritating, as some horses have thinner skins than others, it is advisable to add more Sweet Oil than above mentioned.

TAPEWORM.

(_Taenia_)

These worms have been found in the horse, but so rarely that they need not be considered.

THOROUGHPIN.

CAUSE.—Generally due to some irritation of the hock joint such as severe sprains from animal jumping, slipping, kick or falling through a culvert or bridge or it is frequently hereditary; so be very careful in choosing a sire when breeding.

SYMPTOMS.—Sometimes there is lameness when the Thoroughpin is first noticed, but it will gradually disappear as soon as the inflammation ceases. There will be a puffy, soft enlargement which occurs at the upper and back part of the hock, beneath the great tendons. Generally both sides are enlarged and puffy, but occasionally it happens that one side only is involved. Thoroughpin is also a forerunner of Bog Spavin, as they generally are connected; as you are aware the hock contains joint oil as all other joints do, retained in place by a thin, white fibrous membrane. Irritation of the hock joint tends to develop an extra large quantity of joint oil, and the hock is less protected by tendons where a Thoroughpin or Bog Spavin occurs—hence those puffy swellings are filled with joint oil and are connected. If you press on one side of a Thoroughpin, you will see the other side bulge out. If you press on a Bog Spavin and there is a Thoroughpin present, you will see it bulge on either side of the Thoroughpin—or vice versa.

TREATMENT.—If on an old horse and the Thoroughpin is of long standing, treatment is unsatisfactory, but on the other hand, if the animal is young it can be successfully treated with Tincture of Iodine, one ounce; Gum Camphor, two ounces; Gasolene, one pint. Mix well and rub in with nail or tooth brush twice a week. Keep the animal quiet as possible, as the results will be accomplished much sooner. Never attempt to open or lance a puffy swelling about a joint, as it contains joint oil. The result would be an open joint.

THRUSH.

CAUSE.—The two main causes of Thrush are lack of pressure on the frog and the decomposing effect of filth and fermentation of organic matter which accumulates in the cleft of the frog.

SYMPTOMS.—The animal in some cases is lame; there will be a swelling accompanied by a very fetid discharge; in some cases the frog has practically rotted away; there will be more or less inflammation in the foot. The legs may even swell. Thrush is more frequently found in the hind feet because of the manure and filth with which they must come in contact.

TREATMENT.—Cut away all loose pieces of horn from over the frog and apply a Flaxseed meal poultice and leave it on for twenty-four hours, after which wash well with Soap and warm water. Then apply Calomel to the groove in the frog. Keep the foot clean. Do not allow the animal to stand in filth.

WIND COLIC.

(_Flatulent Colic_)

CAUSE.—This dangerous form of Colic is a distension of the bowels with gas, resulting generally from the decomposition of undigested food in the bowels. It sometimes follows Spasmodic Colic, in which there is first spasms due to the irritations set up by the presence of undigested matter, and subsequently this food decomposes and forms gas. I may conclude that Flatulent or Wind Colic is usually caused by errors in feeding and watering horses. Perhaps the animal has been given large quantities of rank grass, watery roots, which on account of its moist nature is quickly swallowed without being properly masticated.

SYMPTOMS.—The signs resemble those of Spasmodic Colic, except that they are less violent. In most cases there is general accumulation of gas, the abdomen distended to a considerable size before the animal shows signs of uneasiness. In cases where the animal swells on the right side, it is the large intestines filled with gas. In other cases where both sides are equally swollen, the stomach and small intestines contain gas. The horse’s back will have an arched appearance, passing gas from the anus frequently, and the horse will make attempts to vomit. In some cases actual vomiting takes place. This is a bad sign, as rupture of the stomach usually occurs at this stage.

TREATMENT.—Give Aloin, two drams; Ginger, two drams, in gelatin capsule and give with capsule gun. However, this is a physic and should not be given to mares heavily in foal. Also apply to the abdominal cavity liniment consisting of Aqua Ammonia Fort., four ounces; Oil of Turpentine, four ounces; Sweet Oil, four ounces. Mix and rub in well over the abdomen.

To mares heavy with foal, apply the above liniment and give rectal injections of Glycerine and warm water frequently.

The following remedy should be administered to all cases of Colic, including mares heavy with foal: Aromatic Spirits of Ammonia, six ounces; Turpentine, six ounces. Mix well together and place one ounce in gelatin capsule and give with capsule gun every hour. Puncturing the intestines is advisable in some cases to relieve them of gas. This requires a special instrument for the purpose and no one should attempt to perform the operation unless they know the anatomy of the part, as the arteries of the intestines may be penetrated, and produce internal hemorrhage or infection of the intestines, or abscesses may follow.

WIND GALLS.

CAUSE.—By concussions from fast work on hard roads and from sprains from slipping.

SYMPTOMS.—When concussions alone are responsible, the suspensory ligament and the back tendons will at first be in a normal condition, and the swelling will probably be confined to both the inside and outside of the leg and may be felt in the form of a puffy swelling on each side of the fetlock by placing the fore finger and the thumb on the joint. In more serious cases resulting from sprains, the vacant space between the back tendons and the suspensory ligament may also become filled with fluids. In other words, a Wind Gall has formed. In some cases the animal may be lame.

TREATMENT.—When there is heat present apply cold, wet packs until the heat disappears. Then apply Tincture of Iodine, one ounce; Gum Camphor, two ounces; to one pint of Gasolene. Apply every three days with nail or tooth brush. Shake contents of the bottle well each time before applying.

I may add that this is a very difficult blemish to treat and is not always successful, so do not be discouraged if the enlargements do not disappear, but the above prescription has proven the most successful of any treatment I have personally used in my private practice.

WOUNDS.

Wounds caused by external injuries have a general resemblance, and whether clean-cut, punctured, lacerated, poisonous, gunshot, etc., require practically the same treatment.

TREATMENT.—Wash with a Carbolic solution, one tablespoonful to one pint of distilled water.

SEWING OF WOUNDS.—I cannot say that I am in favor of sewing wounds unless they are gaping or wide open.

After the wound is washed, dust with Iodoform, Boracic Acid and Tannic Acid, each one ounce. Powder finely and place in a sifter top can and apply twice daily. Cord or heavy thread may be used for sewing the wound after being saturated in a Carbolic Acid solution, using a large needle. If the animal is vicious, place a twitch on his nose or it may be necessary to throw him.

INDEX

Abortion, 10

Abscess, 10

Acute Cough, 29

Anemia, 11

Aphthae, 13

Ascaris Megalcephala, 71

Atrophy, 83

Azoturia, 13

Barrenness, 15

Bleeding, 16

Blood Poisoning, 16

Bog Spavin, 17

Bone Spavin, 18

Bots, 19

Brain Inflammation, 77

Bronchitis, 20

Capped Hock, 22

Capped Knee, 22

Caries Teeth, 35

Castration, 23

Catarrh, Chronic, 57

Catarrh, Epizootic, 49

Catarrh, Nasal, 29

Cerebral Meningitis, 77

Choking, 25

Chronic Catarrh, 57

Chronic Cough, 29

Clinical Thermometer, 5

Coffin Joint Lameness, 26

Cold, 29

Colic, Flatulent, 85

Colic, Spasmodic, 75

Colic, Wind, 85

Colt Constipation, 30

Colt Diarrhoea, 31

Conjunctivitis, 42

Constipation, 27

Constipation, Colt, 30

Corns, 27

Cough, Acute, 29

Cough, Chronic, 29

Cracked Heels, 32

Curb, 37

Dentistry, 32

Diarrhoea, 38

Diarrhoea in Colt, 31

Diseases of the Eye, 42

Dislocation of the Patella, 79

Distemper, 39

Dropsy, Belly, 40

Dropsy, Chest, 40

Dropsy, Legs, 40

Dropsy, Sheath, 40

Dropsy, Udder, 40

Eczema, 41

Emphysema of the Lungs, 48

Epizootic Catarrh, 49

Eye Diseases, 42

Failure to Breed, 15

Farcy, 47

Fever, Petechial, 67

Filariae, 44

Fistula of the Foot, 68

Fistulous Withers, 43

Forage Poisoning, 77

Founder, 44

Flatulent Colic, 85

Galls, 46

Gastrophilis, 19

Glanders, 47

Grease Heels, 46

Haemopis, 50

Heaves, 48

Heels, Cracked, 32

Hemorrhage, 16

Hernia, Inguinal, 72

Hernia, Umbilical, 61

Hock, Capped, 22

How to Examine Teeth, 33

Infection of the Navel String, 58

Inguinal Hernia, 72

Inflammation of the Brain, 77

Inflammation of the Eye, 42

Influenza, 49

Irregular Teeth, 33

Knee, Capped, 22

Laminitis, 44

Lampas, 50

Laryngitis, 81

Leeches, 50

Lockjaw, 51

Lung Fever, 53

Lymphangitis, 55

Mange, 54

Maw Worm, 65

Meningitis, 77

Mud Fever, 56

Nasal Catarrh, 29

Nasal Gleet, 57

Navicular Disease, 26

Navel Rupture, 61

Navel String Infection, 58

Nettle-rash, 82

Normal Pulse Throbs, 9

Normal Temperature, 6

Open Joint, 62

Oxyuris Curvilis, 65

Palesade Worm, 63

Patella Dislocation, 79

Petechial Fever, 67

Pharyngitis, 81

Pin Worm, 65

Pink-eye, 49

Pleurisy, 64

Pneumonia, 53

Poisoning, Forage, 77

Poll Evil, 66

Pulse, 7

Purpura Haemorrhagica, 67

Pyemia, 16

Quittor, 68

Red Worm, 69

Rheumatism, 70

Ring Bone, 71

Round Worm, 71

Rupture, Scrotal, 72

Scabies, 54

Scrotal Rupture, 72

Septicaemia, 16

Shoe Boil, 73

Side Bones, 76

Spasmodic Colic, 75

Spavin, Bog, 17

Spavin, Bone, 18

Splints, 73

Sore Throat, 81

Staggers, 77

Stifle Joint Lameness, 79

String-halt, 80

Strongulus Armatus, 63

Strongylus Tetracanthus, 69

Supernumerary Teeth, 36

Surfeit, 82

Sweeney, 83

Taenia, 84

Tapeworm, 84

Teeth, Irregular, 33

Teeth, Supernumerary, 36

Teeth, Ulcerated, 35

Teeth, Wolf, 36

Temperature During Health, 6

Tetanus, 51

Thermometer, Clinical, 5

Thoroughpin, 84

Thread Worm, 44

Thrush, 85

Ulcerated Teeth, 35

Umbilical Hernia, 61

Umbilical Pyemia, 58

Urtecaria, 82

Use of the Clinical Thermometer, 5

Wind Colic, 85

Wind Galls, 87

Wolf Teeth, 36

Worm, Maw, 65

Worm, Palesade, 63

Worm, Pin, 65

Worm, Red, 69

Worm, Round, 71

Worm, Thread, 44

Wounds, 87

Transcriber’s Note

There were a number of printing errors with this book, where lines were transposed or printed on the wrong page entirely.

Page 9, the line “ones, as for instance, an elephant’s pulse rate is from” was originally printed on page 35 in the middle of a sentence:

“The ani- [ones, as for instance, an elephant’s pulse rate is from] mal falls off in condition in most cases.”

Page 11, some erroneously inserted text has been removed:

“or hot bran, flaxseed or vegetable poultices. [It is com- hot bran, flaxseed or vegetable poultices] It will usually”

The last line of page 52 [possibly be bestowed upon the animal. The after-treat-] was originally printed as the first line of page 53, and the first line of page 53 [ment consists of allowing a liberal quantity of good nu-] appeared in its place. These have been reversed in order.

In the index, the entry for “Worm, Pin” was originally printed under M, and indeed the entries on the various types of “Worm” were all out of alphabetical order, so this has been fixed.

A few other minor typographical errors were also corrected.