Notes on Diseases of the Horse: Cause, Symptoms and TreatmentKorinek, Charles James
Science
Notes on Diseases of the Horse: Cause, Symptoms and Treatment
Korinek, Charles James
Horses -- Diseases
SYMPTOMS.—A splint is detected by grasping the horse’s leg with the
fingers upon one side and the thumb upon the other, and tracing the
inner and outer splint bones from their heads downward to their
tapering extremities. Any actual enlargement will at once arrest the
hand; any rising or irregularity will create suspicion and lead to close
examination. Horses, especially young ones which have lately been put
to work, not infrequently develop splints before any swelling appears.
For this reason, in examining a case of obscure lameness, particularly
if the animal is young, do not fail to look for the sign of splint
lameness, namely; that the lameness is abnormally greater at a trot than
at a walk and that the animal usually fails to bend the knees freely and
grows worse with exercise. The last mentioned condition is also present
with corns, but an examination of the foot will determine the question
of their existence. In young horses splints are sometimes mistaken for
coffin-joint lameness or navicular disease. To avoid this error, it
should be remembered that, when brought on by navicular disease, the
action of the limb improves with exercise; also that horses of five years
of age or less very rarely suffer from coffin-joint disease. Some horses,
owing to unusual development of the inner splint bones of the fore legs
may appear to have splints, although careful examination may prove both
limbs to be free from any bony deposit. When deciding such a point,
note if the two inner splint bones are of the same size. Any swelling
perceptible in a limb recently affected with splint-lameness is usually
attended by heat and pain.
TREATMENT.—If there is heat present, foment with hot or cold water; when
heat has subsided, apply the following ointment: Red Iodide of Mercury,
two drams; Turpentine, twenty drops; Lard two ounces, and mix. Apply
every forty-eight hours until three applications have been applied. Rub
in for twenty minutes each time.
During this treatment use the horse for slow work on soft roads, etc. As
a rule the splints will not disappear at once, but gradually. I may add
that common splints are not considered an unsoundness.
SPASMODIC COLIC.
CAUSE.—Horses seem to be predisposed to this form of colic on account
of the great length of their intestines which are apt to be telescoped,
twisted or their circular muscular fibers spasmodically contracted.
Perhaps the principal cause is a change of food, sudden change of
temperature, constipation, drinking cold or too large a quantity of
water, especially if the animal is warm; overloading the stomach with
frozen or mouldy food. Worms frequently produce colic.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account