Special Report on Diseases of the HorseUnited States. Bureau of Animal Industry
Science
Special Report on Diseases of the Horse
United States. Bureau of Animal Industry
Horses -- Diseases
This differs from simple dropsy of the womb in that the fluid collects
in the inner of the two water bags (that in which the foal floats) and
not in the otherwise void cavity of the womb. This affection can occur
only in the pregnant animal, while dropsy of the womb occurs in the
unimpregnated. The blood of the pregnant mare contains an excess of
water and a smaller proportion of albumen and red globules, and when
this condition is still further aggravated by poor feeding and other
unhygienic conditions there is developed the tendency to liquid
transudation from the vessels and dropsy. As the watery condition of the
blood increases with advancing pregnancy, so dropsy of the amnion is a
disease of the last four or five months of gestation. The abdomen is
large and pendulous, and the swelling fluctuates under pressure, though
the solid body of the fetus can still be felt to strike against the hand
pressed into the swelling. If the hand is introduced into the vagina,
the womb is found to be tense and round, with the projecting rounded
neck effaced, while the hand in the rectum will detect the rounded,
swollen mass of the womb so firm and tense that the body of the fetus
can not be felt within it. The mare moves weakly and unsteadily on her
limbs, having difficulty in supporting the great weight, and in bad
cases there may be loss of appetite, stocking (dropsy) of the hind
limbs, difficult breathing, and colicky pains. The tension may lead to
abortion, or a slow, laborious parturition may occur at the usual time.
_Treatment_ consists in relieving the tension and accumulation by
puncturing the fetal membrane with a cannula and trocar introduced
through the neck of the womb and the withdrawal of the trocar so as to
leave the cannula in situ, or the membranes may be punctured with the
finger and the excess of liquid allowed to escape. This may bring on
abortion, or the womb may close and gestation continue to the full term.
A course of tonics (gentian root 2 drams, sulphate of iron 2 drams,
daily) will do much to fortify the system and counteract further
excessive effusion.
DROPSY OF THE LIMBS, PERINEUM, AND ABDOMEN.
The disposition to dropsy often shows itself in the hind and even in the
fore limbs, around and beneath the vulva (perineum), and beneath the
abdomen and chest. The affected parts are swollen and pit on pressure,
but are not especially tender, and subside more or less perfectly under
exercise, hand rubbing, and bandages. In obstinate cases rubbing with
the following liniment may be resorted to: Compound tincture of iodin,
2 ounces; tannic acid, one-half dram; water, 10 ounces. It does not last
more than a day or two after parturition.
CRAMPS OF THE HIND LIMBS.
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