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
order to be of any lasting benefit.
Recently subcutaneous injections of brain emulsion have been
recommended. It is thought that the tetanus toxin will attach itself to
the brain cells so injected and thus free the system of this poison.
When it is due to a wound, the wound should be thoroughly cleaned and
disinfected with carbolic acid. If from a wound which has healed, an
excision of the cicatrix may be beneficial. In all cases it is not
uncommon to have a partial recovery followed by relapse when the animal
becomes excited from any cause.
RABIES, HYDROPHOBIA, OR MADNESS.
This disease does not arise spontaneously among horses, but is the
result of a bite from a rabid animal--generally a dog or cat. The
development of the disease follows the bite in from three weeks to three
months--very rarely in two weeks. (See also p. 559.)
_Symptoms._--The first manifestation of the development of this disease
may be an increased excitability and viciousness; very slight noises or
the approach of a person incites the animal to kick, strike, or bite at
any near object. Very often the horse will bite his own limbs or sides,
lacerating the flesh and tearing the skin. The eyes appear staring,
bloodshot; the ears are on the alert to catch all sounds; the head is
held erect. In some cases the animal will continually rub and bite the
locality of the wound inflicted by the rabid animal. This symptom may
precede all others. Generally the bowels become constipated and the
animal makes frequent attempts at urination, which is painful, and the
urine very dark colored. The furious symptoms appear in paroxysms; at
other times the animal may eat and drink, although swallowing appears to
become painful toward the latter stage of the disease, and may cause
renewed paroxysms. The muscles of the limbs or back may be subject to
intermittent spasms, or spasmodic tremors; finally, the hind limbs
become paralyzed, breathing very difficult, and convulsions supervene,
followed by death. The pulse and respirations are increased in frequency
from the outset of the attack. Rabies may possibly be mistaken for
tetanus. In the latter disease we find tonic spasms of the muscles of
the jaws, or stiffness of the neck or back very early in the attack, and
evidence of viciousness is absent.
_Treatment._--As soon as the true nature of the disease is ascertained
the animal should be killed.
_Prevention._--When a horse is known to have been bitten by a rabid
animal, immediate cauterization of the wound with a red-hot iron may
possibly destroy the virus before absorption of it takes place.
PLUMBISM, OR LEAD POISONING.
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