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
_Treatment._--Since the pain is due to spasm or cramp of the bowels,
medicines that overcome spasms--antispasmodics--are the ones indicated.
Chloral hydrate may be used. This is to be given in a dose of 1 ounce in
a pint of water as a drench. As this drug is irritant to the throat and
stomach, it has to be well diluted. A common and good remedy is
sulphuric ether and laudanum, of each 2 ounces, in a half pint of
linseed oil. Another drench may be composed of 2 ounces each of
sulphuric ether and alcohol in 8 ounces of water. If nothing else is at
hand give whisky, one-half pint in hot water. Jamaica ginger is useful.
If relief is not obtained in one hour from any of the above doses, they
may then be repeated. The body should be warmly clothed and perspiration
induced. Blankets dipped in very hot water to which a small quantity of
turpentine has been added should be placed around the belly and covered
with dry blankets or the abdomen may be rubbed with stimulating
liniments or mustard water. The difficulty, however, of applying hot
blankets and keeping them in place forces us in most instances to
dispense with them. If the cramp is due to irritants in the bowels, a
cure is not complete until a cathartic of 1 ounce of aloes or 1 pint of
linseed oil is given. Injections of warm, soapy water or salt and water
into the rectum aid the cure.
Rectal injections, clysters, or enemas as a rule should be lukewarm, and
from 3 to 6 quarts are to be given at a time. They may be repeated every
half hour if necessary. Great care is to be taken not to injure the
rectum in giving such injections. A large syringe or a piece of rubber
hose 4 or 5 feet long, with a funnel attached at one end, affords the
best means by which to give them. The pipe of the syringe or the hose
introduced into the rectum must be blunt, rounded, and smooth; it is to
be thoroughly oiled and then carefully pushed through the anus in a
slightly upward direction. Much force must be avoided, for the rectum
may be lacerated and serious complications or even death result.
Exercise will aid the action of the bowels in this and similar colicky
troubles, but severe galloping or trotting is to be avoided. If the
horse can have a loose box or paddock, it is the best, as he will then
take what exercise he wants. If the patient is extremely violent, it is
often wise to restrain him by leading him with a halter, since rupture
of the stomach or displacement of the bowels may result and complicate
the trouble.
INDIGESTION OR GASTROINTESTINAL CATARRH.
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