The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1880-11-17


ask for the refuse brine of the meat and fish
barrels-which, in most cases. the merchants
will be glad to give away-and put il in his
compost heap. III his grassla top-dressed
with this sailed compost, does not show a
more luxuriant growth and a deeper green
than that dressed with the same compost
unsalted, he may conclude that his soil is
not salt hungry.
The Prevailing Horse Disease.
The epizootic influenza, which made its
appearance among the horses few weeks
ago, in mild catarrhal form, and which,
with the prevalence of uniform dry weather,
would run its course within ten days TO a
fortnight from the beginning of the attack,
threatens to assume serious complications
with the present advent of wet and chilly
weather 1t. therefore behooves US TO be
on our guard, and adopt such measures as
will insure against possible serious
complications which this disease,
under unfavorable circumstances, is liable
to assume. among the precautionary
measures may be mentioned a thorough
cleansing and disinfection of the stable, and
the establishment of proper ventilation
by which We do not mean the admission of
currents of cold air or draft through open
doors or windows Immediately in front of
the horses. The food should be of the best
qualities; and preferably one meal a day
say the even ration-should consist of
ground, steamed, or scalded food, with an
admixture of bran and a hsndful of ground
fiaxseed. AS the disease, even in its mild
form, is of very facilitating nature, it
will be well to use some vegetable tonic, such
as erouud white willow bark, of which a
handful may be given, morning and even
ing, mixed among the food. With a view
of relieving the congested state of the upper
air passages, il will be well to steam the
head once or twice day, from the begin
ming of the disease, by means of scalded
bran and hayseed, placed in deep bag
hung over the animals head. If the ami
NAL can be spared from work. so much the
better; but moderate, light work. at a slow
pace, will not materially interfere with the
favorable progress toward cOnvalescence
when the weather permits When not in
notion he should be blanketed; and if
there's any soreness of the throatand cough
ing, il will be we'll, in addition, 70 cover the
head and neck with hood. If the appetite is
much diminished or the horse evinces
difficulty in swallowing sufficient food to
enable him to perform his work, or if he
misses one or two meals, he should remain
indoors, as under these conditions there is
danger of serious complications and a fatal
issue. To relieve the irritation of the throat
some stimulating liniments should be
applied twice day. such as mixture of
one part of aqua ammonia and three parts
Oh COIlIlOH OllNt Oll. 1uC uhOSt OOlilillOi
complications of the disease are bronchitis
and pneumonia, or Inflammation of the
lungs and especially of the serous men,
brane lining the lungs and the inner surface
of the chest, technically termed pleurisy.
The advent of either of these complications
may be known by the general signs of a
febrile condition-a staring coat, shivering
of the body, general dizziness and drowsi-
ness, loss of appetite. succeeded by increased
heat of the body, increased pulsation and
respiration, costiveness, scanty urine. thirst,
etc.
No time should then be lost in admins
tering appropriate sedative and diuretic
remedies, such as four ounces of solution of
acetate of ammonia, an ounce of sweet
spirits of nitre, and half an ounce of fluid
extract of belladOnna, which should be
carefully administered in half pint of lin
seed tea, and repeated every three hours
until the symptoms subside. At the same
time, strong embrocations should be applied
along the throat and to the sides of the
cnest, such as a liniment made of equal
parts of aqua ammonia and common olive
oil, or soft mustard paste SetOns, rowels,
and blisters should never be employed
in this disease. The nose and eyes should
be sponged a few times daily with warm
water. The animal should have all the lin
seed tea or hay-seed tea it will drink. and
when the appetite returns, the food should
consist of boiled or steamed barley and oats,
with a mixture of bran and boiled flaxseed
sliced carrots, apples, cabbages, etc, and
clean, sweet, aromatic upland hay, in prefer
ence to timothy hay. With a view of sup
porting the strength of the animal, some
vegetable and mineral tonics should be
given such as powder composed OF one
drachm of carbonate of iron and half an
ounce each of powdered gentian and ele-
campane, which may be mixed among each
ration of food During the progress of the
disease, the bowels are more or less costive;
but instead of laxative or purgatiye medi-
cineS, which are dangerous in this disease,
loosening diet, such as recommended, and
occasional injections, per rectum, of luke
warm soapsuds, are all sufficient to keep the
bowels in moving order.
Besides the admission into the stable of
fresh air without draft, il will be well to
use, once or twice a day, some disinfect-
ant, such as a solution of chloride of lime in
cold water-say one or two ounces to a quart
of water-which should be sprinkled in the
stalls and behind the horses, after the ma
nure and bedding have been removed. The
common practice of splashing cold water on
the limbs and lower parts. of the body, by
means of the hose, for the purpose of clean
ing those parts, when the horse returns
condemned 1t is common prac-
tice In some places, during the pre-
valence of influenza, to close up every crew
ice in the stable, and subject the horse to
the fumes of heated tar or the smoke of
burning old leather. Not only is nothing
gained by such practice, but aside from
the torture of the animal, the irritation of
| the very sensitive and intlamed surfaces of
the air passages of the horse is apt to be-
come seriously increased. OF course, the
directions here given have reference only TO
ordinary cases. If by the means recon-
mended no benefit is derived. but on the
contrary, the disease assumes serious as
pect, by the advent of complications which
are peculiar TO it, no time should be LOST in
summoning skilled professional assistance.