Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1900-04-12
AZnturll.

There is probably no disease so little
understood by farmers as that which
is technically known as azoturia. IN
der that name we mean the disease of
the horse which comes on Invariably
after an idle spell of several days or
even only one day in the barn and
when in the aggravated form causes
paralysis and death. The horse that
has been so managed goes out to work
or trip on the road and never felt
better in his life, but suddenly after
he has gone few miles or even blocks
he commences to lag and IL driven far
ther. begins to sweat. and soon goes
lame. usually in hind leg, and I'M
less stopped at once when this stage
has been reached he will inevitably go
down paralized. The lameness is al
ways characterized by one or other of
the following symptoms: knuckling OF
the hind fetlOck joints, or great rigid
ity Of the muscles of the hip from
stife to hip bone" There is also evil
dence OF indigestion for the horse
passes wind frequently from the rec
tum and also manure which usually
has an offensive odor.
As a rule the urine is retained as
the horse Is afraid TO squat even when
yet able to stand, and the urine when
seen is always of the color of strong
coffee or even blood colored from the
coloring matter of the blood having
been forced into the bladder by way
OF the highly congested kidneys. When
this most characteristic symptom is
observed there can be no question as
to the nature of the disease or that 1t
Is not spinal meningitis" as it is so
often enormously called. .
The cause of the disease Is supposed
to be an overlooking of the system
with heterogeneous matters which, were
the horse working, would be used up
In the formation of sweat. vim, and
repair of waste of tissue. but during
idleness is unused and so stored up in
the blood and overloaded liver and
kidneys. When the horse goes out to
work after an idle spell the blood cir
culation Is at once increased and the
effete matters which it contains are
pumped into the circulatory system and
by the small veins carried into the
muscles where they act as poisons ana
clog and paralyze the parts.
The moment that the first symptoms
OF the disease are observed the horse
should go no farther than the nearest
barn and should there remain until
he has entirely recovered which will
be in about three days if the attack Is
not severe. On reaching the barn the
harness should be removed and the
first thing to do II a drug store is
nearby is to give a physic ball. con-
tanning one ounce OF freshly pulyer-
lied Barbados aloes, one drachm OF
huid extract of Belladonna leaves and
two drachms OF pulverized ginger root,
at one dose, in the usual way. The
affected muscles should be we'll foment-
ed with hot water and then rubbed
with liniment composed OF soap lin
ment four ounces, aqua ammonia one
ounce, turpentine two ounces and wa
ter to make one pint. injections OF
soapy warm water may also be given
per rectum by means OF large syringe
or three foot length of one-half inch
rubber hose fitted with a funnel. Every
four hours one drachm of iodide OF
potash may be given dissolved in
half pint of water and given as q
drench or in drinking water. until four
doses have been given.
To prevent recurrence of the
trouble the horse should be fed upon
bran mashes when idle for oats are
the most likely to cause the disease
and should therefore be avoided. In
addition always give exercise daily in
all kinds Of weather.