The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1917-05-10

PERCHERON STALLION
prepared by the United States Depart
ment o. Agr.ClltlreJ
In the examination Of q sick horse
II j. important 10 have q method or
system. a thorough knowledge Of the
conditions that exist in health Is Of
the highest Importance. because II Is
only by q knowledge Of what Is right
that one can surely detect q wrong
condition. : knowledge Of anatomy.
or OF the structure OF the body. and
Of physiology. or the functions and ac-
tlyities Of the body, lie at the bottom
Of accuracy OF diagnosis. II Is impor-
tant TO remember that animals Of diff
ferent races or families depOrt them
selves differently under the influence
Of the same disease or pathological
process. A degree OF fever that does
not produce marked dullness in a SEN
sitiye and highly organized thorough
bred may cause the most abiect dejec-
ton In a cOarsely bred, heavy draft
horse. This and similar facts are Of
vast importance in the diagnosis OF
disease and In the recognition Of its
significance.
The purpose OF this series largely is
10 help farmers early in the sickness Of
an animal 10 detect serious symptoms
which make the services of a veteri-
marian desirable. Failure to detect
such symptoms often leads to delay In
calling in help until the disease has
made such progress that IL is too late
to save the horse.
II Is important TO know, first Of ALL
something OF the origin and develop
merit of the disease; therefore the
cause should be looked for. The cause
Of disease is important, not only in
connection with diagnosis, but also In
connection with treatment. The char
ncter Of feed that the horse has had,
the use 10 which he has been put and
the kind OF care he has received should
all be closely inquired into. II may
be that the horse has been fed on dam
aged feed, such as brewers grains or
mOldy silagc, and this may explain the
profound depression and weakness
that are characteristic Of forage poi
S0uinC. II the horse has been kept In
the stable without exercise for several
days and upon full rations. and he be-
came suddenly lame I'm his bacl. and
hind legs. and finally fell 10 the ground
from what appeared to be partial par
alysis. these facts. taken In connection
with few evident symptoms, will be
enough to establish a diagnosis Of
azoturia (excess of nitrogen in the
urine). II the horse recently has been
shipped in the cars or has been
through n dealers stable, a feverlsh
condition IS an Indication of possible
Influenza or pneumonia.
1t IS also important 10 know whether
the particular horse under .examina-
tlon Is the only one in the stable, or on
the premises, that Is afflicted In the
same way. II Il Is found that several
horses are afflicted much alike, there
Is eyidenc" Of a common cause of dis
ease whiyn may prove to be Of an in
fectiOus nature.
Another item of Importance Is the
treatment that the horse may have had
before he Is examined. II sometimes
happens that medicine given In excess
sive quantities produces symptoms re-
semhling those Of disease.
Attention should be paid ia the nt-
tItude and general condition of the ami
nal. Sometimes horses assume posi-
tions that are Characteristic OF certain
diseases. For example, in tetanus
Qockjaw) the muscles of the face, neck
and shoulders are stiff and rigid, as
well as the muscles of the jaw. A
horse with tetanus stands with his
muscles tense and his legs In some
what bracing position, as though he
We're gathered TO repel o shock. The
neck is stlff and hard, the head is
slightly extended upon II, and the face
Is drawn, and the nostrils are dilated.
The tail Is usually held up little, and
when pressed down against the thighs
IL springs back 10 its previous posi-
tlon. In inflammation of the throat,
the head Is extended upon the neck
and the angle between the jaw and the
lover border OF the neck Is opened as
fa1 as possible TO relieve the pressure
that otherwise would fall upon the
throat. In dummlness, or immobillty,
the hanging position of the head and
the stupid expression are rather char
acteristic. In pleurisy, peritonitis and
some other painful diseases OF the in
ternal organs, the rigid position OF the
body denotes an effort OF the animal
10 avoid pressure upon and TO protect
the inflamed sensitive region.
The horse may be down in the stall