Symptoms of Disease in Horses.

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 226, 29 October 1887, Page 2

Symptoms of Disease in Horses.

In beginning a series of articles in the Sydney Mail on veterinary practice, Mr William Scott, M.8.C.V.5., London, makes the following useful observations, explanatory of the general symptoms of disoaso in horses :—: — In order to preserve the health of the horse some leading points require special attention. We must never forgotihafc he lives in an artificial state. Drawn from his natural wilds, where he has been free to roam, never confined to space ; sensitive ; nice in his habits and taste ; naturally framed for a mild, genial climate ; it becomes as far as possible necessary to avoid any violation of this natural condition. Good and suitable food ; pure, soft water ; regular hours for feeding ; a clean, well-ventilated stable ; kindness, and good grooming are most essential to his health and comiort. When the horse falls sick, our first duty is to ascertain the nature of the di«ear-e, and, if necessary, place him in a nice loose box, where we can watch the s>mptom«. As animals cannot describe their ailments, the study of the various symptoms and pigne of disease is of great importance. Such symptoms are not only signal*, of distress and discomfort, but often suggest the-starting-point or locality of »n ailment, and also servo as finger-posts pointing to the nature of the disease. It U assumed that the owner of an animal is at least familiar with its distinctive peculiarities •and habits. General appearance and deportment of diseased animals. —We here point out the most important evidences of dheabc : If an animal is nob alert, does not quickly notice any sound, call or movement of the person in charge, or show by his ears e\ oh, and general motions that he is on ihequi vi're, but stands heedless, or only notices in an indifferent manner ; if he hangH down his head, yawns often, and seems dull, he is either unwell, old, very tired, unusually sleepy, or has been ill-used. If his " coat " or hair, instead of being smooth, lustrous, and lying close to the skin as in a healthy horse, " stares," and looks dull and rough ; if he shivers, if his skin is rough and pimply or cold and damp, or hot, dry, and harsh, or adheres firmly to his flesh and bones (hidebound); if his feet, ears, and «o?e are i cold, or he is continually looking round at his sides, shifts uneasily from one foot to another, or otherwise changes his postuie frequently, or keps up a fidgety movement of his tail (not caused by fliers); or if he scrape his bedding aside in a heap, or is very reluctant to rise when lying down, then he is unwell, and probably suffering pain. $. horse is also poorly if the temperature of the body is changed, being either colder or warmer than when the animal is in a state of health. The eye is one of the most important agents we have in diagnosing disease. It may be dry and inflamed, or dull and wateiy ; in some cases, as in pleurisy, it has a peculiar, wild, anxious appearance. The appetite is in most cases defective, or totally lost, or it. may be morbidly increased, as in somo cases of indigestion. Thirst is not so much interfered w*th as the appetite. In fact a sick horse will seldom eat or drink, and it is noticed by the man who has been out with him -that he will not feed —in hor&y parlance is " off his corn." The excretions : The urine becomes scanty and highly ! coloured, or white and turbid, and the dung U soft and -slimy, or hard and black, or day-coloured. In chronic cases we find the various -structures more or less wasted. General stiffness is often a sign of approaching disease. , Tho above symptoms may be common to j any disease, and can readily be distinguished by a novice. But for practical use we must learn not only to notice symptoms but signs, —e.tf., a sign points directly to some special disease, whilst a symptom may be common to many. As an examplo of this let us look at the two diseases, colic Jind enteritis. In both these diseases we find general uneasiness, pawing of the ground, looking back at the (lank, etc. ; but as signs to distinguish one from the other we have tho following :—: —

In Coiiic. In Enteritis The pain comes on The animal soema \msuddeulT. well for a day or two, jthen tho violent pains come on. eh Tho pains at-e inter- The pain is continual, mittent, coming on for a timo and then a period of ease. The mucous mem- Jho mucous membranes and pulse arejuranea and pulse are only atfected during the continuously allbetod. the spasm. ' -, . Relief on pressure on Pain on pressure on tho abdomen. the abdomen. Extromitics warm. Extromitios cold. Tho above will clearly explain the difference between a symptom and assign.

Wifch the object of learning tho practice in other places, Mr Sydney James recently communicated with the National Agricultural Society of Victoria, asking for their view pn the vexed question, " Who is the breeder of an animal ?" The reply enclosed a book of lules, one clause of which says, # " Tho owner of the dam at the time an animal is born is held to be the broeder." This rtile, it was stated, was based on tho practico of the English Society.