Gripes have remissions of pain, which distinguish them from inflammation in the bowels, as does the disposition to roll on the back. Costiveness, bad food, drinking while warm, standing in the cold, especially after exercise, all cause this complaint. To cure it, rake well, throw up clysters as warm as can be borne, and in large quantities. If the pain be very acute and obstinate, bleed copiously, and give a lump of opium, about the size of a large hazel-nut. But this must be done before any symptoms of inflammation appear. Foment the bowels with hot water, applied by means of blankets dipt therein. Give this draught as soon as possible : viz. castor oil, one pint ; oil of peppermint, one drachm ; mix them with the yolks of two eggs ; then add half a pint of water. If the bowels have not been well opened, let the following be given. Calomel, half an ounce ; gum-gamboge, one drachm ; Castile soap, half an ounce ; made into a bolus with honey, and given at night ; keeping on warm clothing, and cautious ly avoiding a draught of wind.
Gutta Serena, orglass-eyes, being abso lutely incurable in horses, we shall not treat of it here, but refer to that head for a description of the disease, as it af fects the human eye.
Hepatitis, or inflammation of the liver, is usually induced by a morbid state of the parts secreting the bile, and may be known by a yellowness of the eyes and mouth, attended with considerable fever: in severe cases, the horse is sometimes stiff in the off shoulder. Bleed freely, and blister the sides, applying numerous rowels underneath. Rake, and clyster; then purge well, by giving the following bolus, night and morning, till it operates freely. Calomel, half a drachm ; aloes, one drachm and a half; Castile soap, two drachms ; mix with honey.
Hydrophobia is incurable ; however, if a large piece be taken out as soon as the horse has been bitten, or a fire'-brand be quickly applied so as to burn a deep hole, or that lunar caustic be used, the animal may be saved ; but such cannot be done in every part. Purge well, and administer mercurial preparations, so as to affect the system forcibly for a few days ; gradually abating for a month, or more ; if rapid symptoms appear, the horse should be instantly destroyed.
Jaundice may exist with or without any obvious inflammation of the liver ; but should, for the sake of safety to the animal, always be considered as connect ed with hepatitis (which see.) If the symptoms be not urgent, the bleeding may be omitted ; but purge well.
Inflammation, in whatever part, is ge nerally the index to blood either by opening a vein, by cupping, or by some other means. But local inflamma tions which seem to be critical, and push forward to suppuration, should rather be encouraged than resolved, unless they settle upon some part endangering the life. When the brain is enflamed, the lancet must be freely used, as must the blistering ointment and purges, together with whatever may tend to lessen the complaint in that part. The eye must, when in a state of irritation, be kept cool, and the habit lowered. Mild solu tions of white vitriol, added to a few drops of extract of saturn, should be ap plied, in the form of poultice, cold, and frequently. When the stomach is in flamed, the horse should lose blood, and be clystered occasionally with soft cool ing liquids. In case of inflamed blad der, diuretics should be avoided ; clysters should be occasionally administered, and mucilaginous, soothing drink be liberally given ; such as decoction of mallows, gum-arabic, linseed-tea, barley-water, &c. with regard to an inflammation of the liver, we refer to hepatitis in this ar ticle. When the kidneys are inflamed, the treatment should be as in diseases of the bladder ; observing, that the animal ought to be kept very low, after ample evacuations, both by bleeding and gentle purges ; and that diuretics are highly pre judicial.
Lampes, is a swelling of the bars in the roof of the mouth, chiefly in young horses. But as, in such, the bars are always large, and appear to be swelled, be cautious in ascertaining that they really are so. When such is the case, by no means burn with a hot iron, as farriers too often do, but rub with alum and honey ; if they do not subside, you may scarify the part very slightly with a sharp instrument, guarded with tow, &c. near its point, so that you cannot, in case of accident, do injury by making too deep a wound.
Lethargy, is often very slow in its ap proach, but sometimes equally rapid ; in the latter instance rather tending towards epilepsy. It is occasioned in either case by two great a determination of blood towards the head. Bleed freely, unless when the debility is great ; open the body by active purges, rake, and clyster, and endeavour to excite perspiration. Give the following : nitre, three drachms ; resin, three drachms ; cream of tartar, three drachms ; all finely powdered, and mixed with honey into a bolus : repeat every morning, until the discharge of urine is abundant.