STRANGLES. Generally, between the 4th and 5th years, sometimes earlier. sometimes later in life, and more particularly during the vernal and au tumnal seasons, the horse becomes the subject of a diffused swelling about the throat and betwixt the jaw-bones, which in the farriers' cant is denomi nated " strangles." (From some notion, I imagine of endangering suffocation.) True or genuine stran gles are the epithets applied to the tumour, or that part of the swelling which is confined to the inter space between the branches of the jaw: this, how ever, is very commonly accompanied with tumefac tion of the glands or kernels under the cars, and also of the parts about the throat. In the first stage, the swelling is hard, somewhat hotter to the feel than the other parts, and the animal flinches from the pressure upon it; gradually, it grows more ex tended and prominent, hotter and more tender to the touch, until at length one part becomes more prominent than any other, (and this is commonly the central and most dependent part,) at which place the tumour, now become an abscess, in consequence of containing matter, has a soft and fluctuating feel, and is thereby said to point. The suppurating pro cess is commonly confined to the tumour between NT_ the jaws: in some cases, however, we have abscesses forming under the ears, and about the throat also. The specific characters of this malady (which has been on account of them compared to the small-pox in man) consist in its attacking all horses, and about the same period of their lire; and in its not being liable to appear a second time in the same subject. Some writers assert, that it is a contagious
disorder: but we lack proofs of this assertion. It has never seemed to us to be of such a nature.
When the strangles first appear, and the tumour is yet hard, seldom any thing is required to be done; unless we are desirous to repel it, and then we may employ a mild blister, and at the same time bleed and purge the animal. The common opinion, however, is, that this is not so beneficial a practice as that which promotes suppuration; and, therefore, we may either leave it to itself, or foment the swell ing twice or thrice a-day with hot water, and apply warm poultices, composed of bran. As soon as it begins to increase much, and particularly if it is growing hot and tender or soft, we should, in the intervals of the fomentation, envelop the whole throat in a copious linseed meal poultice. The pointing process is to be closely watched, and to be considered the signal for opening the abscess: which is best done with a broad-shouldered lancet. The matter being all pressed out, spirits of turpen tine is to be injected into the cavity once a-day; and afterwards the swelling is to be again fomented and poulticed, as long at least as there continues any discharge: scrupulous attention being paid in the course of cure to keep the hole open.