The management and treatment of the horse in the stable, field, and ...

224 The Management and Treatment of the Horse,
DIABETES.
This fortunately is not of such common occurrence
with the horse as the human subject. It consists of an
excessive discharge of urine, and is often the result of
greed on the owner's part, many farmers selling all their
good hay and oats, keeping only the inferior for home
consumption, and in consequence have their horses taken
with this complaint. The fungus of mouldy hay and
fusty oats will produce irritation of the kidneys, and to
mend the matter they often administer powerful diuretics,
which cause inflammation with an inci eased action of the
kidneys. The veterinary surgeon is then called in to cure
that which ought not to exist, and indeed would not had
they really studied economy and their own pockets, and
kept good food for their horses. This complaint is very diffi-
cult to cure, and the remedies must be with a view of
lessening the undue action. Bleeding is sometimes resorted
to, but this should not be carried on to the extent that it is
sometimes in inflammation. I have more faith in strin-
gent medicine, and counter-irritation ; strong mustard
blisters across the loins with the following astringent
given three times a day will have good effect :— YVortle-
berry leaf two drachms, catechu two drams, opium half a
drachm. If it can be got green food and carrots should
be given as well as bran mashes.
STALING OF BLOOD.
This is another disease of the kidneys, and nearly
allied to inflammation in its symptoms, and always
manifests itself with nighly-eolonrcd urine mixed with
Mood. Mostly the bowels are costive, and the following