characteristics as pride, dignity, intelligence, stupidity, courage, cowardice, etc. Generally stated, an intelligent horse shows considerable width between the eyes, which latter are very prominent. The width between the ears is taken to indicate courage and strength of character; and roundness and elevation between the eyes, as denoting a mildness of disposition. A timid horse is usually narrow between the ears, and a stupid one, narrow between the eyes.
Diseases of the Horse. No other domestic animal is so large a sharer with humanity in the accidents and dangers incident to modern civilized life as the horse. It is practically a co-partner with man in every detail of his life and work, and yet no other animal suffers so much from ignorance, abuse, maltreatment, and quackery. Modern civilization is doing much to alleviate the condition of the less fortunate of his kind, notably the various societies for the prevention of cruelty to animals. (See Cruelty to Animals, Prevention of.) The practice of veterinary surgery has become one of the most exacting and advanced of professions, and diseases long considered incurable are now amenable to treatment. In European countries the horse is an object of governmental solicitude, as much for his value as a factor in warfare as for purely humanitarian reasons; and a careful census record is kept (particularly in Germany) of the number, pedigree, and value of the horses throughout each country. The Government of the United States, through its Department of Agriculture, alone of all the nations of the world has compiled a special Report on the Diseases of the Horse, which is published as a guide and aid in the cultivation of a proper knowledge of the care and treatment of the animal. Below are described some of the more prevalent diseases, which will be found more fully treated in the above-named publication.
The Teeth. Dentition covers the period during which the young horse is cutting his teeth, usually from birth up to the age of five years. As a rule the horse has more difficulty in cutting the second or permanent teeth than he has with his first or milk teeth. With regard to the latter the mouths of young horses should be frequently examined in order that the milk-teeth may not remain too long and this cause the permanent teeth to grow in crookedly. Toothache is rare with the average horse, and then only where a tooth is allowed to decay. Usually it is only observed in the molar teeth, and may be discovered by the evidences of pain given by the horse when feeding or drinking cold water.
Diseases of the Mouth. (1) Lampas (q.v.): A swelling of the mucous membrane of the hard palate, projecting in a more or less noticeable ridse immediately behind the upper incisors. (2) Stomatitis: An inflammation of the mucous membrane of the mouth, generally produced by irritating medicines, foods, or other substances such as often follows in the case of city horses from eating out of ash-barrels. (3) Glossitis: An inflammation of the tongue very similar to stomatitis, both in origin and in symptoms. (4) Ptyalism, or salivation, is an abnormal and excessive secretion of saliva, often caused by irregular teeth, inflammation of the mouth or tongue, or the use of medicines, and occasionally by the eating of second-crop clover. (5) Pharyngitis (q.v.): An inflammation of the mucous membrane lining of the back part of the mouth, or pharynx. (6) Paralysis of the pharynx, or as it is more generally called, paralysis of the throat, is a disease first discovered from the fact that the animal is unable to eat, and the manger is found to contain much saliva and frothy food that has been returned through the nose.
Diseases of the Œsophagus or Gullet. It will be found in the vast majority of instances exhibiting these diseases that the cause is the introduction into the organ of foreign bodies too large to pass, or else that there are present erosions and ulcerations of the throat (followed by constriction or narrowing of the gullet) caused by the administration of caustic medicines not thoroughly diluted. The designations pharyngeal, cervical, and thoracic choke are used to denote where the obstruction is located, the symptoms varying according to the position of the agent responsible for the choke.
Diseases of the Stomach. (1) Stomach staggers (see Staggers), or gorged stomach (Impaction): Distention of the stomach caused by food, in which the stomach loses the power of contracting upon its contents. (2) Tympanites of the stomach: A disease corresponding to that of ‘hoven’ or ‘blown’ in cattle, and frequently due to the overloading of the stomach with young, succulent herbage, which, after its arrival in the stomach, liberates quantities of fermentation gas sufficient to distend the stomach seriously. Over-feeding is a very frequent cause of stomach-bloat, particularly if the overfeeding is followed immediately by hard work. The symptoms are very much the same as for stomach staggers, and the treatment must be at once vigorous and immediate. As a rule, cases of this trouble occur away from the stable. From two to four ounces of common baking-soda should be given as quickly as possible, an additional half-ounce of cayenne pepper being given to aid the stomach to contract and expel the gas. Charcoal may be given in any amount, and any medicine that will check fermentation or absorb the gases will be found useful. Cold water dashed with force over the stomach is frequently an aid. (3) Rupture of the stomach: If convinced that the diagnosis is correct it is better to destroy the animal at once. If, however, there is a possibility of mistake, powdered opium in one-dram doses may be given every two or three hours, thus keeping the stomach as quiet as possible. The case should be kept under the observation of a skilled veterinary. (4) Bots: There are so many opinions extant concerning this disease, many of which are erroneous, that it will repay any owner of stock to make a careful study of it. With regard to the insect itself, see Bot and Gadfly. Of the numerous insect parasites on solipeds, the gad-flies (Œstridæ) are the most important. The species responsible for the above-named disease infest chiefly the stomach and duodenum—a small gut leading from the stomach. Nearly all country horses, as well as those experiencing their first year in the city, have the bots, but the common opinion that bots frequently cause colic pains is erroneous. If in large enough numbers they may sadly interfere with digestion. The animal may not thrive and emaciation may follow, but beyond this they are harmless. It is fortunate that such is the case, for there are no medicines that affect them: neither acids, alkalies, nor anodynes are capable of securing
