Aconitum.- If there are feverish symptoms, it will sometimes be necessary to commence the internal treatment by giving a few doses of this remedy, every three hours, for several times. Aconitum will tend to allay the feverish excitement of the system.
Nux Vomica.- If, after overworking, the animal is off its food, this medicine will often restore the appetite to its natural state. One or two doses may be sufficient.
Cantharis.- If, after quick and continued driving, the animal passes bloody urine, a few doses of Cantharis will be an excellent remedy. A dose every three hours, till better.
ACCESSORY MEANS.- REST; a comfortable stable; fresh air; and nutritious and easily digestible food, such as boiled turnips, in small quantities.
Over-exertion, if long-continued, is likely to occasion disturbance of the general organisation; land it, under such circumstance, the animal be exposed to cold or wet, disease of a fatal character will most likely ensue.
Fever
SYMPTOMS.- Chills, shiverings, coldness of the ears and feet; followed by heat of the ears, feet, and skin, with dryness of the latter. The animal drinks a good deal, the breathing is quickened, the appetite diminished, the bowels confined, the urine scanty and high-coloured, and the beating of the pulse is more rapid than in health.
CAUSES. – Unhealthy conditions, generally indicating a reaction on the part of the nature against disease. It may be excited by exposure to cold, sudden transition from cold to heat, or from heat to cold; injuries to any part of the body may likewise occasion fever.
TREATMENT.- Fever is generally an accompaniment of some acute disease, and the selection of the appropriate remedies may be learned by referring to the disease with which it is associated, as described in other parts of this Manual. We may remark, however, that Aconitum is almost invariably required at the commencement, and often during the course of all the varieties of fever and inflammatory affections. It is especially indicated by the dry heat of the skin; strong, rapid thirst; scanty urine, etc. No other known remedy possesses such power in controlling the circulatory system, which it does in the most marked manner, and triumphantly supersedes the debilitating, injurious, and often fatal consequences of bleeding. In acute inflammatory affections, we strongly advise the owners of all domestic animals to spare the file’s blood, and to have recourse to Aconitum, the beneficial effects of which will be found most rapid and astonishing.
BLEEDING, formerly regarded as an essential in almost every variety of disease, both in human beings and the inferior animals, has of late happily fallen into disrepute. The writer has received the testimony of many extensive owners of domestic animals, to whom he has introduce the Homoeopathic treatment, of the astonishing and gratifying success of Aconitum, and other kindred remedies, in diseases of the severest kind. The universal testimony of those who have fairly tried it, is that under Homoeopathic treatment, diseases are shorter in duration; and as soon as cured, the horse returns at once to his accustomed work, or the cow yields immediately her full quantity of milk. Under the cold mode of treatment, if the animal did recover, the bleeding and drenching it had undergone left it so enfeebled as to disqualify it for a long time for its usual service.
Fistula, or Sinus
A Fistula is a narrow pipe-like sore, lined by a false membrane secreting pus, with a narrow, callous opening, having no tendency to heal. It is not uncommon after wounds and abscesses, and is sometimes connected with diseased bones.
TREATMENT.- In many cases of long standing Sulph. has been sufficient to effect a cure, and it should be tried in the first instance. Afterwards, Calcarea C., Pulsatilla or Silicea may be given. Both Sulph. and Silicea are especially useful for Fistula in the eye of a dog. Pulsatilla is the principal internal medicine for Fistula of the salivary glands of horses.
ACCESSORY MEANS.- Injections of strong solutions of the medicines into the sinus are sometimes serviceable. Continuous pressure when applicable should be tried. In many cases a Fistula requires a surgical operation, which consists in slitting up all the ramifications and burrowings of the Fistula under the skin. See Quittor.
Glanders and Farcy.
These diseases are closely allied, and often run into and develop each other; the former affecting one or both nostrils; the latter the inner portion of the hind legs, and various parts of the body.
Glanders is a dangerous and infectious disease; and, although peculiar to horses, if the poison comes in contact with the wounds or abrasions of the skin, malignant and gangrenous sores are produced, both among men and animals. In the disease, a matter is discharged from one and some times both nostrils, of a greyish, sometimes greenish colour, mixed with yellow streaks and spots, and sometimes with a little blood, which adheres to the borders of the nose like glue.
Under the lower jaw, a painless, round, and generally firmly-adhering glandular swelling, of the size of a hen’s egg, is observed; and if the discharge takes place from both nostrils, the swelling is seen on both sides. Ulcers of various sizes and shapes form one the mucous membrane of the nose; but the are sometimes so far removed from the orifices of the nostrils, that they cannot be seen and their existence can only be known by an ichorous (thin, watery) discharge from the nose, which will frequently be found mixed with shreds or mucous patches detached from the sores.
These three conditions – a discharge of ichor from the nose, the swelling of the laryngeal glands, and more particularly the ulceration of the nasal mucous membrane, constitute the most marked sings of glanders. The disease may be considered incurable if the nasal discharge is streaked with blood; if rattling noise is heard during breathing; if the eyes secrete a thick and viscid pus, which makes the lids adherent in the morning; if a purulent cough sets in, hectic fever develops itself, with gradual emaciation, in consequence of which the animal finally dies.
Glanders may be distinguished from NASAL GLEET, if during its incipient stage the appetite of the animal continues good, the animal looks well, is lively, and the hair has a proper gloss; whereas, in nasal greet there is always fever present, with diminished appetite; the animal is dull, and the coat looks unthrifty.
CAUSES.- Deficient or spoiled food; want of cleanliness of the skin; suppression of the cutaneous exhalations in horses that have been long affected with nasal gleet, or any circumstances that has a protracted debilitating influence upon the body. The most common cause is, contact with a disease horse, or by harness, cloths, etc., used for glandered animals.
TREATMENT.- Arsenicum.- In the incipient stage of glanders, and also in the more advanced stage, when the discharge is attended with emaciation, poor appetite, and swelling of the lips and eyelids. A dose thrice daily.
Mercurius.- If the discharge from the nose is abundant, greenish, or bloody, and of a bad smell, and the glands under the jaws are swollen and painful.
Sulphur.- This remedy will be required after the more prominent symptoms of the disease have yielded to the above medicines; it may also be occasionally alternated with the other remedies especially if the disease is obstinate and tedious.
ADDITIONAL AND PRECAUTIONARY MEANS. – It is of great service to wash the sick horse all over daily, in summer with cold, and in winter with tepid water; and afterwards to cover it with horse- cloths. The stable should be well ventilated and kept clean, and litter renewed as often as necessary; and the horse exercised daily in the open air. The diseased animal must be separated from sound ones and one person have the entire charge of it. The utensils, harness, etc., used for diseased animals, should never he used for any others. The horse-rug must afterwards be burnt, and the saddle have new lining. When journeying, it is advisable, before putting feed into a manager, to cleanse it, lest a horse affected with glanders might have just eaten out of it; also to use a clean pail for the horse’s drink, and fresh litter. If any mucus appears adhering to the manager, do not allow the horse to eat out of it. The contagious matter is more easily communicated by wet than by dry food.
Glanders are often mistaken for a running from the nose, called OZAENA, and animals have been destroyed in consequence. Mr.Haycock, advising the destruction of glandered animals, remarks “Having satisfactorily determined the disease to to ‘Glanders,’ the best course to pursue is to destroy the animal affected forthwith. The liability of the malady to spread to other horses, and the great danger of it being communicated to human beings, renders the destruction of the patient imperative.” Inflammation of the Bladder.
This disease is more frequent in horses than oxen, and requires prompt attention.
LICENTIATE OF THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS; MEMBER OF THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS; LICENTIATE IN MIDWIFERY, LONDON AND EDINBURGH, ETC. PHYSICIAN TO THE READING AND BERKSHIRE HOMOEOPATHIC DISPENSARY.
Author of "The Stepping Stone to Homeopathy and Health,"
"Manual of Homoeopathic Treatment". Editor of "The Homoeopathic World."