Prof. E. J. Donecken's ... system and illustrated treatise on the most obvious and complicated diseases and injuries incidental to the equine family ... with directions for ... treatment

Preface

In presenting the information which this work contains, I have endeavored to be as brief and practical as possible. It is intended for the use of the intelligent horse owner, and will act as a guide in the hour of need. In the compilation of this book I have examined a number of works written by English and American authors, which assisted me in selecting the best and safest agents.

The reader will find this work to contain valuable and scientific information. The medicines selected are among the latest and best. This will enable the owner of the animal, when sick or blemished, to give him a scientific and rational course of treatment. And in order to have the full benefit of the valuable information this work contains, and to learn the use of the surgical instruments which are necessary to bring in use in a number of cases to perfect a cure, it would be necessary for the student to attend my School of Instruction, to learn the use of the knife, and to make use of the medicine as it should be done. Always recollect that the care and diet of the patient is nearly half of the cure, and some of the instructions cannot be given in writing; they must be given personally by the instructor.

Dr. E. J. Donecken, V. P. S.

Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1SS6, by E.J.Don ecken, in the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington.

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PROF. E. J. DONEDKEN, V. P. S.

SYSTEM ON THE CARE AND TREATMENT DISEASES AND INJCJUIES INCIDENTAL TO HORSES AND CATTLE.

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In order to have well formed and developed colts, great care should be taken in breeding. The horse and mares should be in a healthy condition, free from pain and diseases. If the stable horse is crowded, this naturally affects the offspring, and has a tendency to weakness and diseases and more subject to external injuries, such as ring bone, bone spavin, enlarged hock joints, and diseases of the eye, kidneys and affectation of the shoulders and tender feet. The colt should be kept in a thriving condition. Too much grain is an injury during the time the colt is growing into a horse. He should be treated with kindness and care. During the winter, all animals should have shelter

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SYSTEM AND TREATISE.

at night. If the colt is treated gently, the owner will not have much trouble in breaking it to harness when old enough to work. A horse is not a horse till he is five years old, and should not work much before that time. There are more horses injured under five years than afterward. The horse is less subject to diseases and injuries after he is five years old. The muscles, tendons, ligaments, and the internal organs have matured. To preserve the health in horses, they should be fed at regular stated times.

The stable should be kept perfectly clean, with bedding under the horse so that he can rest and sleep with comfort: he should be kept clean. A currycomb and brush well applied has a great deal to do with the health of the animal. Change of diet is often necessary, such as carrots, beets, potatoes, and pumpkins. Too much corn is a positive injury, especially when the animal is young-

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It has a tendency to produce blindness more in young than in older horses. Exercise is important to all horses, young and old. When the animal is attacked with any form of disease, he should be put in a place by himself. The action ot the horse in diseases is given in this work. It is not safe to give. medicine in any internal disease before the pulse is carefully examined. By it we can determine whether disease is present or not, what medicines are needed, how long it must be continued, and when it must be changed.

Pulse.

It is a matter of importance, before medicine is administered, to ascertain an accurate knowledge of the pulse, with its different grades. Without this knowledge it is impossible to treat the horse on general principles. It is a useful assistant to the veterinary practitioner. The number of pulsations in any artery will give the number of the beating of the heart, and so express the irritation of that organ and the frame generally. If the horse is in a healthy condition the heart beats from thirty-ffve to thirty-eight times per minute. In the thoroughbred horse the pulsation numbers from forty-two to forty-six in a minute. The pulsations are more frequent in young horses or colts than in older ones. The grading of the pulse must

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SYSTEM AND TREATISE.

be considered to make correct diagnosis; for illustration, there is a quick pulse, the strong, the sharp, the intermittant, the low, the sluggish, the strong and wiry, and the quick, light and threatish pulse, which are explained under the heading of the symptoms and diseases in this work. The medicine prescribed is intended for grown horses. The dose for a colt is half the quantity.

The pulse of the cow is examined at the same place as in horses. When in health the heart beats per minute from thirty-one to thirty-six, and the indications of the high and low, and the different grading of the pulse, in order to give medicine according to diseases indicated, are the same in cattle as in horses.

The most convenient place to examine the pulse is at the inferior maxillary, a little behihd the spot where the sub-maxillary artery and vein and the parotid duct comes from under the jaw. To dedermine the nature and character of the pulse, this can be more fully ascertained by pressing the pulse vein against the lower jaw;, when the pulse reaches seventy, some degree of fever may be apprehened, and proper precaution should be taken. Eighty or ninety may be considered to be in an unsafe condition. But few horses will survive when the pulse exceeds one hundred. The energies of nature are speedily worn out. When it becomes necessary to examine the pulse, it should be done in a quiet manner. By excitement the pulsation will

* be increased. A quick pulse indicates irritation and fever. A slow pulse will indicate diseases of opposite character; it accompanies sluggishness, such as colic, dropsy, and nearly all dropsical affectations, and every disease connected with the deficiency of the nervous system.

If it becomes necessary to bleed the horse, never bleed by a certain measurement, but by having the finger on the pulse vein, and thereby determine the quantity necessary to be taken.

Fever.

By observation there can be noticed four stages of fever — weakness, loss of appetite, low spirits, shivering fits, chills, rhstlessness; short and quick movements can be noticed, nostrils generally distended; legs and ears cold — sometimes one is hot while the other is cold; the coldness is often succeeded by great heat and thirst; costiveness, urine scanty, and often highly colored; mouth hot and dry. When the horse is laboring under an attack of fever, the skin becomes more moist, the bowels and kidneys act more natural, the pulse becomes fuller, the pulsation is not lessened, and more moisture in the mouth can be noticed. When there is disease of the lungs, liver, or other organs of the body, or should the animal meet with any

* accident of any severity, then it is term ed Symptomatic Fever.

In any fever or inflammation, when the pulsations are above fifty, Tine, of Aconite Root, 16 drops, can be administered every two to six hours apart, to be continued not over three to four days at a time. After the fever is reduced, or the pulse, then administer the following compound:

Dried Pow. Sulphate of Iron, 4 oz. Pow. Genitian, 4 oz.

Resin Pow., 2 oz.

Linseed Meal, 3 oz.

Give as a dose one tablespoonful night and morning. Also the Iodide of Potassium 1 dr., Golden Seal 1 dr., to be given as a dose night and morning. The following is administered for deficiency of the nervous system:

Huxom Fluid Ex. of Cinchona, j4 dr. Tine, of Nux Vomica, 10 drops.

To be given as a dose night and morning as long as the case requires it.

In case of loss of appetite or indigestion, if this should not be removed the animal will lose flesh and become weak, and will have an unhealthy appearane. This affection is often brought on by irregular feeding, and by giving too much at one time and not enough at another. The following preparation is the best I know of:

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Nitro-muriaticum x\cid, 4 dr.

Tine, of Nux Vomica, 8 dr.

Pepsin, 4 d>.

Ex. of Taraxicum, 4 dr.

Symple Syrup and Aqua Pura, 8 oz. Compound all well, and then give as a dose one ounce after each meal for a week longer. To be given in 2 oz. of water.

Pneumonia.

Diagnosis: — Inflammation of the lungs is sometimes sudden in its attack, but is generally preceded by indications of fever. The animal is attacked in the incipient stage with a chill ; he will hang his head hown, have a stupid appearance, and a lack of brightness in his .eyes ; the respiration is much embarrassed, and often laborious; the pulse is strong and wiry ; the membrane of the nose is of an intensely florid red, more vivid in the inside corners of the nostrils ; his legs standing far apart, extremely cold ; he refuses his feed ; a slight cough ; and the horse will not lie down. It is known of horses to fall off their feet dead while standing.

Treat7nent:

Tine, of Veratrum Viride, 1 dram.

Tine, of Aconite, 1 dram.

Eluid Ex. Gelseminin, 2 drams, mix.

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Then give as a dose 16 drops of the mixture. This dose is to be given when the pulsations are from sixty to sixty-five, and to every ten pulsations of an increase above sixty, add three more drops. Give the medicine in i oz. of Aqua Pura. This can be repeated at the expiration of two hours, and be continued until the pulse is controlled. Great care should be taken to nurse the patient well. He should be kept free from all annoyance. The diet should consist of warm bran mashed, and a little shorts to be mixed; then give him the following:

Pulverized Carbonate of Ammonia, 3 oz.

Pow. Genitian Root 2 oz.

Pimenta Berries, 2 oz.

Mix and divide into twelve parts, to be mixed with water; give one three times a day with water drench. At the same time keep the stable clean. Place the animal so he can inhale the pure air. Blister the patient at the front legs, or under the abdomen. After the fever is reduced the horse will show more general debility and weakness; then give the patient the following:

Dried Powdered Sulphate of Iron, 5 oz.

Powdered Genitian Root, 5 oz.

One tablespoonful night and morning. Continue till a change is experienced. As soon as the patient becomes able, give him daily gentle exercise. A change of diet, sliced carrots, linseed meal 1 or 2 oz., oats and straw.