CHAPTER IX.—PART I.
DISEASES OF THE URINARY AND REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS
Nephritis, Inflammation of the Kidneys
The kidneys are not unfrequently the subject of inflammation in the horse. It may be induced by powerful or repeated diuretics, such as saltpetre, which is a most dangerous medicine, or from hard and long riding by a heavy rider, or heavy weights; or by leaping or being suddenly pulled up on his haunches, the inflammation being propagated from the lumbar muscles to the kidneys, or by exposure to cold and wet, by rain dripping upon his loins during exercise, and especially if these organs have been previously weakened.
SYMPTOMS.—The early symptoms are those of fever, the pulse full, hard and quickened, afterward becomes small and weak; the horse looks around anxiously at his flanks; stands with his hind legs wide apart; is unwilling to lie down; straddles as he walks; expresses pain in turning; the back is somewhat arched; he shrinks when the loins are pressed upon, and there is some degree of heat felt there. The urine is voided in small quantities; frequently is high-colored, and sometimes bloody; and there is frequent and often violent effort and straining, but the discharge is very small, sometimes suppressed.
TREATMENT.—Give fifteen drops of H.H., and repeat every two hours. Should there be very high fever, great heat, etc., the A.A., may be alternated with it, giving fifteen drops every intermediate hour in urgent cases, but in general the H.H., will be quite sufficient, and should be continued at prolonged intervals to entire recovery.
But a few doses will be required to show us the great value and efficacy of the remedy.
Cistitis, Inflammation of the Bladder
This disease is usually the result of giving diuretics, such as saltpetre, cantharides, or similar irritating medicines. It may also be the effect of a cold and exposure, or of a stone in the bladder, and the disease may occupy the neck of the bladder, or the organ itself. The symptoms are similar to that of Inflammation of the Kidneys; the horse makes frequent and painful attempts to stale, but passes only a few drops of water at a time. The bladder cannot retain the urine from its excessive irritability, so that the attempt to void it is constantly going on. The urine may be clear, or mixed with mucus, or stained with blood.
THE TREATMENT is the same as for Inflammation of the Kidneys, the remedy for that disease, H.H., being given every two hours, in doses of fifteen drops, or less frequently, according to the urgency of the case. In some cases the A.A., may be given in alternation, as for Inflammation of the Kidneys; but in general, the remedy first mentioned H.H., will be found every way efficient and available.
Hematuria, or Bloody Urine
This is usually a mere symptom of some other disease. Blows, or a violent strain of the loins, some kinds of irritating plants, stones in the kidneys or bladder; ulceration of the bladder; Spanish flies given internally or administered as a blister—may either of them produce bloody urine as a symptom.
The symptoms are: discharge of urine, mixed more or less with blood, or containing clots. When the blood is caused by some disease of the kidney, there is usually pain in walking, straddling of the hind legs, and an awkward way of walking. If the blood comes from the kidneys, it will be intimately mixed with the urine; but if from the bladder, it will pass off with the last of the urine rather than the first.
TREATMENT.—Fifteen drops of the H.H., given three times per day, will generally promptly relieve. If dependent upon organic disease, more time may be required, but the remedy is the same. If it fails, give a large spoonful of HUMPHREYS’ MARVEL WITCH HAZEL, poured upon the tongue three times per day.
Retention of Urine
From holding the urine too long, cramp or spasm of the neck of the bladder, stone in the bladder, or other disease, which prevents the bladder contracting upon its contents, there may be retention, and the animal unable to void his urine.
The symptoms are similar to those in colic, but characterized, however, by the horse putting himself in the attitude of staling, and straining with great force, as in the act of passing water, without any, or very little, being discharged. This symptom may be present in cases of gripes or colic, the bladder acting in sympathy with the cramped intestine. All doubt may be removed by inserting the hand into the rectum, when the bladder, if full, will be found large, tense and full of water.
This disease may be recognized by the animal frequently putting himself in a position to pass urine, but without succeeding, or at most only a few drops are voided; there is also great restlessness, shifting from place to place, moaning, looking at the flanks, pawing with the fore-feet.
TREATMENT.—A few doses, fifteen drops each, of the H.H., given at intervals of two hours, will usually relax the spasm and afford entire relief.
When it is the result of a stone in the bladder, the movements of the horse may for a time dislodge it, but an entire cure will only be effected by an operation, for which a veterinary surgeon must be consulted.
Scanty Urine
This is a mere symptom of some other disease, such as fever, inflammation, or other morbid condition, or it may occur naturally, if there is diarrhea, loose bowels, or purging, and it always occurs in warm weather, when a horse is severely worked, from the large quantity of fluid exhaled from the skin and lungs.
A few doses, fifteen drops each, of the H.H., will soon correct the condition, as far as the health of the animal requires. The J.K., for indigestion is likewise efficient.
Diuresis, too Profuse Staling
In consequence of bad food, such as kiln-dried oats, mow-burnt hay, or of such medicines as nitre, or other diuretics, a horse may have an excessive flow of urine.
The symptoms are: The horse does not eat much, sweats easily, is soon tired, the bowels are costive, skin dry and coat rough, tongue white and there is great thirst. The water is quite clear and milky, passed often, and in large quantities. As the disease advances, the horse eats little, he gets thinner and weaker every day, breath often offensive; the dung is hard, lumpy and covered with slime; the hair stands on end, and the flow of urine becomes enormous. If not cured, death ensues.
TREATMENT.—The food must be changed, and none but the best given. Change of food is always of service under such circumstances.
Give fifteen drops of J.K., four times per day. This will often be efficient.
DIABETES MELLITIS, which is a rare disease in the horse should not be confounded with DIURESIS, which is manifested by an _increased_ flow of urine. In Diabetes Mellitis the water is clear or greenish, limpid, _sweetish_, and soon accompanied with great debility and loss of flesh, usually ending fatally.
Parturition in Mares
Rarely requires either manual or medicinal assistance. A dose of A.A., given in the earlier stages of labor often quiets the restlessness and allays the wandering pains, and this conduces to the greater regularity of the process.
If the labor becomes tedious or delays, a dose of G.G., repeated if necessary every two hours, will relax the parts and assist the expulsion pains.
Self-Abuse, Seminal Emissions
A very common habit among race horses is self-abuse. As soon as young horses are stabled, from idleness, over-excitement or urinary irritation, they may begin to masturbate, and it very often increases, impairing their strength, and rendering them worthless and uncertain foal-getters, or demanding castration. The phenomena are well known and do not require a particular description.
The common practice with horsemen or trainers is to put on them what is called a “net,” an apron armed with sharp pointed tacks, so when the yard is protruded, the tacks prick him, and he draws it in. But many horses, with a little practice, become so expert that they can avoid striking the apron, and in most cases it seems rather to increase than diminish the habit.
The usual Veterinary Surgeons advise camphor, which, if given is sufficiently large quantities to diminish the habit, will notably and permanently impair the vitality and vigor of the horse.
DR. HUMPHREYS’ VETERINARY REMEDIES, by _arresting_ and _lessening_ the _irritation_ and _morbid desire_, _prevent the habit_, and thus, reducing the morbid desire, promote and increase the natural vigor and development of the animal.
TREATMENT.—Give fifteen drops of G.G., three times per day, or if urinary irritation is suspected use the H.H. instead. He should also have good food and plenty of regular exercise. If unable to give him exercise under saddle, he may be turned into a large pasture with pregnant mares.
Weak or Deficient Sexual Vigor; Impotence in Stallions
It not unfrequently happens that stallions of even good form and breed, and not deficient from inherited weakness or vice become uncertain or partially unfitted for foal-getting. This must of necessity arise late in life from failing vitality, or deficient natural strength. But it not unfrequently happens as a result of too early severe use, a drain put upon the young at a time when nature was still building up and hardening tissue, and when the over-drain made upon the green and yet unhardened sire, was more than the nutrition could repair. And it is again liable to happen from excessive use during the healthy, vigorous age of life, and the more so, if coupled with insufficient proper nourishment.
Any or all of these causes may render a stallion uncertain, and so diminish his value and the relative value of his services. It becomes important to know what treatment will restore the feeble and uncertain, and will preserve and arrest the decay, as well as restore these waning powers.
In order to restore and invigorate the deficient or waning powers, and to sustain them under severe tax, or upon the decline life, the J.K., may be given in confidence that it will sustain, restore and keep in vigor the natural virile powers.
In cases, with only some decline in vigor, a dose of fifteen drops of J.K., given two or three times per week is sufficient. When the want of vigor is more decided, a dose, two or even three times per day may be given.
Failure to come in Heat—Sterility
Failure to breed in the mare may occur in two different forms—first impotence, in which the mare fails to come in heat, and second, true sterility, in which, although she came in heat and was bred the service proved unfruitful.
The first of these cases may be due to some malformation of the sexual organs in which case it is incurable; but it is more often due to insufficient or over-feed, or lack of exercise, or over-work, or some depressing disease.
TREATMENT.—Correct the exercise and feeding, and give G.G., every night for a week, or, if the case is urgent, a dose morning and night, and then a dose daily until the result is manifest.
TRUE STERILITY may also be caused by malformations and be incurable, but is more often caused by other things such as a catarrhal condition of the vagina—Leucorrhea or too ardent heat, or insufficient food, or debility from disease.
THE TREATMENT for Leucorrhea or a catarrhal condition of the organs, which may be known by a constant or frequent discharge from the vagina, give G.G., each morning and J.K., at night, and continue this for several weeks, or until she is again served.
In addition dissolve one cake of fresh compressed yeast in a pint of tepid water, then after a few hours, add another pint. Then wash the vagina well with soap and water and use the dissolved yeast as a douche, this should be done daily for several days.
Where there is an excess of excitement, too ardent or too frequent, or even constant heat, give at first, H.H., a dose morning and night, for two or three weeks, then a dose or two of G.G., and the result will usually be satisfactory.
Where there is unthriftiness or want of good condition, correct the feeding and give G.G., morning and J.K., at night.
Abortion
Abortion or premature birth may occur from three different causes:
1—ACCIDENTAL ABORTION.—Caused by a blow; strain; slipping on a wet floor, over-strain from pulling a heavy load, etc.
2—ENZOOTIC ABORTION.—Due to some infectious disease of the mother.
3—CONTAGIOUS ABORTION.—A distinct disease which causes the death and expulsion of the fetus or its expulsion in a feeble state prior to the normal period.
SYMPTOMS OF THREATENED ABORTION.—In the first three months of pregnancy, the appearance of a bloody, watery or mucous discharge from the vagina. In the later months, uneasiness, swelling, heat and tenderness about the udder; secretion of milk; and straining as if in labor.
TREATMENT OF THREATENED ABORTION.—Give fifteen drops of G.G., every six hours, and the dose may be repeated two or three or more times should the threatening symptoms continue after the first or even the second dose has expended its action.
This interval should elapse between doses, as too rapid ones may even defeat the object, by over-excitement of the system, while a single dose often arrests an abortion if permitted to expand its action.
After a mare has actually aborted, it is almost impossible to tell whether it occurred from contagious abortion or from some other cause, so the safe thing to do is to act as if it had been contagious abortion.
TREATMENT OF CONTAGIOUS ABORTION.—The fetus and membranes should be burned. The premises occupied by the sick animal should be disinfected as follows: Remove all bedding and dirt possible and spray all available parts of barn with 3% formalin or 5% carbolic acid solution. Apply white wash containing 1 lb. chloride of lime to 3 gallons of whitewash, scatter quicklime on floor and gutters.
The animal which has aborted should receive daily a vaginal irrigation of two gallons of warm water containing 2% lysol until the vaginal discharge stops. The external parts about the vagina, including the hips and tail, should be washed thoroughly with soap and water and then with the lysol solution as above, twice daily. This should also be done to all exposed pregnant animals in the herd, being careful not to use the same cloth, solution, bucket or attendant for the well animals that was used for the sick one.
Also give G.G., at intervals of six hours.