STRANGLES.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XLIV, Issue 14040, 24 April 1920, Page 2

STRANGLES.

This very infeeticas disease is onlv found in hoi-ses. It is generally seen in young animals, out may attack horses of any aee, rarely affecting the same horse twice. Strangles is caused by a germ which is found practically all over the world. The symptoms are- as follows: The Yini"taal is first noticed to be dull and off | its feed, a, discharge from one'

tei- a few 'days becomes ih'ick fiiia; sticky.- Soreness of the ihrOat ;is generally present: tliis is shown by the hcirse having some difficulty in s-wallowing: The chief symptom : is the formation jf all. abscess in connection .with the inlands, situated be tweeii the branches •St ilig IBwe'f jaw. This, abscfess coffimehce's; as a. sirt.-ill; hard sw&'liiig, which . gradually becomes larger .and is .always, very. fiS-; der. As the swelling- increases■ .--iib::" size it also becomes softer/ until, it: is. ripe. This is ghoWil hy'-d; falliiig--Oft of the hair at. one part, accompanied by a slight . sweating :at the eairie point* At this time- ; the .abscess is ready to be Opened with, a sharp, clean\ knrfey . takihg . cafe . to maka a good-sized opening. For tieatment. it is advisable to let the animal have a run at grass in a wellsheltered paddock, provided the weather is favorable. The throat should "have One dressing with a sweating-blister* ill . Order to hasten the ripening. Of the abscess y- this, dressing shduld be. applied f*pm the* base.of the ears, down;.both sides of the throat; between the jaws, and a little distance dowu the throat. Where medicinal treatment -is necessary, two drams of extract of belladonna, together with 2oz of chlorate of potash, bhould be made- into - a soft paste with 4oz each of treacle and sugar, and a piece the size of a walnut smeared on the tongue twice daily. If the horse is kept . in_ the s-trtble the .bowels' must be regulated by giving soft feed, such as bran mashes and scalded The most important . point' in , cluing a case of strangles is to keep the abscess well open until all the discharge has , stopped, because if it is allowed to close up too soon the abscess will re-form. ; ■ ■-