king soda or other
alkaline medicines may effect a cure, while if the discharges have a
very disagreeable odor it may be corrected by 1 ounce of sulphite of
soda or dram doses of creolin in water, repeated twice a day. Be slow to
resort to either the vegetable or mineral astringents, since the
majority of cases will yield to change of feed and water or the
administration of oils. Afterwards feed upon wheat-flour gruel or other
light feeds. The body should be warmly clothed.

SUPERPURGATION.--This is the designation of that diarrhea, or flux from
the bowels, that, at times, is induced by and follows the action of a
physic. It is accompanied with much irritation or even inflammation of
the bowels and is always of a serious character. Although in rare
instances it follows from a usual dose of physic and where every
precaution has been taken, it is most likely to result under the
following circumstances: Too large a dose of physic; giving physics to
horses suffering from pneumonia, influenza, or other debilitating
diseases; riding or driving a horse when purging; exposure or drafts of
cold air; or giving large quantities of cold water while the physic is
operating. There is always danger of superpurgation if a physic is given
to a horse suffering from diseases of the respiratory organs. Small and
often-repeated physics are also to be avoided, as they produce debility
and great depression of the system and predispose to this disorder. When
a physic is to be given one should rest the horse and give him sloppy
feed until the medicine begins to operate; clothe the body with a warm
blanket; keep out of drafts; give only warm water in small quantities.
After a horse has purged from twelve to twenty-four hours it can mostly
be stopped, or "set," as horsemen say, by feeding on dry oats and hay.
Should the purging continue, however, it is best treated by giving
demulcent drinks--linseed tea and oatmeal or wheat-flour gruel. After
this the astringents spoken of for diarrhea may be given. Besides this
the horse is to receive brandy in doses of from 2 to 4 ounces, with milk
and eggs, four or five times a day.

Laminitis ("founder") is a frequent sequel of superpurgation and is to
be guarded against by removing the shoes and standing the horse on moist
sawdust or some similar bedding.

DYSENTERY.

This disease, sometimes called "bloody flux," is an intestinal disease
attended with fever, occasional abdominal pains, and fluid disch