Richard S. Reynolds
Published: 2013-09
Total Pages: 48
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This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1882 edition. Excerpt: ... derangement of their urinary organs on taking slight cold and from other trivial causes. In such cases the animal is commonly dosed time after time with nitre in some form or other, which unfortunately relieves the urgent symptoms at the cost of weakening the secretive power of the kidneys to an extent that, when some acute and formidable disease is contracted, those emunctories fail to perform their share in ridding the system of material which is detrimental to health, and recovery from such an attack is thereby retarded, if not rendered absolutely impossible. In the treatment of disease good nursing is to be regarded as equal to skilful medical attention. Without the former, the latter can avail but little; to achieve more than an average amount of success, both must be applied in parallel lines. Those men who have an intuitive love for dumb animals, who are conversant with their habits in health, and who are born with acute perceptive faculties, can be most readily educated into efficient attendants upon sick horses. Without these inborn faculties, no one can become proficient; but the possession of them alone will not suffice, unless they are allied to other habits and quasi talents which are to be acquired or strengthened by experience and the exercise of zeal. A good nurse must be in every sense a horseman; he must be patient, persevering, resolute, cheerful, careful, quiet, and self-possessed, yet prompt to think and act; he should cultivate habits of close observation and obedience to instruction, and be thoroughly reliable; he must know how to administer medicines in all forms, and be able to apply all requisites used in ordinary treatment for the comfort and well-being of the patient. The qualifications I have enumerated as...