GENERAL INDICATIONS OF ILL-HEALTH.                    169

mild work carried on for many hours at a stretch and therefore
curtailing the time for feeding, sleep and rest.

(d)   Insanitary conditions.—Want of cleanliness in standings,
sheds and surroundings.

(e)    Worms.—That is internal parasites, by depriving the animal
of nutriment, or actually robbing him of his blood.

(f) Abuse of drugs.—-Gilchrist states that this condition may
be induced by the excessive use of mercurial preparations which
some mahouts undoubtedly are fond of employing.

(g) Suppurating wounds.—When these are extensive or chronic,
the constant discharges issuing therefrom cause a drain on the
system.

Debility in some degree must of necessity accompany all consti-
tutional ailments and is the outcome of profound changes in the
constitution of the blood. Every one must have heard the adage
"blood is life "; it necessarily follows that the vitality and nutrition
of every structure and organ of the body must depend on the
quality and quantity of this fluid supplied to them. When this is
lacking in quality or quantity, the organs and vital processes from
poverty of nutriment are unable to perform their functions as
satisfactorily as in health. Debility is directly therefore the
outcome of depravity of the blood and is shown in very many ways.

Symptoms : Weakness.—Which may vary from mere listless-
ness, restlessness at night and unwillingness to work, to prostration
or utter helplessness.

2.   Anætnia (bloodlessness).—Which may vary from slight pallor
of the mucous membranes to extreme blanching.

3.   Emaciation.—Which may only be so slight that the natural
depressions and projections of the surface are accentuated, or so
pronounced that the beast becomes a skeleton.

4.   The heart.—Owing to the inferior quality of blood supplied
for its own nutrition, becomes weakened and unable to perform its
functions satisfactorily, hence those parts furthest removed, especi-
ally the tail, and those with paucity of circulation, the ears, may
suffer ulceration or actual destruction (mortification). The pulse
becomes weak ; respiration is hurried, the animal pants on the least
exertion, and if pressed may drop dead (heart failure) ; dropsical
swellings, thut (ogdS), frequently occur owing to the watery condi-
tion of the blood "permitting a leakage or sweating of this fluid
through the walls of the vessels into the tissues surrounding them.
The fluid then by force of gravity occupies the most dependent
parts. In the case of cavities such as the abdomen, it may collect
in large quantities constituting what is known as dropsy. Gilchrist
and Forsyth have noted that sores and extensive sloughing of the