REPORT ON THE DISEASES OF FARM HORSES. 295 



At other times he sits upon the haunches, or rises like a 

 cow, frequently attempts to urinate, but ineffectually, or in small 

 quantities, and highly coloured, looks round in anxiety, and moves 

 in a circle, partial coma comes on, he staggers and falls in some 

 awkward position, death ensuing, after violent retchings and 

 vomition having taken place. 



A P.M. Examination reveals the food distributed throughout 

 the abdomen more or less in the event of rupture of the stomach 

 or intestines, and in that of the diaphragm, a considerable 

 quantity of the above viscera having passed through the opening 

 within the chest. The lungs may be slightly congested, but 

 lesions of those organs are seldom found. 



Several cases of rupture of the stomach which have come 

 under my notice, supervening upon colic, have exhibited such a 

 state of contraction of the muscular coat, that but a very 

 small portion has been visible. The real cause, however, is soon 

 explained by the unusual thickness of that which is left. In 

 death from ordinary colic, apart from the lesions just named, 

 discolorations, if present, are not signs of inflammation, but 

 blood changes of the parts as a result of perverted action of the 

 organs. 



All cases of the above description are accelerated and 

 intensified by the presence of hernial strangulation, twisting or 

 invagination of the intestines, states which in many cases are 

 not detected except upon a post mortem examination. 



These will form a subject for future consideration. 



Enteritis, or Inflammation of the Bowels, is a disease by 

 no means of such frequent occurrence ; when, however, it does 

 take place, causes maybe looked for of unusual and extreme charac- 

 ter, such as having swallowed articles of irritant properties. 



Symptoms. — The distinguishing features of enteritis are the 

 evidences of serious constitutional disturbance, which accompany 

 and precede the attack — conditions which do not obtain in 

 ordinary colic. The pulse is strong in the first stages, becoming 

 small, hard, and frequent as the disease advances, until it is 

 irregular and indistinct. The temperature of the body is variable, 

 betokened by cold ears and legs, &c. In most cases intense 

 thirst accompanies other symptoms ; the appetite is absent, 

 bowels are constipated, urine high coloured, deficient, and 

 probably voided frequently ; and the membranes of the 

 eye and nose are highly coloured, conditions which form a 

 sure guide to the state of affairs within. Violent abdominal 

 pains are not necessarily present, but the intense suffering 

 experienced by the creature is verified by haggard expression 

 of countenance. 



The abdomen is tense and hard, tucked up, and considerable 



