REPORT ON THE DISEASES OF FARM HORSES. 303 



in cases of gastritis occasioned by the effects of poison and 

 ordinary remedies, as adjuncts to their pernicious effects. It is 

 clearly therefore a matter of extreme difficulty to direct in these 

 cases, except in special terms, which is impossible in the short 

 space before me, and the limited use to which they could be put 

 by non-professional persons. 



The various agents which produce the affection we are con- 

 sidering are cantharides, oil of tar, turpentine, &c, some of the 

 ranunculacse, the darnel grass, &c, aloes, creosote, savin, bi- 

 chloride of mercury, calomel, arsenic, and salts of iron, copper, 

 &c, &c. Of the acids, sulphuric, nitric, hydrochloric, and oxalic, 

 with the caustic salts of ammonia, potash, soda, &c, &c. 



Vegetable irritants may be frustrated by the use of purgatives, 

 opium, &c. ; calomel, by opium ; bichloride of mercury, by white 

 of egg in large doses ; arsenic, by the red oxide of iron ; sulphuric 

 and mineral acids generally, by carbonate of baryta, soda, or 

 magnesia in barley water, or linseed tea ; sulphates of iron or 

 copper, the alkaline carbonates or magnesia ; oxalic acid, the 

 carbonate of magnesia, or lime, chalk, &c, &c. 



Mostly, however, when such cases occur, they are unexpected 

 and unprovided for ; the proprietor is ignorant of the measures 

 which are required, and veterinary skill not readily available. 

 Under such circumstances, therefore, with the acknowledged 

 symptoms of gastritis before him, such remedies as linseed tea 

 or thick barley water, with eggs beat up in it, will be the best 

 to administer until proper aid can be obtained ; which, however, 

 may be quite powerless in the absence of correct information as 

 to the history of the case. 



I have known the branches of yew partaken of by horses 

 productive of irritant effects, which, however, an active purgative, 

 followed by stimulants,, has prevented from doing bodily mis- 

 chief. Mouldy bread has also been equally pernicious, but 

 yielded to similar treatment. 



The great evils in cases of poisoning in the horse is the 

 secrecy which is observed by attendants to avoid censure for 

 carelessness, or punishment for wilful administration. In the 

 absence of information much good cannot be expected from 

 medical treatment. 



Gastritis from implication with other organs, as with enteritis, 

 must be treated as directed under that disease. 



Parasites of the Stomach. — Of these there are several oc- 

 casionally found, but the one only which concerns us at present 

 is the osstris equi, or horse bot. 



The female fly deposits her eggs in summer, together with a 

 glutinous matter, which serves as a medium of strong attachment, 

 upon the arms and breast, which, by causing irritation, induces 

 the horse to gnaw and bite the parts, and by this means are 



