5G2 THE DISEASES OF THE HORSE 



not surprising that much difloronce of opinion exists as to tlio proper treat- 

 ment. Captain Hayes tlius sunnnari/.es the "principles of treatment." — " 1. 

 Give to tlie inlhimed part rest, which is best accompHshed by opium, a.s that 

 drug has a S2)ecial action in arresting the motion of the intestines. 2. 

 Administer a strong sedative to allay the pain which threatens the life of 

 the animal, and allow him to tide over the attack, for which purpose opium 

 is also suitable. 3. Check the action of disease germs, or, at least, of 

 decomposing food in the bowels, as may be done by Jeyes' Fluid or 

 carbolic acid." 



Half-ounce doses of powdered opium in the form of extract, or like doses 

 of extract of cannabis indica may be given. Jeyes' Fluid may be ad- 

 ministered in half- or three-quarter-ounce doses in a pint of linseed oil or 

 other bland fluid, as mucilage of acacia, starch, or linseed tea. Hot foment- 

 ations to the abdomen, and the injection of warm water per rectum have 

 a soothing eflect, and are now very generally adopted by veterinary surgeons 

 in the treatment of this fatal complaint, from which but a small number of 

 recoveries take place. 



TWISTED GUT 



Tnis ACCIDENT is as a rule a sequel to some other disease, as colic, spasmodic 

 or flatulent, and is generally believed to result from struggling on the ground 

 (see Colic). Captain Hayes, whose experience as a breaker as well as 

 a veterinary surgeon, is perhaps unequalled, is " strongly oi opinion that 

 these violent movements never induced twist of the bowel, unless, possibly, 

 the relative positions of its parts are altered from their normal condition by 

 some unusual cause, such as distension." 



The Sijin})toms during life are those of colic with some variations, but there 

 is practically no diagnostic one by which we can say with certainty that a 

 twist will be found after death. The pain is more continuous than in 

 ordinary colic, and before the animal dies a quiescent period is usual. There 

 is a flickering pulse which finally becomes imperceptible, sighing, trembling, 

 and deadly cold extremities, the animal generally trying to keep on his feet 

 till the last. 



Treatment for twist, intussusception, and other accidental displacements 

 of the bowels is " expectant" — that is to sa}, -^^ we can do is to treat the 

 spasm and pain in the hope that relaxation of the parts affected may follow. 

 If displacement of a portion of the small intestine could be diagnosed with 

 certainty before any great amount of inflammation had arisen it would be 

 possible under the influence of chloroform to cut through the abdominal 

 parietes and reduce it, indeed it has been done, but the difliculties are great 

 and the prospects of recovery very small, as the predisposition of the horse 

 to peritonitis even under the most favourable aseptic conditions is almost a 

 fatal objection. 



PERITONITIS 



Inflammation of the lining membrane of tlie abdomen which also invests 

 the viscera is an extremely dangerous disease, and may be excited by com- 



