DIARRHCEA 563 



paratively trivial causes. It is often idiopathic, arising from no known 

 cause, or may result from external violence, abdominal operations, castration, 

 punctured wounds, escape of food into the cavity, as in ruptured stomach and 

 bowel, or from sympathy with any inflamed organ in the abdomen. 



Symjjtoms. — Hurried breathing, maintaining a fixed attitude with dis- 

 inclination to change it, icy cold extremities, total loss of appetite, quick 

 irritable pulse, depressed and anxious countenance. 



Treatment. — The same as for enteritis (see page 561). 



CONSTIPATION 



This is usually due to dietetic errors, and is best corrected by laxative 

 food. Healthy fteces should be so well known to the practical horseman 

 that he should not fail to recognize constipation in its early stage when the 

 dung balls are small and glassy, and passed with an expulsive effort amount- 

 ing to straining, erecting the tail, and arching the back. If these signs are 

 disregarded, impaction and stoppage may follow. 



Treatment. — An oily aperient, as a pint of linseed oil, and a few bran 

 mashes are all that is needed as a rule; the chief concern of the owner should 

 be to prevent a recurrence by a judicious admixture of laxative food. AVhen 

 constipation is the result of inactive liver an aloetic ball may be necessary, 

 and less stimulating food for a time until the bowels are properly regulated. 



DIARRHCEA 



While some horses are liable to constipation others are disposed to loose- 

 ness of the bowels, although there may be nothing in the food to excite it. 

 Horses with this predisposition to looseness are called " washy," and frequently 

 occasion a good deal of trouble to their keepers. Besides those whose dung 

 is habitually too soft in the stable there are nervous, irritable animals that 

 begin to unload the rectum at the sight of saddle or harness and become 

 looser and looser upon the road, the diarrhoea ceasing again when stabled. 



Siqier-imrgation is diarrhoea induced by too large or too oft repeated 

 a dose of physic. It generally happens through failure of the first dose to 

 act, when the inexperienced give another and the medicine appears to be 

 cumulative in its effects. 



Treatment. — This will vary according to the cause. The " washy " may 

 have a proportion of pea-meal and only dry foods allowed them. For the 

 excitable very little can be done except to carry one's own feed upon a 

 journey and avoid excitement and over-taxing the animal. When too 

 much aperient medicine is responsible, astringents may be given. Of these, 

 opium and catechu with chalk or bismuth may be chosen, and if there is a 

 distinctly acid odour with the evacuations, benefit may be derived from the 

 drinking of alkaline bicarbonates, as those of potash and soda, and a portion 

 of lime water added to the drinking water. Arrowroot and starch gruel 

 with eggs whipped up in them are also recommended. No bran or other 

 laxative food should be allowed, but as much well-seasoned hay as the animal 

 will take. 



