MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 123 



abdominal walls, and give from five to ten minutes walking exercise 

 every hour. If the bowels do not move within 24 hours repeat the 

 oil and turpentine. 



416. Enteritis (inflammation of the intestines). 



Causes. — Sudden chilling of the body; drinking large quantities 

 of cold water, particularly when the animal is tired and overheated; 

 frozen or frost covered food and food that is musty or moldy; sudden 

 changes from old to new feed ; irritating medicines; blows on the 

 abdomen, and twist or obstruction in the intestine. It sometimes 

 follows such diseases as flatulent and spasmodic colics. 



Symptoms. — Intense and continuous colicky pain; temperature 103 

 to 106; mucous membranes of the mouth, nostrils, and eyes red and 

 congested; the belly is tucked up and ssnsitive to pressure, and 

 there is an anxious expression about the face. The animal shows 

 great restlessness, paws, walks about the stall, lies down carefully, 

 rolls, and may try to balance himself on his back. As the d isease pro- 

 gresses, gangrene (death) of the bowels sets in after which all pain 

 ceases and the animal stands quietly for several hours. Toward 

 the last he sighs, breaths hard, staggers, pitches about, falls and dies 

 in a state of delirium. The disease is usually fatal, the majority of 

 cases d>dng in from six hours to several days. 



Treatment. — Give one-half ounce cannabis indica in a pint of raw 

 linseed oil; apply blankets wrung out in hot water to the abdomen, 

 and give frequent rectal injections of lukewarm water. The canna- 

 bis may be repeated in three-quarters of an hour if the pain is not 

 relieved. In the absence of cannabis indica, 2 draina fluid extract or 

 belladonna may be used. During convalesence feed steamed oats, 

 bran mashes, oatmeal gruel, etc. 



417. Diarrhea. — ^A frequent discharge of fluid or semifluid 

 evacuations from the bowels. 



Causes. — -Sudden changes in diet, particularly from a dry one to 

 a moist one; musty or moldy food; large drafts of cold water when 

 heated; worms; foreign substances as sand or dirt in the intestines 

 and excessive use of purgatives. Animals of a weak constitution 

 and those of a nervous temperament often suffer without apparent 

 cause. 



Symptoms. — Frequent evacuations of soft or fluid feces. 



Treatment. — Give IJ pints raw linseed oil. If there is no improve- 

 ment after the action of the oil has subsided, give tannic acid ^ dram 

 and 1 dram of gum camphor. Repeat every four hours until the 



