Tnjlammation of the Bowels. 189 



fatigue, tlie animal is Tendered peculiarly susceptible of inflamma- 

 tory attacks of the organs essential to life^ and more especially of the 

 intestinal canal, some part of which is frequently cooled down con- 

 siderably below the healthy standard, in consequence of exposure to 

 the circumstances which have been enumerated. Let it not, however, 

 be inferred from these remarks, that severe exercise can be supported 

 much longer with impunity, when the stomach is full and distended 

 with food, than in the opposite state. On the contrary, there can be 

 no doubt (for reasons which are more fully detailed in another place) 

 when Horses are called upon for rapid and long-protracted exer- 

 tions, especially in sultry weather, that the chance of mischief, 

 likely to accrue from such exertions, is less when they have fasted a 

 few hours, than when they have just eaten largely of their ordinar ' 

 food. Insomuch, that it is by no means uncommon for Horses that 

 are ridden or driven very hard soon after feeding, at a time when 

 Farenheirt's Thermometer stands as high as 70 in the shade, to die of 

 Inflammation of the Stomach or Bowels in the course of a few hours, 

 although they were previously in the most perfect state of health ; so 

 inconceivably fast does Inflammation, when it once attacks any part of 

 the alimentary canal, run on to mortification in these animals. I am 

 well aware it may be said that prodigious muscular exertion, joined 

 to the circumstance of excessive heat, are, of themselves, sufficient to 

 account for the death of the animal, without seeking for any other 

 cause to account for it ; but this I have good reason for believing is 

 hardly ever the case. This disease is almost always preceded bjr 

 shivering, after which the Horse becomes dull, and refuses his food. 

 The skin is hot and dry, the breathing is quickened, the animal ap- 



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