HEALTH AND DISEASE 



VOMITING 



Vomiting, or the ejection of the stomach's contents by the nostrils and 

 mouth, is comparatively rare in the horse; so much so that many persons 

 believe that it never occurs. In the chapter on choking we have already 

 spoken of apparent vomiting, which was in reality only the ejection of the 

 contents of the tube leading to the stomach. Two reasons are commonly 

 advanced for the rarity of vomition in the horse : first, an insusceptibility 

 to nausea; and second, a peculiar valve-like arrangement of the parts at 

 the entrance to the stomach. The first reason is not an entirely satisfactory 

 one, as nausea is often exhibited by horses; and the second needs more 

 proof. Without arguing the case we will pass on to the known causes and 

 treatment where treatment is possible. 



1. Engorgement of the stomach with indigestible food, followed by 

 fermentation, elimination of gases, and consequent distention. This has 

 been known in several instances to be followed by repeated vomition, 

 leaving the patient in a prostrate condition, but not always resulting in 

 death. 



2. When the oesophagus at its terminal portion has been permanently 

 dilated — an argument in favour of the valve theory. 



3. In cases of rupture of the walls of the stomach or of the diaphragm. 

 The late Professor Eobertson entertained a fourth reason, of which, how- 

 ever, we can have no proof — namely, the closure of the 'pyloric orifice and 

 consequent prevention of the contents of the stomach passing out into the 

 bowel. Post-mortem examinations have repeatedly proved that vomition 

 may occur when any of the three first-named causes exist. 



ACUTE INDIGESTION 



Indigestion presents itself in one of two forms — either it is acute and 

 attended with severe pain and suffering of short duration, or it assumes a 

 less noticeable but lingering and chronic character. 



To the horse-owner and stableman this form of the disease is better 

 known by the terms "stomach staggers", "sleepy staggers", and "mad 

 staggers" — expressions which, if not classical, serve at least to convey a 

 good idea of the leading phenomena of the affection. They specially 

 indicate the two forms of disturbance which the brain suffers as a con- 

 sequence of acute stomach derangement, in the one case denoted by 

 severe brain disturbance resulting in actual frenzy or madness, in the 

 other by brain torpor or paralysis, with loss of consciousness and volition, 

 and imperfect control over voluntary movement. 



