CHRONIC INDIGESTION 271 



passed. Such as may be expelled are hard and usually covered with a glairy 

 coating of mucus. The liver in these cases frequently gives evidence of 

 disturbance in the high-coloured urine and yellowish discoloration of the 

 membranes of the eyes, mouth, and nostrils. 



Sooner or later in the course of the attack dulness or stupor may give 

 place to uncontrollable excitement and delirium (mad staggers). In this 

 condition the animal paws the ground violently and plunges madly about 

 the box. Perspiration bedews the body, and the muscles are thrown into 

 a tremulous agitation over the entire body. Efforts at vomiting may now 

 appear, and a small amount of offensive, sour-smelling fluid escapes from 

 the stomach. In the absence of relief, which is seldom capable of being- 

 afforded at this stage of the disease, repeated paroxysms or violent fits 

 of frenzy end in exhaustion, which is frequently followed by rupture 

 of the stomach and speedy death. 



Treatment. — The prospect of success in the treatment of stomach 

 engorgement will depend in a great measure on the prompt recognition 

 of the disease and speedy adoption of suitable curative measures. 



The first and most important object is to unload the bowels and relieve 

 the distended stomach. For this purpose a bold dose of physic is the most 

 suitable means and should be administered at once. Food of every de- 

 scription must be withheld and water allowed in any amount. 



Where the symptoms indicate abdominal pain a little aromatic spirit of 

 ammonia, combined with tincture of opium and peppermint-water, may be 

 given and repeated at intervals of two hours for two or three times. This 

 may be supplemented by friction and fomentations to the belly. A few 

 minutes' walking exercise at short intervals will prove beneficial, but the 

 animal must not be hurried. The rectum should be emptied of excrement 

 by means of the hand, after which enemas of salt and water may be thrown 

 into the bowel every three or four hours. On the appearance of brain 

 disturbance a little blood taken from the jugular vein will afford relief to 

 the cerebral vessels, and arrest the progress of the disease as it affects 

 the head. 



Ice-bags to the poll, or a cold-water douche kept up for fifteen minutes 

 at a time, will further assist. If the latter course be adopted, cold wet 

 swabs should be applied to the head in the intervals between the 

 douching. 



CHRONIC INDIGESTION 



Causes. — This form of the disease may have its origin in a variety 

 of causes. Some of these refer to faults or weaknesses in the animal itself; 

 others are connected with feeding and management. In regard to the 



