290 HEALTH AND DISEASE 



ness; and pain and straining, more or less severe, appear in the course of 

 the attack. Purging may cease on account of loss of power in the gut, or 

 in consequence of a complete emptying of the bowel. With an abatement 

 of the symptoms, laminitis, or "fever in the feet", supervenes in some 

 cases, and adds to the existing trouble. 



Treatment. — The surface warmth should receive immediate attention, 

 hand-rubbing the legs, pulling the ears, bandaging and clothing with warm 

 rugs; perfect quiet should be maintained, and if necessary the animal 

 should be removed to a box away from the others. A gill of brandy, with 

 an egg and a pint of milk, beaten up together, may be all that is needed 

 in slight cases; but if abdominal pain follows, and the patient gets worse, 

 astringent and anodyne medicines should be given, together with stimu- 

 lants. Ounce doses of chlorodyne, with eggs and milk, or two ounces of 

 laudanum with a wine-glass or two of brandy, may be tried, and repeated 

 in two or three hours. Arrow-root, boiled rice, or corn-flour may be 

 given in frequent doses, together with eggs and brandy, or spirit of nitrous 

 ether. Treatment would be more successful but for the injudicious use of 

 linseed and boiled roots, which would seem to be a common stable practice 

 in some districts. In this disorder food may be dispensed with, excepting 

 such as is described above; the sensitive bowels need rest, and the absence 

 of all forms of irritation is imperatively indicated. When the abdomen 

 assumes a drum-like condition, a wine-glass of spirit of turpentine may 

 be given with milk, or an ounce of aromatic spirits of ammonia with 

 peppermint. 



Much care is necessary in bringing an overpurged horse back to his 

 regular diet, if that be a strong one; he should be allowed only half- 

 rations for some days, avoiding new, or any, hay or corn the least 

 damaged. It is important, too, that the food be given in small quantities 

 and often. Exercise will not be necessary beyond that to be obtained 

 in a large loose-box. 



DYSENTERY 



Definition. — Dysentery is a destructive inflammatory disease resulting 

 in ulceration of the lining membrane of the bowel. It is attended with 

 more or less haemorrhage and a copious discharge of mucus with the faeces. 

 It differs from diarrhoea not merely in the frequency of the discharges and 

 in their character, but also the constitutional disturbance associated with 

 it. It has not been satisfactorily traced to the introduction of specific 

 disease germs, nor are there any decided proofs of its greater frequency 

 in insanitary surroundings; — more often is it attributed to causes of an 



