DIGESTIVE DISORDERS 



Although the disorder has been termed " stomach 

 staggers " — owingtowantof controloverthemovements — it must 

 be understood that staggering symptoms are not b}^ any means 

 always present. Participation of the brain is denoted by the 

 animal pressing its head against the wall, and, when compelled 

 to move, shows a want of control over the movements. The 

 breathing may be of a snoiing character, and the pulse slow 

 and full. Attempts to vomit are not infrequent, rendering the 

 horse liable to rupture his stomach, because this act is accom- 

 plished with great difficulty in this animal. 



Treatment (i) Prevention. — Avoid giving indigestible food, 

 or excess of food. If boiled food is the cause, stop giving this. 

 When the animal comes in after a long spell of work, feed very 

 sparingly, and then (say in one or two hours' time), give a full 

 meal. 



(2) Medicinal. — Give the following draught at once : — 



Recipe. — Bicarbonate of potash, \ ounce (dissolved in 

 water, i ounce) ; and add to it linseed oil, i\ pints ; mix, and 

 administer the whole. If preferred, four drachms of aloes 

 (dissolved in four ounces of hot water), can be given along 

 with three-quarters of a pint of linseed oil. In about half-an- 

 hour's time, provided that pain is present, but sleepiness absent, 

 or cnly present to a slight degree, it will be advisable to try 

 and do away with the former, for which purpose the draught 

 as below, may be given : — 



Recipe. — Tincture of belladonna, \ ounce ; tincture of 

 hyoscyamus, i ounce ; tincture of capsicum, 2 drachms ; 

 tincture of ginger, 3 drachms ; water, \ pint ; mix, make 

 draught, and give the whole to a moderate or large sized horse, 



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