DIGESTIVE DISORDERS 



The sudden changing of a horse's diet will at times bring 

 on diarrhoea, as frequently happens when animals are turned 

 out at pasture after, having had dry fodder for a time ; and the 

 converse, can^ with equal propriety, be applied. 



Poisonous materials, either of a herbal or mineral nature, 

 as well as the irritation induced through the consumption of 

 large quantities of roots, may cause diarrhoea. Bad water, or 

 water containing an excess of saline aperient minerals will at 

 times lead to diarrhoea. One very fruitful cause of continuous 

 scouring, in colts and fillies especially, is due to the presence 

 of small round worms. 



Symptoms. — It is not necessary to say much about these, 

 because the excessive passing of liquid faeces is at once obvious. 

 The material ejected is watery, sometimes of a greyish-yellow, 

 and containing particles of solid matter, more rarely blood 

 (see Dysentery). If due to the four-spined worm previously 

 mentioned, one or more of these will very likely be passed in 

 the excrement. Such symptoms as a harsh, and erect, or semi- 

 erect condition of the hair over the body, shght yellowness 

 about the eyes (more especially if the hair is at fault), and 

 frequent pouting of the anus, are commonly present, when due 

 to worms. 



Treatment. — It is difficult to lay down any lines of treat- 

 ment. As a preventive, it is always advisable to bring 

 change of food about gradually. If the water is beheved to 

 be the cause, then an effort must be made to remedy it. 

 Roots, potatoes, and other succulent herbage, will of course 

 require to be withheld for the time being. \Mien diarrhoea 

 comes on during an attack of influenza, it is best combated, 



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