DISEASE3 OF THE INTESTINES. 



A strong aol.tion of aloes should immediately follow vhe bloeding, but, considering 

 the irritable state of the intestines at this period, guarded by opium. This should be 

 quickly followed by back-raking, and injections consisting of warm water, 01 very 

 thin gruel, in which Epsom salts or aloes have been dissolved ; and too much fluid 

 can scarcely be thrown up. If the common ox-bladder and pipe is used, it should be 

 frequently replenished ; but with Read's patent pump, already referred to, sufficient 

 may be injected to penetrate beyond the rectum, and reach to the colon and caecum, 

 and dispose them to evacuate their contents. The horse should likewise be encouraged 

 to drink plentifully of warm water or thin gruel ; and draughts, each containing a 

 couple of drachms of dissolved aloes, with a little opium, should be given every six 

 hours, until the bowels are freely opened. 



It will now be prudent to endeavour to excite considerable external inflammation 

 as near as possible to the seat of internal disease, and therefore the whole of the 

 belly should be blistered. In a well-marked case of this disease, no time should be 

 lost in applying fomentations, but the blister at once resorted to. The tincture of 

 Spanish flies, whether made with spirit of wine or turpentine, should be thoroughly 

 rubbed in. The legs should be well bandaged in order to restore 4 he circulation 

 in them, and thus lessen the flow of blood to the inflamed part; and, for the same 

 reason, the horse should be warmly clothed ; but the air of the stable or box should 

 be cool. 



No corn or hay should be allowed during the disease, but bran mashes, and green 

 meat if it can be procured. The latter will be the best of all food, and may be given 

 without the slightest apprehension of danger. When the horse begins to recover, a 

 handful of corn may be given two or three times in the day ; and, if the weather is 

 warm, he may be turned into a paddock for a few hours in the middle of the day. 

 Clysters of gruel should be continued for three or four days after the inflammation is 

 beginning to subside, and good hand-rubbing applied to the legs. 



The second variety of inflammation of the bowels affects the internal or mucous 

 coat, and is generally the consequence of physic in too great quantity, or of an im- 

 proper kind. The purging is more violent and continues longer than was intended , 

 the animal shows that he is suffering great pain ; he frequently looks round at Lis 

 flanks; his breathing is laborious, and the pulse is quick and small not so small, 

 however, as in inflammation of the peritoneal coat, and, contrary to some of the most 

 frequent and characteristic symptoms of that disease, the mouth is hot and the legs 

 and ears are warm. Unless the purging is excessive, and the pain and distress great, 

 the surgeon should hesitate at giving any astringent medicine at first; but he should 

 plentifully administer gruel or thin starch, or arrow-root, by the mouth and by clyster, 

 removing all hay and corn, and particularly green meat. He should thus endeavour 

 to soothe the irritated surface of the bowels, while he permits all remains of the pur- 

 gative to be carried off. If, however, twelve hours have passed, and the purging 

 and the pain remain undiminished, he should continue the gruel, adding to it chalk, 

 catechu, and opium, repeated every six hours. As soon as the purging begins to 

 subside, the astringent medicine should be lessened in quantity, and gradually dis- 

 continued. Bleeding will rarely be necessary, unless the inflammation is very great, 

 and attended by symptoms of general fever. The horse should be warmly clothed, 

 and placed in a comfortable stable, and his legs should be hand-rubbed and bandaged. 



Violent purging, and attended with much inflammation and fever, will occur from 

 other causes. Green meat will frequently purge. A horse worked hard upon green 

 meat will sometimes scour. The remedy is change of diet, or less labour. Young 

 horses will often be strongly purged, without any apparent cause. Astringents should 

 be used with much caution here. It is probably an effort of nature to get rid of some- 

 thing that offends. A few doses of gruel will assist in effecting this purpose, and 

 the purging will cease without astringent medicine. 



Many horses that are not well-ribbed home having too great space between the las* 

 lib and the hip-bone are subject to purging if more than usual exertion is required 

 from them. They are recognised by the term of washy horses. They are often free 

 and fleet, but destitute of continuance. They should have rather more than the usual 

 allowance of corn, with beans, when at work. A cordial ball, with catechu and 

 arium, will ofter \>e serviceable either before or after a journey. 



