130 



THE MODERN SYSTEM 



ON DIARRHOEA, LOOSENESS, OR 

 SCOURING. 



This disease is decidedly a weakness of the 

 absorbents to take up the watery matter 

 secreted within the intestines, consequently, an 

 increased action of the peristaltic motion is set 

 up to get rid of this watery fluid, from this 

 cause the evacuations of the dung is pro- 

 duced in a liquid form. This disease is not 

 like dysentry ; for here the purging from the 

 first instance continues luitil arrested, the 

 dung also being in such a continual fluid state, 

 there is none of that slimy matter attached to 

 it that is in dysentry, which is commonly 

 called melting of the fat ; there is little or no 

 fever attached to this disease, and I think 

 properly speaking none, for if the pulse should 

 at all become quick and hurried, it is more 

 from debility than from any other cause : this 

 is different to those Horses which are likely to 

 purge from excitement ; for I have seen many 

 Horses full of ffood keep, their bowels regu- 

 larly open, sufficiently healthy, on going to 

 hounds, commence purging instantly ; this 

 must occur from nervous excitement. Some 

 Horses are liable to purge from the least ex- 

 citement; and this most frequently arises from 

 peculiar make and col mr, such as light 

 chesnut-horses ; flat-si'led, long lank legs, are 

 more subject to intestinal, and other internal 

 diseases than any other kind of Horses. But 

 in diarrhoea the Horse appears dull, heavy, 

 and inactive, seemingly oppressed, and visibly 

 over-loaded, though without anv appe ranee 

 of pain, birt subject to general disquietude, 

 the discharge is large in qirantity, dark in 

 colour, foetid in smell. Nature, in the present 

 instance, generally jierforms her own work 

 with so much ease and freauencv, ibi- ature 



does not purge herself until she wants purging ; 

 proving, in my opinion, the system wants 

 rousing, for debility being, I am confident, the 

 first cairse. 



Diarrhoea seems evidently to depend on an 

 increase of the peristaltic motion, or of the 

 secretion of the intestines ; and besides the 

 causes already noticed, it may arise from 

 many others, influencing the system generally, 

 or the particular seat of the disease. Of the 

 former kind are colds, checking perspiration, 

 excitement, and other disorders, di'astic cath- 

 artics, spontaneous acidity, &c. In this com- 

 plaint each discharge is usually preceded by 

 a murmuring noise, with a sense of weight 

 and uneasiness in the hypogastrium, what by 

 grooms is called tvash bellied. When it is 

 protracted, the Horse loses his appetite, and 

 his countenance becomes dull, and the skin 

 generally dry, hard, and the coat staring. 

 Ultimately great debility and emaciation, and 

 swelling of the legs often supervene; some- 

 times it arises from ulceration of the internal 

 surface of the intestines, and frequently to a 

 considerable extent. The bile also, from some 

 peculiar change in its nature, \\'\\\ produce 

 diarrhoea, occasioned principally from bad 

 food. The disease, though not so much 

 thought of as it ought to be, is the cause of 

 many a valuable Hor-se becoming its victim, 

 and that in my opinion from improper treat- 

 ment ; for some people are apt to go to the other 

 extreme, and administer to the Horse a long 

 list (.fastr-ingents to stay ihe pnr'ging, which 

 in my opinion is highly improper, as 1 before 

 remarked. Debility, and debility alone, is the 

 cause of diarrhoea, let it be excited or brought 

 on by whatever means it may. 



For the cure of this disease, then, 1 should 

 recommend, first, a proper attention to be 



