rXFLAMMATIOX OF THE BOWELS. 33 



treated. It is also a disease which is often mistaken for some 

 other ailment; and hence its symptoms should be carefully 

 studied, as the only sure way to avoid mistakes. 



Symjitoms. — If the horse be carefully observed, there will be 

 seen symptoms of fever present; but after awhile there will 

 be observed restlessness, looking around at the side, and ten- 

 derness of the bowels, on pressure by the hand. And though 

 the symptoms, in the earlier stage of the disease, somewhat 

 resemble those of colic, the pain will be found to be continuous, 

 while in colic it comes on by sj^ells. In inflammation of the 

 bowels, the pulse is increased in frequenc}^, and increases as the 

 disease progresses. The belly becomes very tender, and the 

 slightest pressure on it gives great pain ; it is tight, and drawn, 

 up; the nostrils open wide, and the breathing is very rapid. 

 Some degree of heat about the mouth, and redness of the inside^ 

 of the nose and mouth, will be observed. To move seems to 

 increase his pain ; he looks anxiously at his flanks, and groans ;. 

 he champs and grinds his teeth together ; he lies down at full 

 length on his side, throws his head back, and paws with his 

 fore-feet. He sweats profusely ; becomes weak and tremulous ; 

 the eyes become glary; the lips hang loosely; the sweat be- 

 comes cold, and the powers of life fail. During the progress, 

 of the disease, the bowels may be costive, and the balls of 

 dung passed covered with mucus. But inflammation of the^ 

 bowels may be caused by over-action of physic, and, when so- 

 caused, the bowels will be very loose during the progress of the- 

 disease. 



The diseases for which inflammation of the inner coat of the- 

 bowels may be mistaken, are its kindred diseases — inflamma- 

 tion of the stomach and bowels, and inflammation of the ^m~ 

 toneum, or outer covering of the bowels, and for colic. 



To distinguish it from colic, see the article on that disease,, 

 where the principal differences are given, side by side. 



The symptoms of inflammation of the outer covering of the 

 bowels are more severe, and the disease runs its course more 

 3 



