STONE IN THE BOWELS — STOMACH STAGGEES. 87 



STONE IN THE BOWELS. 



Hard, stone-like substances sometimes form in the large guts 

 of the horse, and may increase to several pounds weight. 

 These give rise to colic, and obstruct the passage through the 

 bowels. Fortunately, they do not occur very frequently. There 

 are no symptoms by which to tell, with any degree of certainty, 

 that they exist in the bowels, and no known means of re- 

 moving them. They are, probably, a result of indigestion. 



STOMACH STAGGERS. 



Under this head, I shall include both forms of staggers aris- 

 ing from disordered conditions of the stomach; and I deem 

 this course proper, from the fact that the treatment of the two 

 does not essentially differ. 



Spnj)toms. — The earliest symptoms are a dull heaviness, or 

 drowsiness, with languor or lassitude. These symptoms may 

 continue for a day or more, or, in some cases, not so long, and 

 may not attract the notice of the owner or keeper. But, sooner 

 or later, the horse grows more drowsy, and falls asleep, with 

 his head down, resting against the trough or any thing conven- 

 ient ; his sleep seems very profound — perhaps snoring ; and all 

 of a sudden arouses up as if scared, throwing his head violently 

 about, often beating it against the rack or wall ; pawing, as if 

 in the act of moving rapidly, being evidently in a state of act- 

 ive delirium ; the eyes wear a wild expression ; the horse will 

 sometimes fall and rise again ; and these symptoms continue 

 until, finally, convulsions (or fits) come on, and the horse dies. 



In other cases, the drowsy symptoms continue, and, if roused 

 up, the horse goes to eating, grabs a bunch of hay, and, while 

 in the act of chewing it, again falls asleep, with head in the 

 manger ; he braces his head, as if endeavoring to push it for- 

 ward ; if he moves, his gait is staggering. These symptoms 

 continue until the horse drops and dies. 



