€18 CERTAIN GASTRIC SYMPTOMS AND FUNCTIONAL DISORDERS. 



dentition, injuries to tlie mouth, or diseases of the teeth them- 

 selves ; any of these, if existing, must at once be attended to. 

 When none of these causes seem to exist, and where the bowels 

 are not already in a lax condition, the exhibition of a dose of 

 laxative medicine is generally indicated ; following this, should 

 evidence of acidity of the stomach — pyrosis — be shown by the 

 eating of earth, the licking of the walls, or by acid eructations, 

 moderate and repeated doses of some mild alkali, as bicarbonate 

 of'soda or potash, are indicated ; these may be exhibited in the 

 drinking-water or in the food, or they may be combined with 

 powder, or extract of gentian, or powdered myrrh, and given 

 as a bolus two or three times daily. Glycerine four fluid 

 ounces, with water eight, given twice or three times daily, I 

 have found of advantage in some of these cases. 



At the same time it is absolutely needful, whatever the 

 dietary may have been, that a change should be adopted. 

 Should the animal have been receiving dry grains, with hay, 

 this ought to be changed to some soft material, as a httle 

 steamed oats with bran, to which a little crushed linseed has 

 been added. If cooked food has been the usual diet, substi- 

 tute uncooked grain, with dry bran, and add a little linseed- 

 oil. Most animals will take this with a very little education ; 

 it is best given in small quantities at first, from a half to two 

 fluid ounces twice daily ; and when taken readily, it may be 

 increased. The bran, when added to the oats, is useful as a 

 means of mixing the oil ; and in all cases it is better that the 

 quantity of food given be rather restricted, even when the 

 appetite would seem to demand more. 



When acidity of the stomach is a troublesome symptom, 

 it is good to place in the manger a large piece of chalk, of 

 which the horse may take as he feels inchned, instead of eating 

 earth. 



Tonic medicines, as preparations of iron, are not admissible 

 in all cases ; indeed, their indiscriminate use is productive of 

 evil rather than good. It is better to exercise patience for 

 some time, and trust to dietetic management, ere recourse is 

 had to medicine. 



I have found good to result in some of these obscure cases 

 from the use of ox-gall, prepared by reducing it to the condi- 

 tion of a soft extract by boiling in a Avater-bath, and giving it, 



