636 INTESTINAL SYMPTOMS AND FUNCTIONAL DISORDERS. 



at work until an advanced period of gestation, and where they 

 have been Hberally fed upon dry and rather concentrated food, 

 or where the period of gestation has been unnaturally pro- 

 longed; it may, however, be observed in foals whose dams 

 have been subjected to none of these influences. 



The young creature suffering from this disturbance is 

 obviously uneasy ; it may keep stretching itself as if wanting 

 to urinate, elevating its tail and straining much, while if not 

 relieved, colicky pains are a usual feature ; it will lie down and 

 attempt to roll, or persistently turn its head to the flank. A 

 little continuous watching, and an exploration of the rectum 

 with the oiled finger, will usually satisfy us of the true state of 

 the canal and its contents. 



The knowledge that such a condition of the foal is possible, 

 or indeed highly probable, is suflicient with the majority of care- 

 ful men of any experience in attending upon breeding mares, 

 to cause particular attention to be directed to ensure a regular 

 and rather moist state and healthy condition of the alimentary 

 canal of the dam some time antecedent to the period of partu- 

 rition. While, when the young animal gives indications of 

 this unnatural confinement, an early enema of oil will gener- 

 ally succeed in facilitating the removal of the offending 

 material; this will require to be repeated until it is evident that 

 a natural action has been obtained. In all cases where the 

 material is hard, it is better to remove it Avith a scoop, or by 

 means of the finger, previous to employing the enema. Some 

 carry out the practice of gently passing a tallow candle into 

 the rectum, and allowing it to remain for some time, which in 

 the milder cases is sufficient, when repeated three or four times 

 daily, to secure all that is needed. 



I have in many instances felt satisfied that benefit resulted 

 from keeping the mare for some da3^s almost entirely on sloppy 

 food, and allowing her in the drinking-water a full supply 

 of sulphate of soda or magnesia. In others, when the patient 

 is more disturbed and abdominal pain is considerable, it will 

 be requisite to exhibit an ounce or two of castor or linseed oil, 

 and to apply cloths wrung from warm Avater around the 

 abdomen, to be supplemented on their removal by friction 

 with a little soap liniment. The pain will, as a rule, disappear 

 when the bowel has begun to act naturally. 



