DIARRHCEA. 63& 



sudden changes in the food-supply, particularly if such are 

 made from a dietary moderately dry and concentrated to one 

 rather bulky and moist, are very apt, even with quiet work, 

 and certainly Avith rapid exertion, to be accompanied, or 

 closely followed, with a lax condition of the bowels. While 

 certain articles, otherwise wholesome enough, when given as 

 food in particular conditions to horses not habituated to these, 

 will tend to produce the same results. It is in this manner 

 that new hay, new oats, or even good, well-seasoned bruised 

 grains, cannot be given with impunity to horses engaged in 

 rapid or severe Avork without a previous education. Other 

 articles, again, totally unfit for horse-provender, are yet per- 

 sistently employed as such, although so frequently productive 

 of not only troublesome, but also of serious consequences. 

 Of these we may instance brewers' grains, roots of all kinds, 

 either cooked or raw, especially potatoes. 



The existence of a state of plethora in horses, while at the 

 same time highly nutritious food is still continued to be given, 

 together with a want of regular exercise, or too little of it, 

 with an occasional smart burst of work, will, particularly in 

 aged animals, tend to the development of diarrhoea. This it 

 seems to do through disturbance and congestion of the hepatic 

 and portal system reacting on that of the intestine, inducing a 

 state of passive congestion, there being at the same time no 

 increased arterial pressure or engorgement of the submucous 

 tissue. 



This state of congestion, attended with watery and serous 

 exudation, is usually not limited or circumscribed, but diffused 

 over a rather extensive surface of the intestinal tube. 



Besides this influence, rather indirect, of hepatic disturb- 

 ance, there is also to be noticed that which is more direct in 

 the action of an increased outpouring of the biliary secretion, 

 which in numerous instances is the cause of augmented intes- 

 tinal action and a liquid condition of the excreta. 



Symptoms. — These are what may be termed unequivocal, and 

 sufficiently attractive to direct immediate attention to the con- 

 dition of the horse. 



Most probably when resulting from an immediate error in 

 dieting, either as to quantity or quality, or to water given in 

 excess, the symptoms may develop themselves with much 



