96 THE DISEASES OF THE HORSE. 



INFLAMMATION OF THE STOMACH (GAS- 

 TRITIS), 



Is rare as an independent disease. It is probably always 

 the result of irritation of the mucous membrane. This 

 may be caused by improper food, especially in foals and 

 calves; foreign bodies, specific fevers, mineral and vege- 

 table poisons, &c. 



Symptoms. — There are no sure signs to detect the* in- 

 dependent form of the disease. In the poisonous form 

 the symptoms vary with the dose and effect rather than 

 with the kind of poison. Blue vitriol, corrosive sublimate, 

 or arsenic causes nausea, loathing of food, often accom- 

 panied by a discharge of saliva; horse paws, looks dis- 

 tressfully at flanks, lies down, rolls about, rises in great 

 agony; quick and painful heaving at the flanks; finally 

 breaks into profuse perspiration. Other poisons cause vom- 

 iting, belching, enormous gaseous distension ; pulse at first 

 quick, then contracted to a thread, afterward impercepti- 

 ble ; prostration ; reels in walking ; bowels either violently 

 purged or else so constricted that, notwithstanding painful 

 efforts, nothing but mucus is passed; grows delirious and 

 dangerous; falls, stretches limbs, groans, gapes, dies. 



Remedy — An oily laxative removes any irritant and 

 irritant discharges. Ice, with hydrocyanic acid or mor- 

 phine, or morphine hypodermically, for irritation and pain. 

 Antacids and bismuth, with or without small doses of 

 opium, most useful in young animals. Hot fomentations 

 to abdomen. The brain symptoms and paralysis often oc- 

 curring in adult cattle, is usually relieved by full doses 

 of oil, followed by demulcents, molasses, salines, and lax- 

 ative injections. Patients nourished with milk, well boiled 

 gruel, and nutritive clysters. For doses, see pages 13 to 29. 



Robertson describes a chronic or mild form of gastritis. 



