108 THE DISEASES OF THE HORSE. 



Diarrhea in foals and calves is often attended with seri- 

 ous or fatal results, and it is sometimes epizootic. Its 

 cause is functional disturbance, which is intimately asso- 

 ciated with the process of digestion. 



Remedy. — Laxatives in first stage to remove irritant. 

 Rest; comfortably warm. Restrict water; diet carefully; 

 wheaten Hour gruel. Alkalies; chalk where dejections 

 (excrements or feces) are acid. Mineral acids or gallic 

 acid, with opium, in profuse watery discharges. Injec- 

 tions of starch gruels at 100° F., with lead acetate and 

 opium. Aromatics and camphor abate nervous irritability. 

 Oil of cinnamon in cases resulting from cold. Volatile 

 oils, ether, chloroform, chlorodyne in moderate but fre- 

 quently repeated doses relieve flatulence and spasm. Am- 

 monia carbonate where watery secretions are continued 

 and the heart action weak. Arsenic and opium in chronic 

 cases. Copper sulphate ; corrosive sublimate, with creo- 

 sote and opium, when chronic discharges contain mucus 

 and blood. Ergotin and opium, with keratin, where the 

 discharges are profuse and continued. Antiseptics, sul- 

 phites, sulpho-carbolates where discharges are foul. Nitric 

 acid and mix vomica when complicated with liver disorder. 



For young animals : Castor oil with a few drops laud- 

 num. While patient is fed on milk, if it disagrees when 

 given with lime water in cautiously regulated, restricted 

 quantity, substitute cooked starch food, or beef tea and 

 white of egg, with a little wine or spirit, if the animal 

 is reduced. Gray powder where the discharge is pale and 

 fetid. (For doses, see pages 13 to 29.) ' Spirit' usually 

 means alcohol; but it also means whisky, gin, Avine, &c. 



DYSENTERY OR BLOODY FLUX 



Is comparatively rare, but dangerous. It consists in 

 inflammation and ulceration of the mucous membrane and 

 glandular structures of the large and sometimes the small 

 intestines, and is attended with fever, occasional abdomi- 



