76 DISEASES OF THE HORSE. 



avoided. If the horse can have a loose box or paddock, it is the best, 

 as he will then take what exercise he wants. If the patient is ex- 

 tremely violent, it is often wise to restrain him by leading: him with a 

 halter, since rupture of the stomach or displacement of the bowels 

 may result and complicate the trouble. 



INDIGESTION OR GASTROINTESTINAL CATARRH. 



From the facts that they merge insensibly into each other and 

 usually occur simultaneously, there is ample reason for considering 

 these conditions together. This condition may be acute — that is, of 

 sudden onset — or it may be chronic. The changes of structure pro- 

 duced by this disease occur in the mucous membrane lining of the 

 stomach and intestines. This membrane becomes red from increased 

 blood supply or from hemorrhage into it, is swollen, and is covered 

 by a coating of slimy mucus. In some especially severe cases the mem- 

 brane is destroyed in spots, causing the appearance of ulcers or of 

 erosions. 



The causes of indigestion are numerous, but nearly all are the 

 result of errors in feeding. 



Some horses are naturalh'^ endowed with weak digestive organs, 

 and such are predisposed to this condition. Anything that irritates 

 the stomach or intestines may cause this disease. Feeds that the 

 animal is unaccustomed to, sudden changes of diet, imperfectly cured, 

 unripe, or damaged feeds are all fruitful causes, and so are worms. 

 In suckling foals this condition may come from some disease of the 

 dam that renders her milk indigestible, or from overexertion or over- 

 heating of the mare. Another prolific cause is bad teeth, making 

 mastication imperfect, and thus causing the horse to swallow his feed 

 in a condition unfit for the action of the digestive juices. "Working a 

 horse too soon or too hard after feeding may cause either colic or 

 indigestion. Any condition that reduces the vitality, such as disease, 

 overwork, poor feed, or lack of care, may directly bring on indiges- 

 tion by weakening the digestive organs. 



Symptoms. — Indigestion is characterized by irregular appetite; 

 refusing all feed at times, and at others eating ravenously; the appe- 

 tite is not only irregular, but is often depraved ; there is a disposition 

 on the part of the horse to eat unusual substances, such as wood, 

 soiled bedding, or even his own feces; the bowels are irregular to-day, 

 loose and bad smelling, to-morrow bound ; Avhole grain is often passed 

 in the feces, and the hay passed in balls or impacted masses, under- 

 going but little change: the horse frequently passes considerable 

 quantities of sour-smelling wind. The animal loses flesh, the skin 

 presents a hard, dry appearance and seems very tight (hide-bound). 

 If the stomach is verv seriouslv involved, the horse may yawn by 



