DISEASES OF THE DIGESTIVE ORGANS. 79 



gruel. After this th& astringents s[K)ken of I'nr iliarrhea may lie 

 given. Besides this the liorso is to receive brandy in doses of from 

 2 to 4 ounces, with milk antl eggs, foui- or ti\e times a day. 



Laminitis ("founder") is a frequent secjuel of superpurgation and 

 is to be guaiik'd against by removing the shoes and standing the horse 

 on moist sawdust or some siuiihir bedding. 



DYSENTERY. 



This disease, sometimes called "bloody flux," is an intestinal disease 

 attended with fever, occasional abdominal pains, and fluid di.s- 

 charges mingled with blood. Discharges in dysentery are coffee 

 colored or bloody, li(iuid. and very offensive in odor, and passed 

 with much .straining. It is rare in the hoise, but is sometime^s 

 quite prevalent among foals. 



Causes. — Probably the most common cause is keeping young horses 

 in particular for a long time on low, wet, marshy pastures, without 

 other feed (a diarrhea of long standing sometimes terminates in dys- 

 entery) ; exposure during cold, \\et weather; decomposed feeds; stag- 

 nant water that contains large quantities of decomposing vegetable 

 matter; low, damp, and dark stables, particularly if crowded: the 

 existence of some disease, as tuberculosis, of the abdominal form. In 

 suckling foals it may come from feeding the dam on irritant feeds or 

 from disease of the udder. In other foals it may be produced by 

 exposure to cold and damp, to iiritant feed, or to worms. 



Symptoms. — The initial symptom is a chill, which probably esca])es 

 notice in the majority of instances. The discharges are offensive and 

 for the most part liquid, although it is common to find lumps of solid 

 fecal matter floating in this liquid portion; shreds of mucous mem- 

 ])rane and blood may be passed or the evacuations may be muco-puiii- 

 lent; there is much straining, and. rarely, symptoms of abdominal 

 pain; the subje^'t lies down a great deal; the pulse is quickened jind 

 the teuiperature elevated. Thirst is a j)rominent .symptom. In the 

 adult, death rarely follows under two to three wi'oK-^. l»iit in fo.iK the 

 disease mtiy end in death after a few days. 



Treatnwnt. — This is most unsatisfactory, and I aui inclined to 

 place more dependence upon the care and feetl than any metlication 

 tliat may be adopted. First of all the horse nuist be placed in a dry, 

 warm, yet well-ventilated stable: the .skin is to receive attention by 

 fretjuent rubbings of the surface of the body, with blaidvcts, and 

 bandages to the legs. The water must be pure and given in snuill 

 quantities: the feed, that which is light and easily digested. Medici- 

 nally, give at first a light do.se of castor oil, about one-half junt, to 

 which has been added *2 ounces of laudanum. The vegetable or min- 

 eral astringents aie al.so to be given. Starch injecti«ms containing 

 laudanum often afford great relief. The strength must be kept up 



