HORSE— CARE AND MANAGEMENT. 



93 



An examination of the cause of inflam- 

 mation of the bowels is the only means 

 by which the one form can be distin- 

 guished from the other. If it has been 

 brought about from exposure to cold, or 

 from over-stimulating medicines given 

 for colic, the probability is that the serous 

 covering of the intestines themselves is 

 chiefly involved ; while if it has followed 

 castration it may generally be conclud- 

 ed that the peritoneal lining of the 

 abdominal muscles has taken on in- 

 flammatory action by immediate exten- 

 sion from the serous lining of the inguinal 

 canal, which is continuous with it. In 

 each case, however, the symptons are as 

 nearly as may be the same, and without 

 knowing the previous history, we believe 

 no one could distinguish the one disease 

 from the other — nor should the treatment 

 vary in any respect. 



The symptoms of peritoneal inflamma- 

 tion vary in intensity, and in the rapidity 

 of their development, but they usually 

 show themselves in the following order : 

 At first there is simple loss of appetite, 

 dulness of eye, and a general uneasiness, 

 which are soon followed by a slight rigor 

 or shivering. The pulse becomes rapid, 

 but small and wiry, and the horse be- 

 comes very restless, pawing his litter, and 

 looking back at his sides in a wistful 

 and anxious manner. In the next 

 stage all these signs are aggravated ; th e 

 hind legs are used to strike at but not 

 touch the belly ; and the horse lies down, 

 rolls on his back and struggles violendy. 

 The pulse becomes quicker and harder, 

 but it is small. The belly is acutely ten- 

 der and hard to the touch, the bowels are 

 costive, and the horse is constantly turn- 

 ing round, moaning, and regarding his 

 flanks with the most anxious expression 

 of countenance. Next comes on the 

 stage so graphically described by Mr. 

 Percivall in the passage which we have 

 quoted, the whole duration of the attack 

 being from twelve to forty-eight hours in 

 acute cases, and extending to three or 

 four days in those which are denominated 

 sub-acute. 



In the treatment of this disease, as in 

 all those implicating serous membranes, 

 blood must be taken largely, and in a full 

 stream, the quantity usually required to 

 make a suitable impression being from 

 six to eight quarts. The belly should be 



fomented with very hot water, by two 

 men holding against it a doubled blanket 

 dipped in that fluid, which should be- 

 constantly changed, to keep up the tem- 

 perature. The bowels should be back- 

 raked, and the following drench should 

 be given every six hours till it operates, 

 which should be hastened by injections 

 of warm water. 



Take of Linseed Oil 

 Laudanum 



- I pint. 

 • 2 ounces. 



If the first bleeding does not give re- 

 lief in six or eight hours, it must be re- 

 peated to the extent of three or four 

 quarts, and at the same time some liquid 

 blister may be rubbed into the skin of the 

 abdomen, continuing the fomentations, at 

 short intervals, under that part, which will 

 hasten its operation. The diet should be 

 confined to thin gruel, or bran mashes, 

 and no hay should be allowed until the 

 severity of the attack has abated. 



To distinguish this disease from colic is 

 of the highest importance, and for this 

 purpose it will be necessary to describe 

 the symptoms of the latter disease, so as 

 to compare the two together. 

 HORSE, Peritonitis.— (See Horse, Bow- 

 els, Inflammation of.) 



HORSE, Enteritis.— (See Horse, Bow- 

 els, Inflammation of.) 



HORSE, Colic. — In this disease there 

 is spasm of the muscular coat of the in- 

 testines, generally confined to the caecum 

 and colon. Various names have been 

 given to its different forms, such as the 

 fret, the gripes, spasmodic colic, etc., but 

 they all display the above feature, and are 

 only modifications of it, depending upon 

 the cause which has produced it. In spas- 

 modic colic the bowels are not unnatu- 

 rally distended, but in flatulent colic their 

 distension by gas brings on the spasm, 

 the muscular fibres being stretched to so 

 great an extent as to cause them to con- 

 tract irregularly and with a morbid ac- 

 tion. Sometimes, when the bowels are 

 very costive, irritation is established as an 

 effort of nature to procure the dislodge- 

 ment of the impacted faecal matters, and 

 thus a third cause of the disease is dis- 

 covered. The exact nature and cause 

 are always to be ascertained from the his- 

 tory of the case, and its symptoms, and 

 as the treatment will especially be con- 

 ducted with a view to a removal of the 

 cause, they are of the highest impor- 



