64 DISEASES OF THE HOESE. 



back ; force the knife into the distended bowel, and turn 

 the knife in the Avound thus made, and hold it there until 

 all the imprisoned gas has escaped ; and as the gas some- 

 times still accumulates, keep the knife or instrument in the 

 wound, if it be for half a day. When the knife or instru- 

 ment is taken out, place a piece of sticking plaster over the 

 wound. (See Medicines.) 



Stones, or hair calculi, are often found, after death, in 

 the bowels of horses subject to colic. I have seen six taken 

 from one mare that I had under treatment. Hemember, 

 the great principle in the treatment of colic, in all its 

 forms, is to relieve pain. This also holds good in most 

 diseases of horses. The doctor, if he fail to allay pain, 

 cannot cure the disease. 



Coma. — A horse is said to be in a comatose state when 

 in an apoplectic fit, in sleepy staggers, and when dying 

 from spasmodic colic, (which see.) 



Congestion of the Lungs. — (See Lung Diseases.) 

 Constipation. — A confined condition of the bowels 

 accompanying fever, liver and lung diseases. Horses 

 habitually costive should be supplied with soft feed and 

 grass in season. Costiveness, as a concomitant of fever, 

 etc., should in all cases be let alone, as it is a provision of 

 nature to protect herself from exhaustion. 



Consumption. — Causes. Kepeated attacks of influenza, 

 lung fever, or bronchitis, or any of these diseases treated 

 ' by bleeding, and other reducing remedies or agents. Con- 

 sumption, in the horse, runs its course in from one to tvvo 

 weeks. 



Nature of Consumption. — A wasting, or breaking 

 down of the structure of the lungs. The tuberculous form 

 of consumption I have never seen in the horse. Tubercles 



