66 DISEASES OF THE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM. 



whatever. In an attack of indigestion, changes occur in the digestive 

 tract hoth ahove and below the stomach. The former are shown by thirst, 

 a coated tongue, hot nose, increased salivary secretion, and a foul breath. 

 Below the stomach, associated disorders are manifested by constipation or 

 diarrhoea, abdominal distension, and colic. 



The animal is often dull, listless, and depressed in his manner, and in 

 severe cases fever in a certain degree, is present. 



Treatment. —In some attacks of indigestion a regulated diet suffices to 

 control the disturbance. When the disease is of a more severe nature, the 

 stomach must be favored as much as possible, and only the simplest and 

 most easily digested articles of food given. 



In commencing treatment it is desirable to remove any portions of food 

 retained in the stomach and fermented, the presence of which keeps up 

 the irritation of the gastric mucous membrane. This can be done by 

 emetics or laxatives. If persistent vomiting has existed, naturally emetics 

 are contra-indicated ; the same with laxatives if diarrhoea is present, unless 

 the discharges are very offensive in character, in which instance a cathar- 

 tic need not be withheld, but would rather be indicated to remove the 

 exciting cause evidently still acting. The wine of ipecac is recommended 

 as an emetic, two teaspoonfuls of which should be given as the first dose, 

 followed by one teaspoonful every ten minutes imtil vomiting occurs. 



From its peculiar action in neutralizing the abnormal quantity of acid in 

 the stomach, calcined magnesia is the better laxative to employ, and one 

 teaspoonful should be given in milk. 



After the stomach has been emptied of its irritating contents, the great- 

 est care should be exercised in feeding, and only the simplest and most 

 easily digested articles of food chosen. In the severest cases, nourishment 

 should be given every two or three hours. No better diet can be advised 

 than scraped raw beef, raw eggs, and a little gelatine mixed together, and 

 given in tablespoonful quantites. As the stomach grows stronger the diet 

 may be varied by giving milk and lime water, bread and milk, beef tea, 

 meat stews well cooked, flavored with a little onion and thickened with 

 rice, com, or oatmeal, the animal allowed to eat of the meat chopped fine. 

 It must be remembered that the liability to vomit is increased in propor- 

 tion to the amount of food taken into the stomach. 



In the use of medicines in indigestion, the peculiarities of the animal 

 must be understood, and experimental treatment as in feeding may be 

 necessary. 



The writer submits a variety of drugs and combinations applicable to the 

 different indications and phases of the disease ; if the use of one proves 

 unsuccessful another should be substituted. 



In cases of vomiting, from five to ten grains of the subnitrate of bismuth 



