DISEASES OF HORSES 113 



cilities are available, relief may be afforded by passing an esoph- 

 aeeal tube through which some of the gaseous and liquid contents 

 of the stomach may escape. 



Rupture of the Stomach. This mostly occurs as a result of en- 

 gorged or tympanitic stomach and from the horse violently throw- 

 ing himself when so affected. It may result from disease of the 

 coats of the stomach, gastritis, stones, tumors, or anything that 

 closes the opening of the stomach into the intestines, and very 

 violent pulling or jumping immediately after the animal has eaten 

 heartily of bulky food. These or similar causes may lead to this 

 accident. 



The symptoms of rupture of the stomach are not constant or 

 always reliable. Always make inquiry as to what and how much 

 the horse has been fed at the last meal. Vomiting may precede 

 rupture of this organ, as stated above. This accident appears to be 

 most likely to occur in heavy draft horses. A prominent symptom 

 observed (though it may also occur in diaphragmatic hernia) is 

 where the horse, if possible, gets the front feet on higher ground 

 than the hind ones or sits on his haunches, like a dog. This posi- 

 tion affords relief to some extent, and it will be maintained for some 

 minutes; it is also quickly regained when the horse has changed it 

 for some other. Colicky symptoms, of course, are present, and these 

 will vary much and present no diagnostic value. As the case pro- 

 gresses the horse will often stretch forward the fore legs, lean back- 

 ward and downward until the belly nearly touches the ground, and 

 then rise up again with a groan, after which the fluid from his 

 nostrils is issued in increased quantity. The pulse is fast and weak, 

 breathing hurried, body bathed in a clammy sweat, limbs tremble 

 violently, the horse reels or staggers from side to side, and death 

 quickly ends the scene. 



In the absence of any pathognomonic symptom we must take 

 into account the history of the case; the symptoms of colic that 

 cease suddenly and are succeeded by cold sweats and tremors; the 

 pulse quick and small and thready; growing weak and more fre- 

 quent, and at length running down and becoming altogether im- 

 perceptible; looking back at the flank and groaning; sometimes 

 crouching with the hind quarters; with or without eructation and 

 vomiting. 



There is no treatment that can be of any use whatever. Could 

 we be sure of our diagnosis it would be better to destroy the animal 

 at once. Since, however, there is always the possibility of a mistake 

 in diagnosis, we may give powdered opium in 1-dram doses every 

 two or three hours, with the object of keeping the stomach as quiet 

 as possible. 



(2) OBSTRUCTION COLIC. The stomach or bowels may be 

 obstructed by accumulations of partly digested food, by foreign 

 bodies, by displacements, by paralysis, or by abnormal growths. 



Impaction of the Large Intestines. This is a very common 

 bowel trouble and one which, if not promptly recognized and prop- 

 erly treated, results in death. It is caused by overfeeding, especially 



