DISEASES OF HORSES 117 



cept constipation. Strangulation of the bowel may take place sud- 

 denly, and the horse die within twenty-four hours, or it may occur 

 after several days a week even and death follow at this time. 

 There are no symptoms positively diagnostic. Colicky pains, more 

 or less severe and continuous, are observed, and there may be at first 

 diarrhea followed by constipation. Severe straining occurs in some 

 instances of intussusception, and this should be given due credit 

 when it occurs. As death approaches the horse sweats profusely, 

 sighs, presents an anxious countenance, the legs and ears become 

 cold, and there is often freedom from pain immediately before 

 death. In some rare instances the horse recovers, even though the 

 invaginated portion of the gut has become strangulated. In this 

 case the imprisoned portion sloughs away so gradually that a union 

 has taken place between the intestines at the point where one por- 

 tion has slipped into that behind it. The piece sloughing off is 

 found passed with the manure. Such cases are exceedingly rare. 

 Nonirritating laxatives, such as castor oil, sweet oil, or calomel in 

 small doses should be given, and creolin in 2-dram doses in a pint of 

 warm water. Soft feed and mucilaginous and nourishing drinks 

 should be given during these attacks. 



Volvulus, Gut-tie, or Twisting of the Bowels. These are the 

 terms applied to the bowels when twisted or knotted. This accident 

 is rather a common one, and frequently results from the violent 

 manner in which a horse throws himself about when attacked by 

 spasmodic colic. The symptoms are the same as those of intussus- 

 ception and obstructions of the bowels; the same directions as to 

 treatment are therefore to be observed. 



Paralysis of the Intestine. This occurs in old, debilitated ani- 

 mals that have been fed on coarse innutritious fodder. This pro- 

 duces a condition of dilatation so pronounced as to make it impos- 

 sible for the intestine to advance its contents, and so obstruction, 

 results. The symptoms are as in other forms of obstruction colic. 

 The history of the case is of much service in diagnosing the trouble. 

 The treatment consists in the administration of laxatives. One may 

 give 1 quart of raw linseed oil and follow it the next day with 1 

 pound of Glauber's salts dissolved in a quart of warm water. Strych- 

 nia may be given in doses of 1 grain two or three times daily. If 

 the stagnant mass of feces is in the rectum, it must be removed with 

 the hand. 



Abnormal Groivths, such as tumors, producing contraction or 

 stricture may be causes of obstruction. The colic caused by these 

 conditions is chronic. The attacks occur at gradually shortening 

 intervals and become progressively more severe. Relief is afforded 

 by the use of purgatives that render the feces soft and thin and thus 

 enable them to pass the obstruction. But in time the contracted 

 place is likely to close so far that passage is impossible and the 

 horse will die. 



(3) FLATULENT COLIC (TYMPANITIC COLIC, WIND COLIC, OR 

 BLOAT). Among the most frequent causes of this form of colic are 

 to be mentioned sudden changes of food, too long fasting, food then 



