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swallow his food in a condition unfit for the action of the digestive 

 juices. Working a horse too soon or too hard after feeding may 

 cause either colic or indigestion. Any condition that reduces the 

 vitality of the horse, such as disease, overwork, poor food, or lack 

 of care, may indirectly bring on indigestion by weakening the 

 digestive organs. 



Symptoms. Indigestion is characterized by irregular appetite; 

 refusing all food at times, and at others eating ravenously; the appe- 

 tite is not only irregular, but is often depraved ; there is a disposition 

 on the part of the horse to eat unusual substances, such as wood, 

 soiled bedding, or even his own feces; the bowels are irregular to- 

 day, loose and bad smelling, to-morrow bound ; grain is often passed 

 whole in the feces, and the hay passed in balls or impacted masses, 

 undergoing but little change; the horse frequently passes consid- 

 erable quantities of wind that has a sour odor. The animal loses 

 flesh, the skin presents a hard, dry appearance and seems very tight 

 (hide-bound). If the stomach is very seriously involved, the horse 

 may yawn by stretching the head forward and upward and by turn- 

 ing outward the upper lip. There may be more or less colicky pain. 

 In the chronic cases there is mental depression ; the horse is sluggish 

 and dull. The abdomen gradually becomes small, giving a tucked 

 up appearance, or, on the other hand, it becomes flaccid and pen- 

 dulous. 



Treatment. One should commence with the food its quality, 

 quantity, and time of feeding; examine the water supply, and see, 

 besides, that it is given before feeding; then carefully observe the 

 condition of the mouth and teeth ; and, continuing the observations 

 as best we may, endeavor to locate the seat of the trouble. If the 

 teeth are sharp or irregular they must be rasped down; if any are 

 decayed they must be extracted; if indigestion is due to ravenous 

 eating or bolting, the feed must then be given from a large manger 

 where the grain can be spread and the horse thus compelled to eat 

 slowly. 



Any irritation, such as worms, undigested food, etc., that is 

 operating as causes are to be removed by appropriate treatment, as 

 advised elsewhere. If there is a tendency to distention of the 

 stomach and bowels, with gas, during indigestion, the following 

 may be used : Baking soda, powdered ginger, and powdered gentian, 

 equal parts. These are to be thoroughly mixed and given in heap- 

 ing tablespoon ful doses, twice a day, before feeding. This powder 

 is best given by dissolving the above quantity in a half pint of water 

 and given as a drench. 



As a digestive tonic the following is good: Glauber's salts, 2 

 pounds; common salt, 1 pound; baking soda, one-half pound. Of 

 this a heaping tablespoonful may be given in each feed. If diarrhea 

 exists, the treatment advised below may be used. 



DIARRHEA. Diarrhea is due to indigestion or intestinal ca- 

 tarrh or to irritation of the bowels from eating moldy or musty food, 

 drinking stagnant water, diseased condition of the teeth, eating ir- 

 ritating substances, to being kept on low, marshy pastures, and ex- 



