CHAPTER IV. 



DISEASES OF THE STOMACH AND THE BOWELS. 



I. The Stomach. 



THE stomach of the horse is very small in proportion 

 to that of other animals. It is the principal organ of 

 the digestive system, the important duty of which is 

 to abstract from the food sufficient nourishment to 

 sustain life ; consequently any disarrangement of this organ 

 or interference with its proper function is liable to terminate 

 in serious illness. 



1. Acute Indigestion. 



Acute indigestion is one of the most common diseases of 

 the horse. 



Causes. — A heavy feed of rich food such as bran, oats or 

 hay, especially if not used to such feed, is liable to cause an 

 attack, in fact the eating of wheat or any other kind of grain 

 may have the same effect. Working too soon after a large 

 meal, a change of food or even a change of work such as from 



Fig. 11. — Suffering from Acute Indigestion. 



