DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF THE HORSE 143 



quantities, but often. Do not be misled by this symptom, as 

 it is caused by the swollen stomach and bowels pressing on 

 the bladder. 



It is a very important matter to become very familiar 

 with the causes, symptoms and treatment of this disease, as 

 it is so frequently met with. 



2. Rupture of the Stomach. 



This is generally met with during a severe attack of 

 acute indigestion. 



Causes. — A horse suffering from acute indigestion will, 

 because of the pain, sometimes throw himself down on his 

 side. The stomach being so distended or swollen with gas is 

 unable to resist the sudden jolt of falling. It consequently 

 breaks open or becomes ruptured. 



Symptoms. — The animal suddenly becomes very bad — 

 much worse than before. The pulse beats faster but weaker. 

 The whole body soon becomes a mass of perspiration. The 

 bowels and stomach become swollen ; the legs, ears and nose 

 begin to get cold. These symptoms are alarming and indicate 

 approaching death. 



Treatment. — A rupture of the stomach proves fatal in a 

 very short time, consequently there is no treatment that will 

 effect a cure. All that can be done is to make the patient as 

 comfortable as possible and relieve the pain by giving an 

 ounce of laudanum in a pint of luke-warm water. 



3. Gastrites or Inflammation of the Stomach. 



This is not a very common disease and is very rarely 

 met with among horses. 



Causes. — The giving of arsenic or other irritating medi- 

 cines, the drinking of brine and feeding upon poisonous 

 weeds or branches and leaves of the yew tree are among the 

 more common causes. 



Symptoms. — A constant desire to lie down and get up 

 again, accompanied by a tendency to sweat freely, indicates 

 severe pain. In the first stages, the pulse is high and wiry 

 but gradually becomes weaker as the disease progresses. 

 Many of the symptoms, noticeable during an attack of inflam- 

 mation of the stomach, are very similar to those of inflamma- 

 tion of the bowels which occasionally accompanies it. 

 Inflammation of the stomach, however, is not nearly so fatal. 



Treatment. — In order to make the treatment as effective 

 as possible it is very important to ascertain the cause. This 



