DISEASES AND TREATMENT OF THE HORSE 153 



but little and looks dull and dumpy. His water is of a thick, 

 yellow color. Examine his rectum or back bowel by oiling 

 your hand and passing it in through the anus. This can be 

 done easily and without any danger. You will find it full of 

 hard, dry manure. 



Treatment. — Commence by giving a good dose of physic, 

 consisting of: 



Bitter Aloes 8 to 10 drams. 



Sweet Spirits of Nitre 1 ounce or 4 dessertspoonfuls. 



Powdered Nux Vomica 1 teaspoonful. 



Mix in a pint of lukewarm water and give as a drench. 

 In twenty-four hours follow up with the following drenches : 



Sweet Spirits of Nitre 1 ounce or 4 dessertspoonfuls. 



Powdered Nux Vomica 1 teaspoonful. 



Bicarbonate Soda 1 dessertspoonful. 



Ginger 1 dessertspoonful. 



Mix in a pint of lukewarm water and give as a drench 

 every five or six hours until the pain is relieved. If the 

 bowels have not begun to move by this time follow up with 

 a drench of one pint of raw linseed oil. Clean the manure 

 from the rectum or back bowel with your hand twice a day, 

 and give an injection of four quarts of lukewarm water con- 

 taining a little castile soap. As soon as the pain is relieved, 

 and the bowels are working, it is well to give the following 

 powder: 



Ground Gentian Root J4 pound. 



Ginger y A pound. 



Bicarbonate Soda y A pound. 



Powdered Nux Vomica % pound. 



Mix thoroughly and give a teaspoonful three times a day 

 in his feed or on his tongue with a spoon. The powders are 

 intended to strengthen and tone the bowels and build up the 

 system. Feed on soft feed containing plenty of flax seed, 

 which is especially good for weak bowels. During treatment 

 for constipation, should the physic not seem to be effective, 

 a little exercise will often start it to work. 



10. Diarrhoea. 



This is a condition the very opposite to constipation, 

 there being the passage of a large amount of fluid manure, 

 due to the congested state of the bowels. Horses of weak 

 conformation — narrow chested and gaunt looking — are more 

 frequently affected than those having a rugged frame and a 

 good constitution. 



