DISEASES OF DOMESTIC ANIMALS. 161 



Causes. — Giving rich, succulent food after having been fed on a stimu- 

 lant diet for some time, and such a case may benefit instead of injuring 

 the animal. Turnips, carrots, etc, especially if frozen slightly, are apt 

 to produce it ; also impure and stagnant water which act as a blood poi- 

 son ; or some irritant in the food, as sand, clay, etc.; or it may result 

 from excitement, in race and hunting horses ; or it may be the result of 

 an over-dose of purgative medicine, or of the incautious administration 

 of a moderate dose, and when it is so caused it is called super-purgation. 

 Diarrhoea is not very fatal ; it is often an effort of nature to relive some 

 disease, as in a poison in the blood the readiest way to get rid of it is by 

 way of the bowels If it results from pneumonia, influenza, strangles, 

 impure or stagnant water, then it becomes serious. It is easil,> detected ; 

 the animal passes a large amount of feces, which are of a liquid nature ; 

 at first the pulse is but little affected, but after a day or two it becomes 

 weak and slightly increased — if it continues longer the pulse increases ; 

 the ears and legs are colder than natural. There are slight griping pains 

 in some cases, due to slight irritation, or perhaps to slight spasms of the 

 intestines ; these pains may increase and result in enteritis, especially if 

 it is caused by super-purgation. 



Treatment. — In many cases all you have to do is to change the food, 

 and clothe the body according to the temperature ; and it may be neces- 

 sary to give a little medicine. Endeavour to find the cause, and if it is 

 due to some irritation of the intestines, an astringent would do more 

 harm than good ; but cause the removal of such irritant by giving a lax- 

 ative, combined with opium, a pint of linseed oil and a half ounce of 

 laudanum : or two drachms of aloes, with an equal amount of gentian 

 ginger, or an anti-acid ; but if not due to an irritant, you may give an 

 astringent ; also, cover the animal, stimulate the legs, and sometimes the 

 abdomen. But if diarrhoea has continued some time, it is necessary to 

 stop it.* Give catechu, half ounce to one ounce; gentian, two drachms; 

 ginger, two drachms, and repeat it in from twelve to eighteen hours ; or, 

 oil of turpentine, one ounce ; opium, one drachm, with two or three eggs; 

 or you may be able in some cases to check it with flour, but you must be 

 careful in super-purgation, and it is best to give one drachm of opium 

 and then give tepid water, which tends to soothe and restore the intes- 

 tines to their natural condition. Do not resort to too powerful remedies 

 at first, I treated one case in which I detected sand in the feces, and 

 gave a laxative, and I think there was almost a bucketful of sand passed 

 during twenty-four hours. You must get rid of any irritants, and if 

 necessary give stimulants — good port wine and brandy, if the animal is 

 depressed or takes no food. 



Diarrhoea, in young animals, is sometimes difficult, and sometimes 

 results from a foal being exposed to the cold, or an improper condition of 

 the milk of the mother ; either too rich or too poor will produce it. 



Symptoms. — An undue amount of liquid feces ; the animal weakly and 

 sickly ; the coat staring, and perhaps a sort of curdled fiuid passes with 

 the feces ; and it is necessary to be extremely careful in giving laxatives. 

 You may give one to two ounces of castor oil with a little rhubarb, and 

 endeavour to regulate the condition of the milk, if it is too rich, by giving 

 a moderate amount of food, diuretics, or even laxatives. If the milk is 

 poor, improve by giving a nutritious diet. In working the mare, the 

 udder becomes full, and perhaps over-heated, and if the foal is allowed to 

 take the milk while in this condition, results in diarrhoea. Give a slight 



♦ Flndley Dume gives the dose one to three drachms of catechu. 



