384 THE rRACTICE OF VETERINARY MEDICINE. 



hydrogen, and carbonic acid gas. Rupture of the stomach 

 occasionally occurs. In other cases the stomach and bowels 

 become so distended that the movements of the diaphragm 

 are interfered with, and the animal dies of asphyxia. 



Causes. — A common cause of acute indigestion is the 

 custom of giving the animal a large feed, and then subject- 

 ing him to severe exertion. Perhaps the owner, when 

 about to drive fifteen or twenty miles, through a mistaken 

 idea of kindness, allows his horse to have a large quantity 

 of food just before starting on the journey ; in addition to 

 which, the animal may be a greedy feeder, and does not 

 fail to consume all the food set before him. He starts off 

 at a pretty rapid gait, with the stomach and bowels full. 

 The exertion of travelling causes the blood to be drawn 

 away from the stomach, where it is needed in the process 

 of digestion. In consequence of this, digestion becomes 

 seriously interfered with, and in some cases the process 

 may be completely checked ; and now all the symptoms of 

 acute indigestion are presented. Feeding largely when the 

 stomach is weakened is another cause of this disease. As, 

 Avhen an animal has been driven or worked hard for six or 

 eight hours, and is tired and hungry, the stomach at such 

 a time is not fitted for the reception of more than a very 

 small quantity of food. Certain descriptions of food also 

 tend to produce the disease : as wheat, barley, indian corn, 

 etc. ; oats being the best description of food for horses. 

 Green food, when eaten of very heartily, will also cause 

 an attack ; and it often follows the feeding of bran in 

 immoderate quantities, especially when of an inferior 

 quality. Sometimes a very slight change of food will 

 cause an attack of acute indigestion. It also occasionally 

 follows the use of chop feed. Another cause, and one 

 tliat gives rise to the disease in its worst form, is the 

 practice of feeding horses on mouldy or decomposing 



