RUPTURE OF THE STOMACH. 389 



RUPTURE OF THE STOMACH. 



Kupture of the stomach occasionally occurs as a result of 

 acute indigestion, and may occur without the hovvels being 

 much affected. 



Siimptoms. — The symptoms of rupture of the stomach are 

 never very positive, and in no case is the practitioner able 

 to state positively that rupture has taken place ; still, he 

 may be able to form a very good idea. A prominent 

 symptom is vomition. It may be said to be a premonitory 

 symptom, as it occurs before rupture takes place, or, in 

 some cases, it may possibly occur after a very small rupture 

 has occurred; the pulse becomes very quick and weak, and 

 the ears cold, as are the extremities and body; the animal 

 turns around or walks in a circle, moving about in a semi- 

 unconscious state, lies down, and sits up on his haunches 

 after the manner of a dog ; the eyes take on an amaurotic 

 stare, cold sweats bedew the body, and death soon occurs. 

 There is every reason to believe that animals have lived 

 for eight or ten hours after rupture has taken place, but 

 death usually occurs sooner. Kupture of the stomach is 

 invariably fatal. 



IMPACTION OF THE STOMACH. 



Impaction of the stomach is most likely to occur in old 

 horses that have been fed on coarse and inferior food. 

 A sudden change is made to good food, which does not 

 undergo the process of digestion, but remains in the stomach 

 and becomes impacted. It may also occur in consequence 

 of feeding an animal largely on coarse food when very much 

 fatigued. A well-marked case of impaction of the stomach 

 may occur without the generation of gas. 



Symptoms. — There may occasionally be a slightly tym- 

 panitic condition after a time, which is to be regarded as a 



