412 THE PRACTICE OF VETERINARY MEDICINE. 



The use of stagnant or putrid water for drinking purposes, 

 and grazing on a poor sandy pasture, in which case the 

 animal usually swallows more or less sand, cause diarrhoea, 

 as will the presence of any irritant within the bowels, as 

 turnips, carrots, or any other roots, if mould}^, putrid, or 

 frozen. Eaw potatoes induce a very serious form of the 

 disorder. Violent exercise may also be followed by an 

 attack, probably as a result of indigestion. Simple diarrhoea 

 is oftenest seen in horses of w^eak conformation, as those 

 animals having weak loins, with a considerable space between 

 the last rib and the antero-external spine of the ilium, a 

 narrow flat-sided chest, etc. ; such animals are commonly 

 described as washy. Diarrhoea is not usually a fatal disease 

 when it occurs in the simple and uncomplicated form, and 

 often may be regarded as a curative process : inasmuch, as in 

 those cases where irritant substances, such as sand, etc., have 

 been swallowed, diarrhoea may be regarded as nothing more 

 than an effort of nature to expel the offending agent. Cases 

 have been noticed in which as much as a pailful of sand 

 was expelled from the bowels by this process. It is one of 

 the most rapidly debilitating diseases with which the pro- 

 fession is acquainted. AVhen a case of simple diarrhoea 

 continues too long, or occurs in connection with, or as a 

 sequel to a debilitating disease, as influenza, pneumonia, 

 etc., it becomes an extremely serious condition, and unless 

 speedily controlled will undoubtedly result in the death of 

 the animal. 



Symptoms. — There is an undue quantity of faecal matter 

 discharged, which, instead of presenting a normal appear- 

 ance, is liquid, and may be ejected in a violent manner, or, 

 in some cases, may be seen trickling down the legs, escaping 

 involuntarily from the anus. After defecation, slight griping 

 pains may be manifested by the animal, the pulse at first 

 does not show much change, but if diarrhoea persists for a 



