DISEASES OF THE STOMACH. 213 



Symptoms. — The symptoms of this affection are very 

 variable. The appetite may or may not be impaired. 

 Sometimes it is capricious and perverted. In other cases, 

 though it continues good, the animal still continues to lose 

 flesh. The bowels are generally irregular, the faeces often 

 coated with mucus, and there may be great thirst and acid 

 eructations. Abdominal pain is not unfrequent in severe 

 cases, especially when the appetite remains unimpaired. 



The horse is weak, sweats easily, and the skin is dry and 

 hard. 



Treatment. — The cause of the disorder should firstly be 

 inquired into, and the dietetic arrangements carefully 

 regulated. 



If the disease proceed from imperfect mastication, due to 

 dental irregularities, these should at once be attended to. 



Some purgative should be given in all cases, unless the 

 bowels are freely open, and should be followed by the ad- 

 ministration of vegetable tonics, as gentian, nux vomica, 

 quassia and chiretta, with full doses of potassium bicarbonate. 



The diet should be limited in amount, and it will be 

 advantageous to change it. When acidity of the stomach is 

 a marked symptom, such antacids as magnesia, chalk, or 

 subnitrate of bismuth may be administered. In the latter 

 stages, nux vomica or quinine, with dilute mineral acids, 

 may be given two or three times daily. Fowler's solution^ 

 given in the water with bicarbonate of potash, is also a 

 useful means of restoring tone to the disordered stomach. 



INFLAMMATION OF THE STOMACH- 

 GASTRITIS. 



Varieties. — (1) Acute ; (2) Chronic Gastritis. 

 1. ACUTE GASTRITIS.— Etiology.— Though acute in- 

 flammation of the stomach is said to have been met with 



