216 MANUAL OF EQUINE MEDICINE. 



especially subjected to irregularities of work and defective 

 dietetic arrangements. 



Eupture is especially likely to occur when a large amount 

 of food is given after exhausting or prolonged work. 

 Under these circumstances the food is especially liable to 

 undergo fermentative changes from its longer retention in 

 the stomach, owing to the slow and imperfect action of the 

 gastric juice and the defective muscular movements of the 

 walls. It is said to be more frequent in horses fed on 

 bruised than on whole grains, especially when put to work 

 after a full meal. 



Eupture of the stomach is probably, in most instances, 

 preceded by derangement and distension, or actual degenera- 

 tion of the walls, consequent on chronic indigestion and other 

 causes. It is rarely met with in young animals, but most 

 commonly occurs in aged animals, especially when these 

 have undergone severe exertion or have been overworked 

 for a long period. 



Symptoms. — Vomiting, or attempts at vomiting, generally 

 occur in rupture of the stomach, but as it is not invariably 

 present, and may proceed from other causes, as, for instance, 

 from rupture of the colon, or other part of the intestine, 

 and also from dilation of the cardiac orifice, it cannot be 

 considered a diagnostic symptom. It is, however, more 

 complete in rupture of the stomach, and in dilatation of the 

 cardiac orifice, than in intestinal lesions. Eupture may be 

 brought about by gradual distension of the walls, and 

 without much pain, until the advent of peritonitis, which is 

 set up by the escape of the contents of the stomach into 

 the peritoneal cavity. Sometimes, however, rupture occurs 

 suddenly, owing to the violent struggles of the animal in its 

 paroxysms of pain, during the course of gastric disturbance, 

 or in intestinal disorders. 



The animal becomes uneasy, the countenance becomes 



