236 MANUAL OF EQUINE MEDICINE. 



Enemas of tepid water should be given by means of the 

 ordinary funnel apparatus, but it is not advisable to use any 

 injecting syringe. If the enema cause much pain, it is well 

 not to annoy the animal by continuing it. If the horse is 

 inclined to drink, he may be allowed linseed gruel or tea, or 

 oatmeal gruel. 



After the abatement of the acute symptoms, no cathartics 

 should be given, but we should endeavour to relieve the 

 bowels by the administration of enemas and laxative 

 diet, consisting of bran mashes, linseed, and oatmeal 

 gruel. No hard food should be allowed on any account 

 until all danger is over. 



In highly plethoric animals, bleeding is indicated in the 

 early stages, when the pulse is full, and is often very shortly 

 followed by abatement of the acute symptoms. Blood 

 should be abstracted in amount proportionate to the size 

 and condition of the animal, and in moderation only. 



It is our practice under any circumstances not to remove 

 more than two or three quarts of blood. 



The operation should not be repeated. 



DYSENTERY. 



Definition. — Dysentery (dug, with difficulty ; Ivrspov, the 

 bowel) is an inflammatory disease of the intestine, chiefly 

 the large one, accompanied by febrile manifestations and 

 sometimes by abdominal pain, and is characterized by 

 certain tissue changes which vary according to the inten- 

 sity of the inflammatory process. The faeces are often 

 mingled with blood, albuminous material, or shreds of disin- 

 tegrated tissue. , 



Nature and Etiology. — Dysentery is of less frequent 

 occurrence in the horse than in other animals, and may be 



