G86 DISEASES OF THE STOMACH, 



successful treatment consists in allaying the gastric irritation by 

 small doses of hydrocyanic acid and antacids, and when this is 

 effected, gently moving the bowels by a small doae of castor oil. 

 Enemas may, however, be beneficially employed in the earlier 

 stages, and if the abdomen be tender or swollen, fomentations or 

 a warm bath. If the strength seem to fail, tlie pulse small, &c., 

 stimulants are to be cautiously given. As a rule, however, they 

 do more harm than good, and if the first dose is not succeeded 

 by visible improvement they are to be discontinued. 



SYMPTOMS OF GASTRIC IMPACTION IN THE HORSE. 



Pawing with the fore feet, especially the near one, eructations 

 of gas, sometimes attempts at vomition, with occasional discharge 

 of saliva from the mouth, some degree of fulness of the abdomen, 

 colicky pains, tremors of the superficial muscles, particularly 

 those in the region of the left shoulder, with partial sweats upon 

 the body, are more particularly the symptoms of this disease. 



True gastritis, except from the action of direct irritants, such 

 as poisons, is but seldom seen in the horse ; its stomach may be 

 distended even to rupture, without any marks of inflammation 

 being discoverable after death. 



When inflammation of the stomach is induced by arsenious 

 acid, the symptoms are great pain with uneasiness, the animal 

 alternately getting up and lying down, tympanitic abdomen, 

 fiieces mixed with mucus, the saliva foetid, and its secretion in- 

 creased, mouth hot, extremities cold, nausea, purging, and great 

 prostration of strength with delirium. When the irritation is 

 caused by the bichloride of mercury, there is, in addition to tlie 

 above symptoms, a profuse discharge of saliva from the mouth. 

 The antidotes for arsenical poisons are the hydrated sesquoxide 

 of iron, chalk, albumen, or magnesia, and for the mercury salt, 

 white of eggs, the symptoms of irritation being combated by 

 opium, oleaginous purgatives, and demulcents. 



TREATMENT OF IMPACTION OF THE STOMACH IN THE HORSE. 



Aloetic purgatives ; if combined with tympanitis, oil, turpen- 

 tine, or ammonia ; enemas, fomentations to the abdomen ; care 

 at all times being taken that the animal be prevented from 



