now INCURRED, INTESTINAL ADHESION. S9 



Causes. — Much the same as those which occasion fever in all orJinary 

 cases; that is to say, a sudden check given by cold to the action of tne parts, 

 while these may be in a state of excitement, or through over action, hard 

 work, excessive heat of the weather, the operation of cordials, &c. By this 

 latter means stallions and brood mares are sometimes destroyed prematurely, 

 even without catching any cold, or this part of the system receiving any check 

 whatever; in these cases, excitement has been carried to the utmost pitch by 

 high feeding, and stimulating the male, until nature gives way, or rather. J 

 might say, catches fire almost, and if not speedily arrested, the heat soon de- 

 Btroys the functions of all the abdominal organs of life. 



To stage-horses, inflanunatory complaints usually prove fatal, from the 

 same immediate cause ; the animal being fed high, and pressed forward to the 

 accomplishment of his daily task, regardless of the first indication of this 

 disease; and in summer time, we witness numbers of such dropping down in 

 harness, sometimes whilst going along, seldom giving warning of approaching 

 dissolution. But, whatever be the previous state of the animal's bodily health, 

 he can rarely stand the maltreatment he receives from his driver : — viz. that 

 of being driven through ponds and large rivulets, while he is yet perspiring 

 greatly through fatigue and the heat of the weather. Long rests in currents 

 of air, or unsaddling horses under similar circumstances, are alike productive 

 of inflammation of those or some other ))art of the animal's inside, if it do noi 

 bring on fever of the whole system — as before observed, p. 59. The kidneys 

 or the liver are sometimes alone affected by this species of culpable neglect ; 

 but in either case the effects are not immediately perceptible, and the disorder 

 creeps on unheeded, or seizes the animal violently, so that it dies at the next 

 going out. 



Neglect of the necessary evacuations, or the discontinuance of those which 

 have been customary, even though injudicious, will occasion an accumulation 

 of dung in the intestines when they are least capable of bearing it : upon this, 

 pressing the horse in his work will bring on inflammation, as it will sometimes 

 afler a heavy feed and water, which some injudiciously give on account of a 

 hard day's work lying before him. The same happens to horses that are in- 

 ordinately fat, when hard worked ; the dung that is then eliminated bears with 

 it a portion of the slime or mucus that lines the intestines, and this appearance 

 has obtained for this species of inflammation the term molten grease. 1 post- 

 pone, for a few pages, the consideration hereof, in compliance with custom ra- 

 ther than in obedience to propriety. 



Adhesion of the gut sometimes takes place, so as to cause partial obstruc- 

 tion to the passage of aliment ; at others, tubercles are formed on the mesen- 

 tery that holds the bowels in position ; and in either case the secret is dis- 

 closed by a staring coat, which some mistake for the worms. Both those af- 

 fections are the effect rather than the first cause of inflammation of the part, 

 and may be distinguished from " the worms" by the state of the pulse, by the 

 heat, tension, and soreness evinced by the patient on passing the hand over 

 the belly. See page 46, book I. The reader will also perceive, upon turn- 

 ing back to page 22 — 2i, in what manner this adhesion is effected, by the ex- 

 naustion of the moisture that is designed by nature to lubricate the parts. 



Colic of long continuance, if the animal is worked while this is on him, is 

 another prolific source of inflammation of the intestines ; as is the drinking 

 cold water copiously, while in a state of perspiration, or after a trying jour 

 ney, which is always attended with spasmodic colic of the stomach and bowelSj 

 at first, and of inflammation sooner or later, according to the temperature of 

 the individual. The necessity of getting rid of the lesser attack before it ac 

 quires a permanent and dangerous aspect must be obvious; and as the treat- 

 ment prooer for either, is at total variance with the other, the one re9uiriiiis 



