152 



CHAPTER IV. 

 DISEASES OF THE ABDOMEN. 



INFLAMMATION OF THE LIVER. 



This is a very painful disease, and may be ascertained 

 by the horse holding up one or other of his fore legs 

 during the spasms, and turning round to look at his 

 side very frequently, and especially after feeding. 



Sometimes, though seldom, this disease assumes an 

 acute form, and the horse seems to be suddenly at- 

 tacked with gripes, and to be suffering intense agony. 



All food should be removed, and small closes of calo- 

 mel given morning and evening, until the symptoms 

 show signs of abatement. It will be well to unite 

 with the doses of calomel the same quantity of powdered 

 opium. 



Chronic cases of diseases of the liver are unfor- 

 tunately of very frequent occurrence amongst horses 

 which are very highly fed and worked severely, such as 

 horses in training, &c, and its existence is rarely ever 

 discovered until revealed by post-mortem examination. 

 I have found in this case one ounce of extract of cha- 

 momile, given daily for a week, with change of food, 

 the only certain remedy. 



