DYSENTERY — DIARRHCEA. } 53 



DYSENTERY. 



Dysentery consists of inflammation of the mucous 

 membrane of the intestines, attended by an increased 

 secretion, which is discharged with hard and stringy 

 faeces accompanied by perpetual straining. 



The treatment should consist of a quart of linseed 

 oil every six hours, until the intestines be cleared of 

 their contents. Bran mashes, carrots, and hay should 

 be the sole food for a week subsequently. 



DIARRHCEA. 



Diarrhoea is easily distinguished from dysentery by 

 the evacuations being loose and watery, without the 

 existence of mucus. It is most commonly met with 

 among horses of a weedy washy formation, by means 

 of which the peristaltic action is unnaturally increased, 

 when it is a primary affection ; but it is usually occa- 

 sioned by superpurgation from over-physicking. Active 

 measures in the latter case must speedily be taken. 

 One ounce of laudanum in a drench of rice water and 

 chalk should be given every three hours during the 

 first day ; after which, boiled starch allowed to get 

 moderately cool should be administered, with the same 

 quantity of laudanum, every six hours. If the symp- 

 toms do not lessen within twenty-four hours, a fatal 

 result may be expected. 



In all cases which have been allowed to go on for 

 three or four days, danger is present. Where the dis- 



