50 BUREAU OF ANIMAL INDUSTRY. 



stomach and intestines and to point out such localizations in one organ 

 or another as are of importance in recognizing- and treating the dis- 

 eases of the digestive organs of the horse. 



It should be understood that gastritis signifies an inllamrnation of 

 the stomach and eyrtcritts an inflammation of the intestines. The two 

 terms may be used together to signify a disease of the stoixiach and 

 intestines, as gastro-enteritis. 



The disease of the horse that is most frequently met with is what is 

 termed " colic," and many arc the remedies that arc reputed to bo "sure 

 cures" for this disease. Let us discover, then, vv'hat the word "colic" 

 means. This term is applied loosely to almost all diseases of the 

 organs of the abdopien that arc accompanied by pain. If the horse 

 evinces abdominal pain, he is likely to be put down as suffering with 

 colic, no matter whether the difficulty bo a cramj) of the bowel, an 

 internal hernia, overloading of the stomach, or a painful disease of 

 the bladder or liver. Since these conditions differ so much in their 

 causation and their nature, it is manifestly absurd to treat them alike 

 and to expect the same drugs or procedures to relieve theoi all. 

 Therefore it is important that the various diseased states that arc so 

 roughly classed together as colic shall, so far as ix>ssiblo, be separated 

 and individualized in order that appropriate treatments may be pre- 

 scribed. With this object in viov/, colics will bo considered under 

 the following headings: (1) Engorgement colic, (2) obstruction colic, 

 (8) tympanitic colic, (4) spasmodic colic, (5) worm colic. 



The general symptoms of abdominal pain, and therefore of colic, 

 are restlessness, cessation of Avhatever the horse is about, lying down, 

 looking around toward' the flank, kicldng w^ith the hind feet upward 

 and forward toward the belly, jerky switching of the tail, stretching 

 as though to urinate, fz-equent change of position, and groaning. In 

 the more intense forms the horse plunges about, throws himself down, 

 rolls, assumes unnatural positions, as sitting on the haunches, and 

 grunts Ioudl3\ Usually the pain is not constant, and during the inter- 

 missions the horse may eat and appear normal. During the period 

 of pain sweat is poured out freely. Sometimes the horse moves con- 

 stantly in a circle. The respirations are accelerated, and usually there 

 is no fever. 



(1) ExGOiiGEMEXT COLIC. — This fonii of colic consists in an over- 

 lo;iding of the stomach with food. The horse may have been overfed 

 or the food may have collected in the stomach through failure of this 

 organ to digest it and pass it backward into the intestines. Even a 

 normal amount of food that the horse is unaccustomed to may cause 

 diseaice. Hence a sudden change of food ma.j produce engorgement 

 colic. Continued full rations while tlie horse is resting for a dav or 



