62 BUEEAU OF ANIMAL IlfDUSTKY. 



bedding, or oxen liis own feces; the bowel;=! arc irregular to-day, loose 

 and bad smelling-, to-morrow bound; grain is often passed whole in 

 the feees, and the haj^ passed in balls or impacted masses, undergoing 

 but little change; the horse frequently passes considerable quantities 

 of wind that has a sour odor. The animal loses flesh, the skin pre- 

 sents a hard, dr}' appearance and seems very tight (hidebound). If 

 the stomach is vevy seriously invoh^ed, the horse n\&y yawn by stretch- 

 ing the head forward and upward and b}^ turning outward the upper 

 lip. There may be more or le^s colicky pain. In the chronic cases 

 there is mental depression; the horse is sluggish and dull. The abdo- 

 men graduall}' becomes small, giving a "tucked up" appearance, or, 

 on the other hand, it becomes flaccid and pendulous. 



Treatmerd. — One should commence with the food — its qualit}', 

 quantity, and tim.c of feeding; examine the water supply, and see, 

 besides, that it is given befpre feeding; then carefully ol>serve the 

 condition of the mouth and teeth; and, continuing the observations as 

 best we may, endeavor to locate the seat of the trouble. If the teeth 

 are sharp or irregular they must be rasped down; if m\y are decayed 

 they must bo extracted; if indigestion is due to ravenous eating or 

 bolting, the feed must then be given from a large manger whore the 

 grain can be spread and the horse thus compelled to eat slowly. 



Any irritation, vsuch as worms, undigested. food, etc., that are 

 operating as causes arc to be removed hy apj^ropriate treatment, as 

 advised elsew-here. If there is a tendency to distention of the stomach 

 and bowels, with gas, during iiidigestion, the following may be used: 

 •Baking soda, powdered ginger, and powdered gentian, equal parts. 

 These are to be thoroughly mixed and given in heaping tablespoonf ul 

 doses, twice a day, before feeding. This powder is best given hj 

 dissolving the above quantity in a half pint of water and given as a 

 drench. 



As a digestive tonic the following is good: Glauber's salts, 2 poiuids; 

 common salt, 1 pound; baking soda, one-half pound. Of this a heaping 

 tablespoonful maj'- be given in each feed. If diarrhea exists, tlie 

 treatment advised belo"w ma}^ be used. 



DiARiaiEA. — Diarrhea is due to indigestion or intestinal catarrh or 

 to irritation of the bowel i from eating mold}^ or musty food, drinking 

 stagnant water, diseased condition of the teeth, eating irritating sub- 

 stances, to being kept oii low, marshy pastures, and exposure during 

 cold nights, or low, dam.p stables. Some horses are predisposed to 

 scour and are called "washy" b}^ horsemeji; they are those with long- 

 bodies, long legs, and narrow, flat sides. Horses of this build are 

 almost sure to scour if fed or watered immediately before being put to 

 work. Fast or road work, of course, aggravates this trouble. Diar- 

 rhea may cxis': as a complication of other diseases as pneumonia and 

 influenza, for instance, and again during the diseases of the liver. 



