252 INFLAMMATION OF THE BOWELS. 



quickly prostrated in strength ; the pulse is quick and oppressed j 

 purging may, or may not, exist. 



The treatment will depend upon the cause of the attack, and 

 should in all cases be intrusted to the hands of a competent 

 practitioner, if one can be obtained. Where poison is sus- 

 pected, it is better to give plenty of gruel, linseed tea, starch 

 water, chalk water, with a couple of ounces of tincture of opium. 

 The lancet should not be used, as the animal is already in a 

 debilitated condition, which bleeding would only increase, 

 thereby preventing the possibility of a speedy recovery. 



INFLAMMATION OF THE BOWELS. 



Enteritis, or inflammation of the bowels, called by farriers 

 red colic, admits of three divisions : enteritis, or inflammation 

 of the muscular coat of the intestines ; peritonitis, or inflamma- 

 tion of the outer coat of the intestines and the membrane lining 

 the cavity of the abdomen ; and dysentery, or inflammation of 

 the inner or mucous coat of the intestines. 



The muscular and peritoneal coats are those usually involved 

 in inflammation of the bowels ; but the muscular is more fre- 

 quently involved than the peritoneal coat. The causes of this 

 disease are washing when warm, or swimming in a river, drink- 

 ing cold water when in a heated condition, over exertion, cos- 

 tiveness, dry food such as hay with little water, worms, calcareous 

 concretions, and metastasis. 



The disease is sometimes preceded by a shivering fit ; there is 

 loss of appetite ; hot skin ; continued restlessness ; mouth hot and 

 dry ; membranes of nose and eyes very much reddened ; pawing ; 

 the animal lies down and gets up frequently, kicks at his belly, 

 looks frequently at his sides ; no cessation of pain ; pulse hard, 



