254 INFLAMMATION OF THE BOWELS. 



case be a very severe one, and likely to terminate in death 

 unless relief be afforded, ten drops of croton oil may be added 

 to the drench ; but this last preparation should not be given 

 except in very desperate cases, as of life or death. Aloes 

 should not be given unless combined with opium ; and even 

 then this treatment is not advisable. 



Blankets well saturated with hot water should be applied 

 to the abdomen, and kept up for two or three hours ; the legs 

 should be well rubbed with cayenne pepper or strong mus- 

 tard, and bandaged with strips of flannel ; if there is no im- 

 provement in the course of four or five hours, give one drachm 

 of chloroform in one pint of linseed oil, which may, if neces- 

 sary, be followed in two hours by the following ball, mixed 

 with molasses : oue drachm of pulverized opium ; half a drachm 

 of calomel ; and two drachms of linseed meal. The injections 

 should be continued throughout ; give linseed tea to drink, 

 instead of water ; soft mashes and new grass, if obtainable, may 

 be given sparingly, but no hay, until the bowels are opened. 

 The animal should not be worked for some days after recovery, 

 as this disease is apt to return if he is put to work or exposed 

 too soon. An attack of this character does not necessarily 

 render the animal less useful or valuable after his restoration 

 to health. 



Peritonitis differs but little from enteritis. The horse is 

 more affected with pain ; the pawing, rolling, and kicking at 

 the belly are most violent ; the eye is wild in appearance ; 

 tenderness is evinced on pressing the abdomen ; the pulse is 

 full and throbbing ; the dung is small and hard, and covered 

 with a slimy substance. The same course of treatment should 

 be pursued as is recommended for enteritis. 



