INFLAMMATIONS.] 



THE HOESE, AND 



[INFLAMMATION'S. 



water and salt thrown up until the passage 

 becomes free and open. Also, take of 



Solution of Aloes . . . 2 oz. 



Glauber Salts . . . . . 4 do. 



Linseed Meal . . » . . 1 do. 



Hot "Water .... 2 quarts. 



Mix, and give every six hours. This will not 

 only allay the irritation of the heart, but will 

 moderately open the bowels as required. Place 

 the animal in a loose bos, or bay of a barn, 

 and treat, in other respects, as for inflamma- 

 tion of the lungs. 



INFLAMMATION OF THE BOWELS. 



Next to inflammation of the lungs, inflam- 

 mation of the howels is the most frequent and 

 fatal of the local affections to which the horse 

 is subject, and of which there appears two dis- 

 tinct kinds ; the one affecting their villous 

 coat, or surface, and producing purging ; the 

 other attacking the peritoneal coat, and usually 

 accompanied with obstinate costiveness. It is 

 the latter that forms the subject of our present 

 consideration ; the former will be treated of 

 hereafter. From an imperfect acquaintance 

 with the art, it has been common for farriers 

 to mistake inflammation of the bowels for spas- 

 modic colic, and the error has often proved 

 fatal to the affected horse ; for the comfort- 

 able things, and heating drenches given on 

 such occasions, always increase tlie inflam- 

 mation, and frequently produce gangrene. A 

 careful distinction should, therefore, be made 

 between the two, which may readily be done, 

 if sufficient attention is given to the difference 

 of characteristics which they severally display. 



The symptoms of inflammation in the bowels 

 are usually first indicated by a shivering fit, to 

 which succeeds heat of skin, restlessness, loss 

 of appetite. The mouth is particularly hot 

 and dry, and the inner membranes of the eye- 

 lids, and the linings of the nostrils, rather 

 redder than natural. As the inflammation 

 advances, the pain increases, and forces the 

 animal to lie down and get up again fre- 

 quently ; but, as the pain is less acute, he very 

 seldom rolls on his back, as he does when 

 afilicted with gripes. Sometimes, however, he 

 kicks at his belly, or stamps with his feet ; and, 

 in all cases, scrapes his litter or stall with his 

 hoofs, and looks wistfully round towards his 

 sides. The pulse is frequent ; sometimes rising 

 298 



to seventy, and hard and wiry ; but in gripes 

 or colic the pulse is scarcely ever affected ; and 

 even the breathing, in inflammation of the in- 

 testines, is not usually so laborious as we at 

 first might expect, in consequence of the pain- 

 fulness the belly is labouring under. In this, 

 like most other inflammatory cases, the extre- 

 mities are cold ; while the surface of the body 

 is often hot, but scarcely ever exhibits any 

 natural perspiration. The bowels are usually 

 confined ; and if any evacuation takes place, it 

 consists of hard, dry matter, rather inclining 

 to a black colour. The urine is made sparingly, 

 and is high-coloured ; and a strong sign of 

 the complaint is a very early and excessive 

 debility. 



The causes are various ; but they are gene- 

 rally dependent on the application of unseason- 

 able cold ; such as washing when hot, or 

 plunging the animal into a river. The drink- 

 ing of cold water has likewise produced it, 

 though more frequently this occasions spas- 

 modic gripes. A long retention of the faeces 

 may bring it on ; as likewise hernia, or intus- 

 susception, which is occasioned by one part of 

 a gut becoming invagiuated within another. 

 It may also be produced by metastasis, or the 

 translation of the inflammatory diathesis of 

 another part, or of general fever, or by the 

 communication, by continuity, of the inflamma- 

 tion from other parts, as we have often wit- 

 nessed. Another, and not unfrequent cause, 

 arises from flatulent colic, either neglected or 

 improperly treated, which many times dege- 

 nerates into inflammation of the bowels under 

 such circumstances. Calcular concretions have 

 also brought it on. 



In treating for this disease, as for most of the 

 other inflammations of important organs, it 

 requires very energetic and early measures to 

 be adopted. Indeed the treatment must here 

 be still more prompt than in most other cases, 

 as an instance of recovery seldom occurs where 

 the treatment has been delayed beyond the 

 second day. In fact, twenty-four hours of this 

 disease frequently destroys the horse. Bleed- 

 ing is the first thing to be done ; and if the 

 subject be young, large, and plethoric, six 

 or seven quarts may be safely taken away. 

 Should the symptoms, after this, continue un- 

 abated, the same may be repeated in four 

 hours, to the amount of four or five quarts 



