134 CLINICAL DL\GNOSTICS. 



I. Food and Drink. 



Before examining the various organs of the digestive 

 apparatus, we must note the animal's appetite for food and 

 drink as well as the character of these latter, also observe the 

 way in which the animal takes its food, masticates and 

 swallows it. 



a. Appetite for Food. The appetite that an animal manifests 

 for certain food depends in part on its palatability and in part on 

 the degree to which the animal has become accustomed to it. 

 This must always be borne in mind when probing for 

 the cause of poor appetite, and hence an inspection of the 

 food must not be neglected. Individual appetites vary widely. 

 One horse may be a good feeder, another a poor feeder, both 

 may enjoy perfect health. High strung horses often refuse their 

 food after active exercise, but their appetite returns after a short 

 rest. A change of stable or unaccustomed loneliness has a marked 

 effect on the appetite of~ some sensitive horses. Of the various 

 grains horses prefer oats and indian corn and of the grasses 

 sweet timothy or meadow hay. Oats is by far the most suitable 

 grain to feed, a horse. 



In all serious cases of disease the appetite is more or 

 less affected, hay or straw are usually the last part of the 

 ration refused. Defective appetite alone is 

 neveranindicationofany particular dis- 

 ease. As a rule, complete loss of appetite is an unfavor- 

 able symptom; on the other hand, a good appetite in the 

 course of a severe disease may be regarded as a favorable 

 symptom. 



Desire for water depends in the first place on 

 the amount of water contained in the feed; dry feed requir- 

 ing more water than green feed; of course some water is 

 required in both cases. The demand is also affected by the 

 amount of water given off through the skin, kidneys and 

 intestines. Many horses are' very sensitive in the matter of 

 im.pure water, some even refuse "pure" water if of a differ- 

 ent kind than that to which they have been accustomed 

 [e. g. spring water and rain water]. 



The desire for zcatcr is diiiiinislied in colic and in all 

 serious gastric and intestinal affection*?, {providing no diar- 



