53 



The small, hard pnlse: high temperature; aged and anxious 

 appearance of the head; continuous pain, which is increased upon 

 pressure; position of the horse when down, and coldness of the 

 ears and legs, will enable anyone to diagnose a case of enteritis 

 (inflammation of the bowels) . When mortification (death) of the 

 bowels sets in, all pain ceases and the animal will stand quietly, 

 sometimes for several hours. Toward the last he sighs, breathes 

 hard, staggers and pitches about, and dies in a state of delirium. 



It is af very serious disease and in the majority of cases proves 

 fatal. Death takes place in from six hours to several days. 



Treatment.— To control the pain give large doses of powdered 

 opium, laudanum, or cannabis indica. 



The following prescription is recommended: Opium, powdered, 

 2 drams; calomel, % dram. Make into a ball: give at once, 

 and repeat in one or two hours if necessary. Blankets wrung 

 out in hot water and applied to the abdomen are sometimes of 

 benefit, but to obtain good results they must be kept hot for sev- 

 eral hours. 



CHRONIC IXDIGESTION. 



Chronic indigestion is a chronic cartarrh of the stomach and 

 bowels, the cause of which is irregularity in feeding and water- 

 ing: feeding when the animal is in an exhausted condition; im- 

 perfect mastication and incomplete salivation of food due to 

 irregularities of the grinding surfaces of the molar teeth, and 

 food of a poor quality, deficient in nutriment. 



The presence of worms is a frequent cause of this d:'s3ase. 



Symptoms.— A-^^Qiiie diminished or capricious and depraved, 

 frecpient gapings, constipation; periodic colics are frequently ob- 

 served, the coat is rough and staring, and the skin is tightly adher- 

 ent to the body, being the condition known as "hidebound." 

 The animal has an unthrifty appearance generally. 



Treatment.— Give small quantities of good, nutritious, and 

 well-salted food three times daily. 



The water should be pure and given regularly. 



Regular exercise and good grooming will hasten recovery, by 

 stimulating the skin as well as other parts of the body. 



If the appetite is diminished give such tonics as gentian, iron, 

 nux vomica, and nitrate of potash. Gentian 2 ounces, iron sul- 

 phate 1 ounce, nux vomica 1)^ ounces, nitrate potash 13^ ounces. 

 Mix. Make twelve powders. Give one powder twice a day. 



