326 INFLAMMATION OF THE INTESTINES. 



rowel the under surfaces of the chest ; we might push the 

 nauseants to their full extent, and purge the bowels. But 

 no treatment is likely to do more than to prolong life and 

 increase the owner's cost. Medicine has yet to discover a 

 cure for inflammation of the heart, or to tell us how a 

 being thus afflicted can be restored to working health. 



INFLAMMATION OF THE STOMACH. 



If by the above term we are to understand an inflamma- 

 tory attack on the mucous surface of the stomach, wholly 

 exclusive of inflammations produced by poisons or acrid 

 substances admitted within it, or of that consequent on 

 mechanical distention, called stomach staggers, it may be 

 regarded as an unheard-of disease in the horse. However, 

 it is sufficiently common from the exempted causes, and 

 every case is attended with great danger, though unmarked 

 by any characteristic symptom. It cannot be easily dis- 

 tinguished in its severe stage from twist of the intestines, 

 stone in the bowels, &c. The symptoms of distention, and 

 the mode of treating it, have already been detailed. The 

 symptoms from poisons are, so far as they are noted, ex- 

 treme distress and restlessness, a loathing of food ; for if 

 any thing be given by the mouth it creates increased pain 

 a long time afterwards. The animal breaks out into cold 

 sweats, lies down and quickly rises again, as in inflam- 

 mation of the bowels ; becomes early and greatly prostrated 

 in strength, and has a pulse usually quick and much op- 

 pressed. There may be purging, and generally is, though 

 the opposite state may also exist. The signs are also mate- 

 rially shaped by the nature of the substance swallowed. 

 The treatment will depend on timely detection of the 

 true cause. Our tests, however, are of more use to find 

 out the reason of death, than to save life. The general 

 treatment consists in a rejection of blood-letting, the admi- 

 nistration of plenty of gruel, starch water, chalk and water, 

 and abundance of opium. 



INFLAMMATION OF THE INTESTINES. 



Inflammation of the bowels, or the red colic of farriers, 

 involves either the peritoneal or muscular portion of the 

 intestines ; or it has its seat in both these portions, but is 



