398 DIARRH(EA. 



as to quantity or quality. This we know from what occurs 

 in jaundice, in which, from a loss of the bile by extravasa- 

 tion, there is always present a strong disposition to a costive 

 habit. Some food is prone to occasion constipation, as 

 whatever is stimulating or heating. Corn of all kinds, 

 therefore, has this tendency, but beans more than all. 

 Habitual costiveness should not be counteracted by purga- 

 tives, as they generally increase the evil ; but attention 

 should be paid to the habit itself, and the peculiar tenden- 

 cies of that should be counteracted. Dry food should be 

 remedied by occasional bran mashes. Green meat is par- 

 ticularly useful in these cases in summer, and carrots in 

 winter. A costive state of bowels may sometimes be reme- 

 died by placing a lump of rock salt within the manger. 

 When costiveness arises from defective bile, treat as directed 

 under jaundice. 



Occasional or accidental costiveness must be treated dif- 

 ferently. First, back-rake, next throw up a large laxative 

 clyster ; and then proceed to give a mild purgative by the 

 mouth. ^ 



DIARRHOEA. 



This complaint is, when properly considered, an increased 

 power of the peristaltic action, with a greater secretion 

 of a watery fluid within the intestines ; or, otherwise it may 

 arise from a want of a proper absorption of the fluid part of 

 the intestinal contents ; whereby there follows a frequent 

 evacuation of the dung in a very liquid form ; or it may 

 also spring from the irritability or slight inflammation of the 

 mucous membrane. It is distinguished from dysentery by 

 the purging being incomplete from the very first ; by its 

 being less copious, having all the faeces in solution without 

 any glairy mucous matter ; and, also, by being seldom ac- 

 companied with fever, or any gi'eat aflection of the general 

 health. Some horses are very liable to purging on every 

 exertion, and such are termed, by grooms, washy, having 

 usually narrow chests and lank bellies, by which the intes- 

 tines have not sufficient room for their natural processes ; 

 but are pressed on, and thus forced to a hasty expulsion of 

 the imassimilated contents. 



Causes. — Diarrhoea may arise from mechanical pressure, 



