96 



of intestinal disturbance, with colicky pains and gas distention of the 

 belly are observed, lose no time in getting the patient relieved, by 

 administering the medicinal agents named in paragraphs 243 and 250. 

 {See also appendix.) 



245. Stomach Staggers in the Horse.— In hot, dry weather, 

 more particularly on hilly ground, where there is a second year's 

 growth of rye grass, the horse is sometimes attacked with this malady. 

 As in cattle suffering from the same complaint, too early ripening of 

 rye grass is supposed to be the cause. The horse has an unsteady 

 gait, as if about to fall, first on one side, and then on the other, swinging 

 its head backwards and forwards. If in the stable, it may be found 

 with its nose pressed on the bottom of the manger, and forehead 

 against the wall, or steadying itself, with the nose fixed between the 

 bars of the hay-rack. The breathing is slow and laboured, and the 

 pulse full and slow. With its simple, single stomach, the horse is 

 much better to treat than the cow. Treatment : From four to six 

 quarts of blood may be taken, to relieve the acute symptoms, which, 

 with a four to six drachm dose of aloes {see appendix — Physic Balls) 

 usually sets matters right. For treatment of cow, see Part II. 



246. Indigestion is common both in hor.-es and cattle, but more 

 particularly in the former, especially those that are being fed up for 

 shows or for the market, and it generally occurs from over-feeding. The 

 horse shows no pain, but simply loses its appetite. Treatment : 

 Give 3 drachms of aloes, with 3 drachms of bicarbonate of soda, in the 

 form of a ball, when, if the animal does not pick up, mineral and 

 vegetable tonics may be resorted to. (See appendix.) The best thing, 

 however, is to let the animal find out its own tonic. In one case 

 which came under my care, the horse had been given all sorts of tonic 

 medicine without any good effect, and finally selected for itself the 

 young shoots of thorn trees, eating these with a great relish, whilst it 

 would take no other food, unless mixed with these. They were 

 evidently just the fillip the stomach was in need of; the tannic acid 

 contained in the thorn, being the very thing nature required ; since 

 that time, in the spring and summer months, I have used them with 



