68 ' COLICS AND THEIR TREATMENT 



pretty general use in the West. I heard of it in Cali- 

 fornia last winter where at least one veterinarian ad- 

 ministers it in quantities up to one pound. 



A third sequel of stomach lavage is acute dilatation of 

 the stomach, of which I shall speak later. 

 Impaction of the Stomach 



Impaction of the stomach is a condition I fear veteri- 

 narians have too frequently failed to recognize. It is in- 

 variably referred to as a senile trouble in our literature 

 and is usually attributed to chronic dilatation of the 

 stomach and in animals fed exclusively upon a dry fibrous 

 forage. 



While such is often the case under which the disease 

 is encountered it is by no means limited to old animals. 

 We have found numerous grave impactions in young, 

 vigorous horses with great frequency. Straw, hay, 

 shredded fodder, coarse ensilage, alfalfa or even clover 

 hay partaken of ravenously, is the usual cause. The cases 

 in our urban practice are found chiefly among horses in 

 small establishments where the food is carelessly or 

 irradically allowed, that is, a spare ration today and a 

 liberal one tomorrow. In short, the hungry horse, after 

 a day or two of hard work and privation, suddenly given 

 access to a full manger, is found sick with impaction of 

 the stomach the following morning, or falls sick in the 

 harness during the next day. 



Symptoms. — The symptoms of this affection are 

 characteristic. The pains are fairly acute and as the pa- 

 tient finds no comfort in the recumbent position — is con- 

 tinually up and down. There is always a marked perspira- 

 tion about the neck and shoulders. The respirations are 



