172 THE COMMON COLICS OF THE HORSE 



also show this disorder to sometimes be occasioned by 

 animals eating large quantities of mangolds, swede 

 turnips, or other roots. Putting to work too soon after 

 a heavy meal, or watering and feeding too freely when 

 exhausted, are also likely factors in its causation. 



A dangerous form of this derangement is often met 

 with by those who live in marshy districts. The coarse 

 grasses and succulent forms of herbage that flourish 

 down by the water's edge appear peculiarly liable to 

 bring on an attack. When half dried, these marshy 

 grasses seem even more dangerous still, and many a 

 case of severe intestinal tympany is directly traceable 

 to a meal of what is commonly known as ' dykeings ' — 

 heaps of partly-dried vegetation mown from close to the 

 water-side during the process of cleaning the drain. ^ 



Williams, in his description of this complaint, says : 

 ' Tympanites may arise independently of any cognizable 

 extrinsic cause. Occurring during the progress of another 

 disease, it is always to be looked upon as indicative 

 of a very grave condition, that the animal powers are 

 so exhausted as to be bordering upon dissolution, and 

 becoming amenable to chemical laws. Tympanites also 

 occurs in obstructions of the intestinal canal from calculi, 

 tumours, or other mechanical causes, and generally indi- 

 cates the approach of death.'- 



Symptoms. — The veriest tyro cannot fail to appreciate 

 at their true value the indications of abdominal tympany. 

 As might be expected, the most prominent symptom is a 

 manifest, drum-like enlargement of the Jbelly. The skin 

 and abdominal muscles become enormously tense, and 

 resonance is obtainable on percussion. In addition to 



^ In the Fens drain is simply another word for 'dyke,' or 

 artificial water-course. In no way does it signify sewer. — H. C. R. 

 2 . Px-inciples and Practice of Veterinary Medicine,' p. 555. 



