DISEASES OF THE STOMACH AXD BOWELS. 147 



the time of teething, when soft food, such as bran mashes, should 

 be given for a few days ; and as the stomach and bowels are 

 sometimes affected also, a little nitre may be given in the mashes, 

 and an emollient clyster thrown up. When there is costiveness, 

 or slimy dung, a laxative drench may be given also, com[)osed 

 of 4 oz. Epsom salt; 2 drachms of carbonate of soda; 1 pint of 

 warm water ; and 4 oz. of castor oil. 



If the mouth appears very tender, or sore, it may be washed 

 or syringed with a lotion, composed of alum, honey, and water. 

 Keeping a horse on new oats, or new hay, is often followed by 

 some derangement of the stomach and bowels, indicated by 

 looseness and want of appetite; and sometimes by excessive 

 staling also, with considerable thirst, and a staring coat. A 

 change of diet is, in such cases, the most essential thing ; but it 

 is often necessaiy, also, to give some tonic medicine, or a warm 

 laxative, such as three or four drachms of aloes, three drachms of 

 soap, and a drachm or two of ginger, with a few drops of oil of 

 caraway. Horses sometimes fall off in appetite merely from 

 loading their bowels, or from staying idle in the stable too long. 

 In this case, an abstemious diet, principally of bran mashes, or 

 grass, and a clyster, are necessary ; and if that fail, a mild dose 

 of physic should be given. 



Voracious and depraved Appetite. 



These are different degrees of the same morbid condition, 

 and the origin of many diseases. The distinction pointed out in 

 the foregoing article, between a strong healthy appetite and an 

 inordinate or craving appetite, must be still kept in view. I 

 have there stated, that a strong healthy appetite is denoted by a 

 horse being always ready for his food as soon as he comes in 

 from his work, even if it be rather harder than usual. But there 

 are other circumstances connected with such an appetite, which 

 must now be considered. A good feeder, as such horses are 

 termed, does his work well, and with spirit. He is seldom 

 craving for water, if properly sup})lied with corn; he eats only 

 moderately of hay ; he carries a good carcass, as it is termed, 

 and is not drawn up towards the flanks, or let down in the belly 

 like a cow ; his dung is solid, and not slimy, soft, and stinking; 

 he does not break wind much, or stale very largely, and his 

 urine is not foul and stinking. But a horse with a voracious 

 and depi'aved appetite has, frequently, all these defects : he does 

 his work languidly, and unwillingly ; and is eager for water 

 whenever he sees a pond, however filthy it may be. 



This disease, for such it really is, is not always curable ; yet the 

 state of the stomach, and consequently of the whole body, may 

 always be greatly improved, and the horse's life and services con- 



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