128 Diseases of the Horse. 



masticated food, and a daily dose of bicarbonate of soda, say 

 one ounce, in the water. 



INDIGESTION OR DYSPEPSIA. 



Two varieties of indigestion are found in the horse, the 

 one associated with over-fullness or engorgement of the 

 stomach, the other with an ordinary use of that organ. The 

 indigestion of cattle, known as "hoven,^' presents such pecu- 

 liar features, that it will be considered in the section devoted 

 k) the diseases of cattle. 



Causes. — Indigestion without engorgement arises in colts 

 and young horses from the irritation of teething, from re- 

 moval from the dam at too early an age, draughts of cold 

 milk, suckling when the dam is heated, etc. In older ani- 

 mals defective teeth, debility of the stomach, and improper 

 and irregular feeding are common causes. Indigestion with 

 engorgement arises from ravenous eating, filling the stomach 

 to an excessive degree. 



Symptoms. — These are, in the indigestion without engorge- 

 ment, loss of appetite or a capricious appetite, desire to eat 

 filth, soreness of the mouth, and increased thirst. The ani- 

 mal is hide-bound, has a dry, scurfy skin, irregular bowels, 

 and passes much wind. There are often a dry short cough 

 and colicky pains, sometimes diarrhoea, and not unfrequently 

 megrims or fits of giddiness. The feces are dark colored 

 and of fetid odor; and often the urine is dark colored and 

 on standing in a vessel deposits a reddish sediment. 



Indigestion from over-fullness of the stomach is indicated 

 by pawing with the fore feet, especially the near one, belching 

 of wind, colicky pains, and some degree of fullness of the 

 abdomen. There is also qrack pulse, labored breathing, and 

 dribbing of saliva from the mouth. 



In severe cases the stomach becomes inflamed and the irri- 



