i 5 o VETERINARY LECTURES 



neck, or feeding the animal from the ground, are all useful, and 

 worthy of a trial. 



247. Wind-Sucking in the horse is a similar complaint to crib- 

 biting, and is also a bad habit. To test a horse for wind-sucking 

 the following can be tried : Put a handful of soft sugar into the 

 animal's mouth and leave it for ten minutes or so. If a wind-sucker, 

 you will generally find it standing with its nose elevated, its neck 

 strangely arched, and making a peculiar and distinctly characteristic 

 noise ; or the tongue may be noticed curled and protruding in front 

 of the lips, and the animal sucking for dear life. Some horses only 

 show the habit when a sloppy mash is given to them, when they 

 suck in the air with the mash, making a peculiar noise. Crib-biting 

 and wind-sucking are both considered as unsoundness. 



248. Ulceration of the Stomach is happily rare, and when it 

 occurs there are no positive symptoms. The horse does not vomit 

 in such cases as does a human being, but drops off its food ; it loses 

 flesh, shows no pain, becomes hide-bound, with a staring, dirty 

 coat, is languid, and finally dies. Treatment is of little use. Sub- 

 nitrate of bismuth may be given night and morning in 2-drachm 

 doses with vegetable tonics ; or 25-drop doses of strong hydrochloric 

 acid in 1 pint of cold water night and morning can be tried. I have 

 seen three cases, but they did no good under treatment. 



249. Gastritis, or inflammation of the stomach, may arise from 

 a variety of causes, such as eating rough, coarse, indigestible food, 

 and from the effect of mineral poisons, such as arsenic or mercurial 

 salts ; or it may be induced by drinking water charged with free 

 sulphuric acid, sulphate of iron, or strong alkalies, or by feeding on 

 mouldy grain ; while at other times it is due to worms and bots. It 

 usually proves fatal in a very short time. The horse shows great 

 pain, lying down, rolling about, and perspiring freely, with no 

 intervals of rest ; the nostrils dilate widely and are red inside ; 

 the under side of the eyelid is also dark red ; the breathing is fast 

 and heavy ; whilst there is an anxious look in the face. The animal 

 soon becomes exhausted, trembles all over, with cold, clammy 



