148 THE FARM DOCTOR. 



give 2 grs. calomel and 5 grs. chalk twice daily. In all cases 

 give fresh, warm, wholesome milk thrice a day, with several 

 spoonfuls of lime-water added to each meal. In some instances 

 the tone of the stomach may be greatly restored by a table- 

 spoonful of tincture of gentian twice a day. 



Prevention should be sought in breeding only vigorous 

 families, sheltering properly, and feeding the milk of the dam 

 or of a healthy nurse unaltered by faulty feeding or excitement, 

 or by standing. When a foal must be brought up on cow's 

 milk, dilute with one-third its bulk of warm water, sweeten with 

 sugar and add lime-water. For the carnivora use only the 

 upper third of cow's milk. 



ACUTE GASTRIC INDIGESTION IN THE HORSE. TYMPANY. 



This results from sudden filling of the stomach to excess, 

 from suspended digestion in connexion with hard work imme- 

 diately after a meal, from the washing on of undigested food, 

 from a full drink after a feed of grain, from certain indigestible 

 and easily fermented aliments such as cause tympany in the ox, 

 from irritant plants, and from hurried swallowing of hot cooked 

 food. 



Symptoms. — These appear just after feeding and are at first 

 those of simple colic (see Spasmodic Colic), soon followed by 

 fulness and tension of the belly, a drum-like sound when it is 

 percussed, quickened, deep, oppressed breathing, dulness and 

 increasing stupor. The pain is continuous, though of varying 

 intensity, there is no disposition to eat or drink, draughts 

 administered tend to aggravate the symptoms, the sufferer 

 yawns, places his fore-feet apart, arches the neck, drawing in 

 the nose towards the breast, and in exceptional cases may obtain 

 relief by belching gas, or even by vomiting, the food escaping 

 mainly through the nose. More commonly the occurrence of 

 vomiting implies rupture of the stomach and presages death. 

 The pulse then becomes rapid, weak, and soon imperceptible, 



