l6o THE FARM DOCTOR. 



the belly. If the animal survives long enough, the false mem- 

 branes are passed in great, white, friable masses or shreds. In 

 its earliest stages a laxative will often alter the condition of the 

 membrane and contribute to a prompt recovery. Later, treat 

 as in enteritis. Saline laxatives (sulphate of soda or magnesia) 

 and bitters (nux vomica, gentian, quassia, quinia) are especially 

 indicated when the membranes are separating. If resulting 

 from mercurial poisoning, give chlorate of potassa and iodide 

 of potassium. 



INFLAMMATION OF THE RECTUM. 



The last or strait gut often suffers exclusively in horses and 

 dogs in connexion with the impaction of hardened dung, or 

 calculi, and in oxen with a certain conformation from the intro- 

 duction of air. Dung is passed in long cylindroid masses with 

 great straining and pain, or cannot be passed at all. In the 

 dog it is covered with mucus, pus, or even blood. The everted 

 gut is of a deep red colour, thickened, infiltrated and hot. 

 Rupture may ensue if it is not relieved. Treat by emptying 

 the gut with the oiled hand or finger, give a spare laxative diet 

 (bran mashes, roots, gruels), frequent injections of warm water 

 containing some mucilage and olive-oil, and an occasional 

 purgative (olive-oil or linseed-oil). 



In high-rumped oxen, cut the muscles on the upper surface 

 of the tail and tie it down until healed. 



DIARRHCEA. SCOURING. 



This is a frequent discharge of semi-liquid or liquid dung 

 from the bowels without griping or violent straining. It is a 

 symptom of disease rather than an independent malady, as it 

 may arise from almost any irritant in the bowels. Among its 

 common causes may be named a full drink followed by active 

 exertion ; feeding soft, aqueous, rapidly-grown green food ; 

 cooked food for hard-working horses; many irritant and acrid 



