CHAP. IL INDIGESTION IN HORSES. 569 



principles of feeding, and judicious apportionment of work, are not 

 carefully observed. 



Causes. The causes by which indigestion is induced are many and 

 various. Sometimes they refer to the animal itself, and at others to 

 the nature and quality of the food upon which it subsists. In the 

 first connection we notice it to result from imperfect mastication of 

 the food, either arising out of some deformity of the mouth or irre- 

 gularity of the teeth, or from soreness of the gums, so frequently seen 

 in young horses while passing through the second dentition. The 

 habit of " bolting" the food, often induced by long fasting, is a fruitful 

 cause of impaired digestion, especially if the supply of water is in- 

 sufficient, and if it is administered after instead of before feeding. 

 Indigestion frequently results from the excessive use of certain kinds 

 of food, such as wheat, unclean corn, new barley, and coarse, hard, or 

 mouldy hay. The too free use of wheat chaff, and of chopped straw, 

 without the corrective influence of roots, is also a fruitful cause of the 

 ailment. Intestinal parasites must be held responsible for many cases 

 of this disorder. 



Symptoms. If the teeth or mouth be at fault there may be a 

 discharge of ropy saliva, or foaming at the mouth, while feeding ; or the 

 food may be " quidded," that is, dropped in a half masticated condition 

 into the manger instead of being swallowed. Irregularity of the bowels 

 is shown by constipation alternating with looseness, whilst the presence 

 of whole corn and undigested chaff in the dung, and the discharge of 

 foetid gases with the latter, are marked indications of alimentary 

 trouble. " Hide bound," " stareing" coat, scurfy and itchy skin, with 

 loss of condition, are also frequently seen in cases of this kind. Indi- 

 gestion sometimes occasions chronic cough, at others it is associated 

 with swelling of the legs and with skin eruption. 



Treatment. The mouth should first be examined, and any irregu- 

 larity of the teeth corrected. A dose of physic is sometimes all that is 

 required to restore the digestive function. In other cases, tonics, such 

 as sulphate of iron, or nux vomica and bicarbonate of potash, have the 

 desired effect. Where animals are liable to derangement of the 

 digestive function, special care should be observed in feeding and 

 working. The food requires to be given oftener, and in smaller 

 quantities, than usual. It should not be bulky, but above all sound 

 and good. What hay is allowed should be given at night and not 

 during the working hours. A liberal allowance of bran will serve to 

 maintain a uniform activity of the bowels, especially if during the day 

 a tablespoonful or two of linseed-oil be mixed with it. 



COLIC. There are two kinds of colic. One is known as spasmodic, 

 in which the intestine is in a state of morbid contraction, and the 

 other is termed flatulent or " windy colic." The latter consists of a 

 distension of the gut, or intestine, with gas. Spasmodic colic is by 

 far the more common of the two ailments. 



Causes. Colic is mostly the result of indigestion, brought about 

 either by some functional or structural disease of the intestine itself, 



