186 iJADD'S VETERINARY MEDICINE AND SURGERY. 



Meteorization or Sudden Distension of the 



Intestines. 



Meteorization is the name given to a disease known as bloat or 

 hoven in cattle. When it appears in a horse, it receives the above 

 jame, or else is termed acute tympanitis. This form of windy or 

 tympanitic distension is always sudden in its attack; animals ap- 

 parently in the very best of health all at once show symptoms of 

 enormous distension of the abdomen, and, in the course of a few 

 moments, their lives may be said to be in peril. The distension 

 of the stomach and intestines is due to the presence of an immense 

 volume of gas— probably carbureted hydrogen — which augments 

 either by spontaneous generation, or in consequence of the food 

 running into fermentation instead of being digested. 



Cause. — As regards the cause of this malady, we may, with 

 safety, assert that it is the result of a temporary derangement of 

 either the digestive function or the organs of digestion ; and such 

 condition is inaugurated by overtaxing that function, or those 

 organs which carry it on, either by feeding indigestible food, or in 

 feeding with too liberal a hand. I have noticed that many ani- 

 mals have periodical attacks of this malady. Such are said to be 

 voracious feeders. Their abdomen is unusually large, and out of 

 proportion to other parts of the body ; hence, in so far as their 

 conformation is concerned, they may be said to be predisposed; 

 yet the disease sometimes occurs accidentally, and without the 

 intervention of any hereditary tendency. 



Physiologists contend that very many diseases which afflict 

 horses are due to hereditary tendencies. For example, diarrhea 

 and colic are, to a certain extent, hereditary, inasmuch as they are 

 very prone to attack animals of particular form and constitution, 

 as those with narrow loins, large sides, and of what is generally 

 termed a " washy " appearance. If such animals be overworked, 

 especially ^oon after being fed, if their food be suddenly changed, 

 or if they be allowed an unusual quantity of water, they are almost 

 certain to be attacked by purging or tympanitis. The tendency of 

 these diseases appears, in such cases, to depend on a want of adjust- 

 ment among the different organs of the body — a w 7 ant of balance 

 among the functions of digestion, circulation, and respiration. 



The following case will give the reader some idea of the symp- 

 toms and treatment of this malady : 



