DISEASES OF THE DIGESTIVE ORGANS. 191 



only a few days, to have sufficient water transported with him 

 to last during lis stay, such a dread have English grooms of 

 "strange water," as they term it. Now, it is a notorious fact that 

 English horses are more subject to bowel affections than those of 

 this country. From this circumstance, I infer that bowel affec- 

 tions are hereditary, or, in othei words, a predisposition to such 

 is transmitted from parents to offspring. 



I can well remember the time when physicians would not allow 

 & fever patient to taste water ; but now they act more in accord- 

 ance with reason, and allow the sick just what they crave for. It 

 is not good polic) , however, to allow a horse, when performing a 

 journey, a bountiful supply of water, because active exercise some- 

 what suspends the digestive function, and, therefore, the water 

 may remain in a portion of the large intestines without undergo- 

 ing the usual transformation.* It then occupies space, and, being 

 weighty, may, in the rapid movements of the animal, operate un- 

 favorably in various ways, more particularly on the gut itself, it 

 being pendulous from the spine. 



A horse is often brought into the stable in a state of profuse per- 

 spiration, and, of course, is somewhat exhausted. Now, it would 

 be decidedly wrong to either feed or water him until he is rubbed 

 dry, and has rested awhile ; for, at such times food is just as likely, 

 and, I think, more so than water, to operate unfavorably on an 

 exhausted animal. Many horses, however, even when in this 

 exhausted state, will fill their stomachs with food and water, and 

 yet enjoy immunity from colic. Therefore, should colic occur in a 

 horse after he has had a hard drive, he having partaken of a 

 draught of water, it is rather difficult to decide which of the two, 

 if either, was the cause of the malady. One fact is certain, and 

 that is, the stomach is deranged, and, therefore, fermentation pre- 

 cedes digestion ; hence the gas. 



Notwithstanding our best efforts to prevent it, colic will occa- 

 sionally occur. Green grass, clover, carrots, and turnips are said 

 to occasion it. Then, again, it appears in stables, where nothing 

 but corn, oats, and hay are used. One horse is attacked imme- 

 diately after a draught of cold water; another has the chill taken 

 off his, yet he is often found in the same predicament. Warm 

 water is the most insipid and nauseating drink that you can offer 

 a horse; and many would prefer to continue thirsty for some time 

 ere thev would imbibe it. 



