INFLAMMATION OF THE BOWELS. 



901 



ceptible, and the legs and ears deathly cold. In this case bleeding 

 but hastens the fatal termination. 



When it has continued eight or ten hours, if it takes a favor- 

 able turn, the pulse becomes fuller, the surface warmer, and he 

 will lie for some time stretched out, apparently asleep, being 

 weakened from the disease and bleeding, and probably partially 

 narcotized from the laudanum. In this stage he must be made 

 comfortable, and covered up in straw or sheets. We usually 

 "bury" him in straw. This restores the balance of the circula- 

 tion, often causing 

 him to sweat ; and 

 after lying thus 

 for one or two 

 hours, he will get 

 up relieved, and 

 begin to feed. 



No hay must 

 be given him. 

 After a little, he 



should be encour- FIG. 789. A symptom of inflammation of the bowels, 

 aged to drink or great internal pain. 



well-boiled gruel, or eat a thin bran mash. Injections must be con- 

 tinued till the bowels are freely opened. For a few days he must 

 be kept warm; a few mouthfuls of cold water may be given 

 every hour; gentle walking exercise and sloppy diet must be 

 continued for some time. About the fourth day, even though the 

 bowels have become regular, he should have a purgative (from six 

 to eight drachms of aloes, made into a ball), to remove ingesta, and 

 restore the secretions to their natural condition. 



The following is the treatment advised by Dr. Somerville : 



" This disease is generally caused by constipation of the bowels, 

 hard driving, over-purging or looseness of bowels, or drinking cold 

 water when warm. Constipation is, however, the principal cause 

 of the disease, and when this is the case, the first and most impor- 

 tant condition of relief is to get an action of the bowels. 



"Symptoms. For the first few hours the horse is uneasy, paws, 

 looks around at the side, the pulse is slightly accelerated and wiry. 

 As the disease advances, the intermissions between the attacks be- 

 come less, pulse quicker, running from seventy to eighty beats in a 

 minute, in some instances even faster; lies down and gets up, shows 

 much pain, no swelling of sides; now begins to exhibit fever, 

 bowels constipated, urine highly colored and scanty. 



