DISEASES OF HORSES. 



disease ; but here clothing is recommended as well as warmth in 

 the stable, as also hand-rubbing to keep up the circulation of the 

 extremities. Give astringent drink (Vet. Pha. 131, No. 1 or 2.; 

 with a pint of boiled starch every three hours, and give the same 

 by clyster with two quarts of pot liquor, or tripe liquor, free from 

 salt. 



49. Dysenteric inflammation of the horse's bowels is happily not 

 very common, but now and then appears, and is then called by 

 farriers, molten grease; they mistaking the morbid secretion from 

 the intestines, for the fat of the body melted down and passing off 

 thus. But dysentery is a peculiar inflammation of the mucous sur- 

 face of the intestines, not contagious as in the human, nor epidemic, 

 nor exhibiting a putrid tendency ; but is peculiarly confined to a 

 diseased increase in the mucous secretions, yet very different from 

 simple diarrhoea, which is a mere increase in the peristaltic motion, 

 by which the common aliments are quickly passed through the 

 intestines, and ejected in a liquid form by an increase in their watery 

 secretion. Whereas in the dysentery of the horse, the mucous of 

 the intestines separates from them in large quantities ; and comes 

 away with the dung .surrounding it ; but when it does not pass in 

 this way it appears in membranous films like sodden leather, or in 

 stringy evacuations, like morsels of fat floating in water ; sometimes 

 there is a little bloody appearance. The usual symptoms of fever 

 are always present, but not in a very high degree. 



50. The causes are cold, over-riding, and not unfrequently 

 acrid substances within the intestines : change of food has occa- 

 sioned it. 



51. The treatment. In the first stages bleed considerably, and 

 give as the first internal remedy six ounces of castor oil, which will 

 amend the faecal evacuations considerably, afterwards administer 

 the following; powdered ipecacuanha, a drachm; powdered opium, 

 a scruple ; liquid arrowroot, eight ounces. Should this not check 

 the evacuation, and should it continue as mucous as at first, again 

 give castor oil, and then follow it up by either of the drinks directed 

 for the cure of scouring or looseness. (Vet. Pha. 131.) 



52. Diarrhoea or looseness. This complaint originates in an in 

 creased peristaltic motion of the intestines, with an increase of 

 their watery secretion, and is distinguished from dysentery by th" 

 purging being complete from the first, and seldom occasioning much 

 fever or disturbance in the general health, unless exceedingly vio- 



