SUBACUTE OBSTRUCTION OF SMALL INTESTINES 157 



Chapter IX., pp. 104 and 105, and left draughts con- 

 taining diffusible stimulants for after administration, 

 requesting the owner to let me know on the following 

 day if the pains had not ceased. 



January 31, 3.30 p.m. — My attendance was again re- 

 quested, and I found the mare exhibiting much the same 

 symptoms as on the previous day, with the exception 

 that the purging had ceased since early the evening 

 before. Accordingly, I repeated the stimulant treatment, 

 and left further medicines of a similar nature. The case 

 was showing no extreme urgency, and I did not propose 

 seeing it again until the following day. 



February i, 10.30 a.m. — The pains had now ceased, 

 and the mare inclined to pick daintily at a little hay. 

 The critical discharge of a mass of clay-like, offensive- 

 smelling faeces had taken place. I still continued the 

 frequent administration of stimulants, now in smaller 

 doses and combined with vegetable bitters and tonics, 

 leaving these to be given by the farm attendants. 



February 2. — No visit. 



February 3. — Mare still convalescent, but doing well. 

 Had several times passed normal-sized heaps of faeces, 

 healthy in colour and smell, and was now feeding fairly 

 well. Advised the continuance of the tonics and a few 

 days' rest. The case subsequently did well. 



Case No. 2. 



This case, one of the most remarkable in my experi- 

 ence, was treated some eighteen miles from home. It is 

 astonishing to me as showing the length of time it is 

 possible for a horse to suffer from the pains of obstruc- 

 tion and then recover. I need hardly say that it is one 

 of those exceptions that go to prove the rule. 



February 21, 1900, 12 noon. — The subject was a six- 

 years-old cart gelding. The owner, a client of mine, 



came and informed me that he had a horse ill at M . 



I had never attended there before on account of the 

 distance, but was persuaded in this instance, as the owner 

 urged that the animal was a valuable one, that he was 

 not satisfied with the treatment the horse was receiv- 



