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forehead against a wall or tree, or anything which comes in his waj'. Under 

 these circumstances, the respiration is much quickened, and the pulse is of 

 full volume, but not so accelerated as when gastric pain is a prominent 

 symptom. Sometimes the disease is directly traceable to eating bad oats, 

 especially mouldy ones. 



In mild cases of stomach-staggers, the animal always recovers, and 

 many recover without any treatment. In severe cases, the prognosis is not 

 so favourable, as death sometimes ensues from rupture of the stomach, owing 

 to the great distension of this organ, or from inflammation. Sometimes, 

 but rarely, after death, calculi of oat hairs are found in the stomach. 



In the treatment of acute indigestion, a purgative should be given at 

 once. For this purpose five or six drachms of good aloes is preferable to 

 any other aperient, though oil is recommended by some. If there be much 

 flatulence, we may give an ounce to an ounce and a half of aromatic spirit of 

 ammonia in half a pint of gruel. If there be any pain, an ounce to an ounce 

 and a half of sulphuric ether, with half an ounce of spirit of chloroform, may 

 be administered in water or gruel every two or three hours, as long as the 

 pain continues to be severe. In ordinary cases the spirit of ammonia, spirit 

 of chloroform,, and sulphuric ether answer well together ; and when given 

 three or four times daily, will be found very beneficial. When gastric 

 irritation is great, we may add thirty minims of diluted hydrocyanic acid to 

 each draught. If the aloes does not act within the first forty-eight hours, it 

 is best to administer one to two pints of castor oil. In stomach-staggers, it 

 is never advisable to abstract blood. In the further treatment of this disease, 

 as soon as the appetite returns, the diet should be at first of a laxative 

 nature, and limited in amount. 



Chronic indigestion, like the acute form, is chiefly caused by dietetic 

 errors, though these are not always apparent. Sometimes the food, though 

 of good quality, is too stimulating and dry. In other cases it is not 

 sufficiently masiicated, perhaps owing to irregularities in the teeth, but in 

 most cases it will be found to be of inferior C|ualit.y, or administered 

 irregularly. 



Dietetic errors induce changes in the gastric juice, and in the movements 

 ^f the stomach, which, however, are sometimes deficient from impaired 

 nerve power. The symptoms of chronic indigestion are very variable. 

 The appetite may or may not be impaired. Sometimes it is capricious and 

 perverted. In other cases, though it continues good, the animal still 

 continues to lose flesh. The bowels are generally irregular, the fasces often 

 coated with mucus, and there may be great thirst and acid eructations. 

 Abdominal pain is not unfrequent in severe cases, especially when the 

 appetite remains unimpaired. The horse is weak, sweats easily, and the 

 skin is dry and hard. These cases are but too frequently dosed and 

 poisoned with over-doses of aconite drenches. In treating chronic 

 indigestion, the causes of the disorder should be enquired into, and the 

 dietetic arrangements carefully regulated. 



Some purgative should be given in all- cases, unless ihe bowels are 



