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hurriedly, after severe work, food to which the animal has 

 not been accustomed, as corn, vetches, clover, &c. The 

 function of digestion being arrested leads to formation of 

 gas, especially if much water has been taken; coarse, 

 bulky food, if the stomach is out of order, also produces 

 indigestion. 



Symptoms, — As the stomach is distended with food, so 

 is the belly with gas. There is as a consequence colicky 

 pains, torj^idity of the bowels, dullness in the sleepy stage, 

 and a staggering gait. This condition of the organs, if not 

 relieved, soon ends in inflammation of the bowels or rup- 

 ture of the stomach. The other signs are a quick pulse, 

 labored breathing, the mucous membrane blanched, the ears 

 and tail motionless ; at other times the animal attempts to 

 get relief by sitting on its haunches. Sleepy and mad stag- 

 gers are only different stages of the same disease ; in the 

 former the brain is oppressed by sympathetic or reflex 

 action, while in the latter it is congested, producing 

 phrensy. There is also unnatural brightness of the eye, the 

 skin is bathed in perspiration, and the animal sometimes 

 tries to bore his head against the wall. When the disease 

 has progressed thus far, remedies of any kind are no use. 



Treatment. — Bleeding will do no good. For this case 

 take of linseed oil one pint, croton oil twenty drops, or give 

 the horse six drachms of solution of aloes with two ounces 

 of oil of turpentine with one drachm of calomel. Beside 

 either of these doses, much may be done by fomenting and 

 rubbing the belly with hot water. Injections also containing 

 soap, salt, or tobacco smoke should be used every hour. 

 However, should no relief be obtained, repeat the dose in a 

 few hours. If there should be great stupor, a drink of 

 whiskey with plenty of ginger will do good service. As the 

 animal recovers, great attention to the food will be required; 

 light food in small quantities at intervals of four or five 

 hours will prevent a recurrence of the disease. 



