56 DISEASES OP THE HORSE. 



many feet. In intussusception, the inturned bowel is in the direction 

 of the anus. There are adhesions of the intestines at this point, con- 

 gestion, inflammation, or even gangrene. This accident is most likely 

 to occur in horses that are suffering from spasm of the bowel, or in 

 those where a small portion of the gut is paralyzed. The natural 

 wormlike or ringlike contraction of the gut favors the passage of 

 the contracted or paralyzed portion into that immediately behind it. 

 It may occur during the existence of almost any abdominal trouble, as 

 diarrhea, inflanrmation of the bowels, or from injuries, exposure to 

 cold, etc. A fall or leaping may give the initial maldirection. Foals 

 are most likely to be thus afflicted. 



Symptoms.- — Unless the invaginated portion of the gut becomes 

 strangulated, probably no symptoms will be appreciable, except con- 

 stipation. Strangulation of the bowel may take place suddenly, and 

 the horse die within twenty-four hours, or it may occur after several 

 days — a week even — and death follow at this time. There are" no 

 symptoms positively diagnostic. Colicky pains, more or less severe 

 and continuous, are observed, and there may be at first diarrhea fol- 

 lowed by constipation. Severe straining occurs in some instances of 

 intussusception, and this should be given due credit when it occurs. 

 As death approaches the horse sweats profusely, sighs, presents an 

 anxious countenance, the legs and ears become cold, and there is often 

 freedom from pain immediately before death. In some rare in- 

 stances the horse recovers, even though the invaginated portion of 

 the gut has become strangidated. In this case the imprisoned portion 

 sloughs away so gradually that a union has taken place between the 

 intestines at the point where one portion has slipped into that behind 

 it. The piece sloughing off is found passed with the manure. Such 

 cases are exceedingly rare. Nonirritating laxatives, such as castor 

 oil, sweet oil, or calomel in small doses should be given, and creolin 

 in 2-dram doses in a pint of warm water. Soft feed and mucilag- 

 inous and nourishing drinks should be given during these attacks. 

 E. Mayhew Michener has operated successfully on a foal with intus- 

 susception by opening the abdomen and releasing the imprisoned gut. 



Volvulus^ gut-tie^ or twisting of the howels. — These are the terms 

 applied to the bowels when twisted or knotted. This accident is 

 rather a common one, and frequently results from the violent manner 

 in which a horse throws himself about when attacked by spasmodic 

 colic. The symptoms are the same as those of intussusception and 

 obstructions of the bowels; the same directions as to treatment are 

 therefore to be observed. 



Paralysis of the intestine. — This occurs in old, debilitated animals 

 that have been fed on coarse innutritious fodder. This produces 

 a condition of dilatation so pronounced as to make it impossible for 

 the intestine to advance its contents, and so obstruction results. The 

 symptoms are as in other forms of obstruction colic. The history of 



