66 DISEASES OF THE HORSE. 



make this chain of evidence complete, the poison may be discovered 

 in the organs of the horse by chemical analysis. In nearly all cases 

 of gastro-enteritis there is nervous depression. 



The poisons that are most irritant to the digestive tract are arsenic, 

 corrosive sublimate, sugar of lead, sulphate of copper, sulphate or 

 chloride of zinc, lye or other strong alkalies, mineral acids, and, 

 among the vegetable poisons, tobacco, lobelia, and water hemlock. 



The treatment will depend upon the cause, but if this can not be 

 detected, certain general indications may be observed. In all cases 

 food should be given in small amounts and should be of the most 

 soothing description, as oatmeal gruel, flaxseed tea, hay tea, fresh 

 grass, or rice water. The skin should be well rubbed with wisps of 

 straw and alcohol, to equalize the distribution of the blood; the legs, 

 after being rubbed until warm, should be bandaged in raw cotton or 

 with woolen bandages. The horse should be warmly blanketed. It is 

 well to apply to the abdomen blankets wrung out of hot water and 

 frequently changed ; or mustard paste may be rubbed on the skin of 

 the belly. Internally, opium is of service to allay pain, check secre- 

 tion, and soothe the inflamed membrane. The dose is from 1 to 2 

 drams, given every three or four hours. If there is constipation, the 

 opium should be mixed with 30 grains of calomel. Subnitrate of 

 bismuth may be given with the opium or separately in 2-dram doses. 

 Stimulants, such as alcohol, aromatic spirits of ammonia, or camphor 

 may be given in 2-ounce doses, mixed with warm water to make a 

 drench. 



If putrid food has been consumed, creolin may be administered in 

 doses of 2 drams, mixed with 1 pint of warm water or milk. If there 

 is obstinate constipation and a laxative must be employed, it should 

 be sweet or castor oil, from 1 pint to 1 quart. For the various 

 poisons the remedies are as follows: Arsenic, oxyhydrate of iron 

 solution, 1 pint to 1 quart, or calcined magnesia one-half ounce in 1 

 pint of water; corrosive sublimate, the whites of a dozen eggs or 2 

 ounces of flowers of sulphur; sugar of lead, Glauber's salts, 1 pomid 

 in 1 quart of warm water, to be followed with iodide of potash, 3 

 drams at a dose, in water, three times daily for five days ; sulphate of 

 copper, milk, the whites of eggs, or reduced iron; sulphate of chlo- 

 ride of zinc, milk, the whites of eggs, or calcined magnesia; lye or 

 alkalies, as caustic potash or soda, vinegar, dilute sulphuric acid, and 

 linseed tea, with opium, 3 drams; mineral acids, chalk, or calcined 

 magnesia, or baking soda; later give linseed tea and opimn. 



Hemorrhoids, or piles. — These are rare, comparatively, in horses. 

 They are diagnosed by the appearance of bright-red irregular tumors 

 after defecation, which may remain visible at all times or be seen only 

 when the horse is down or after passing his manure. They are mostly 

 due to constipation, to irritation, or injuries, or follow from the 



