THE HORSE IN SICKNESS AND DISEASE 351 



III.— Diseases and Injuries of the Peritoneum and 

 Intestines. 



INFLAMMATION OF THE BOWELS — DYSENTERY — STRANGULA- 

 TION OF THE BOWELS — RUPTURE. 



INFLAMMATION OF THE BOWELS. 



The three varieties of inflammation of the bowels are 

 called Peritonitis, inflammation of the investing membrane ; 

 Enteritis, inflammation of the muscular coat ; and Bysen- 

 tery, inflammation of the mucous or internal coat, and 

 synonymous in veterinary practice with human diarrhoea. 



Peritonitis is so little different either in its symptoms or 

 treatment from Enteritis that we may defer directions to 

 that head. 



Acute peritonitis is seldom met with except as the result 

 of injury, such as accidents in castration, puncture of the 

 belly, an overstrain in leaping, or over-exertion. 



ENTERITIS. 



The intestines are composed of three layers of substance, 

 called coats, any one of which may become the seat of 

 inflammation, to the exclusion — although all three are 

 intimately connected — of the other two, or at least so far 

 to their exclusion that the others appear to be but second- 

 arily and comparatively mildly aflfected. Enteritis consists 

 in an inflammation of the middle or muscular coat — that 

 which forms the principal substance of the gut. 



Enteritis sometimes commences by a shivering fit, to 

 which succeed heat of skin, restlessness, loss of appetite, 

 the mouth being particular!}^ hot and dry, the inner mem- 

 branes of the eyelids and the linings of the nostrils being 

 rather redder than natural. As the inflammation advances 

 the pain increases, so as to force the horse to lie down and 

 get up again frequently ; yet, unless the pain be very acute, 

 he seldom rolls on his back, or remains stationary there ; 

 but as he will occasionally do so in particular cases, this 

 should not be considered as a criterion between this dis- 

 order and gripes. He will kick at his belly, stamp with his 

 feet, scrape his litter or stall with his hoofs, and look wist- 

 fully round towards his sides. The pulse in most cases is 



