424 DISEASES OF DIGESTION. 



should be mixed at each feed; and the jDain should be allayed by 

 ■J oz. of chloral hydrate in a pint of water. No attempt to get rid 

 of the sand by purgatives should be made ; for, if this be done, 

 the gritty particles, on becoming forcibly impelled through the 

 bowels, would wound them, and would consequently set up in- 

 flammation to 8.n almost certainly fatal degree. A few copious 

 enemas may be tried with advantage. 



Mr. J. M. Lund, C.V.S. ("Vet. Record," 6th July, 1901), has had 

 very successful results in South Africa with many cases of sand 

 colic by starving the animal for three or four days, giving him a 

 pint of linseed oil containing a few drops of carbolic acid, morning 

 and evening, and allowing him only a small quantity of water to 

 drink. He reduces the amount of oil, if it purges the horse too 

 much. 



Veterinary Surgeon Desmond tells me that in Australia they 

 cast the horse in a furrow, and let him move the sand by rolling. 



Impaction of the Stomach {Stomach Staggers), 



In this condition, the stomach becomes gorged with food which it 

 is unable to get rid of. The practice of feeding horses on. large quan- 

 tities of boiled food jDredisjDoses these animals to this complaint, 

 as well as to rupture of the stomach ; for damp food is rapidly 

 swallowed without being properly mixed with saliva, and is, con- 

 secjuently, more difficult of digestion than if it had been thoroughly 

 masticated, and is also more liable to ferment and cause the evolu- 

 tion of gas. The resulting distension will tend to strain the mus- 

 cular wall of the ^stomach, and, if frequently repeated, will render 

 it thin and weak ; in which state, it will be incapable of efficiently 

 performing its office of churning up and finally expelling the food. 

 The functions of the gastric glands will also become impaired. Long 

 fasting and overwork will assist in weakeaiing the powers of the 

 stomach. Wheat and other unsuitable articles of food are apt to 

 produce impaction. Gaseous distension of the stomach, which pro- 

 bably accompanies impaction in the large majority of cases, is often 

 brought on by watering thirsty horses soon after they have been 

 fed. Tliey should, of course, be watered previous to feeding. 



SYMPTOMS.— Colicky pains. Pawing with the fore feet, " espe- 

 cially the near one" (Williains). Belching. Attempts at vomit- 

 ing. Tremblings. Partial sweats. " Discharge of liquid matter 

 from the nose " (Robertson). Frequent pulse and quickened breath- 

 ing. In some cases, as remarked by Robertson, the chief symptoms 

 are those of semi-unconsciousness. The animal leans his head 

 against any convenient support; staggers, if forced to walk; and 



