GASTRITIS. 163 



this organ is endowed with a special qualification that enables it 

 to produce a secretion in the form of a fluid which acts upon the 

 food, (after it has been prepared in the mouth by means of 

 mastication with the teeth and softening with the saliva), as a 

 solvent to render it fit to pass on into the intestines where the 

 process of digestion is completed and the alimentary material is 

 rendered fit for absorption and assimilation. As this organ has 

 such important functions to perform, there need be little wonder, 

 if unnatural liberties are taken with it, that it should be the seat 

 of various disorders. Considering the size of the animal, and 

 comparing the horse with the ox and other classes of animals, the 

 size of the stomach in the equine division or order is remarkably 

 small; but undoubtedl}' compensation is made in the extra 

 development of the colon or large intestine, as compared with 

 other classes of animals, a very interesting fact which doubtless 

 is explained in some measure by the digestive processes peculiar 

 to the equine race; nevertheless while physiolog}- helps to clear 

 up these remarkably interesting differences in the development of 

 the digestive tract in various classes of animals, it also directs the 

 attention of the pathologist and therapeutist to those organs which 

 demand special consideration from the respective points of view 

 of these scientists; the stomach of the horse has proved a stumb- 

 ling block to the veterinarian in more ways than one, and depend 

 upon it the organ demands a more careful and intelligent stud}' 

 than it has 3'et received at the hands of members of the profession, 

 if the horse is to be kept in health, and to be saved very much of 

 the suffering which countless numbers undergo from sheer ignor- 

 ance of the subject, and a want of appreciation of its importance; 

 there are probably no disorders that are productive of anything 

 like so much pain and suffering among horses as are those of the 

 stomach and intestines and undoubtedly more horses fall victims 

 thereto than to all the other diseases to which they are susceptible 

 or liable put together; it is therefore a matter of the first importance, 

 in the interest of horse owners, that this part of our subject should 

 be fully dealt with and intelligently studied. Primary inflam- 

 mation of the stomach is not often met with in the horse, but 

 consequent upon unwise and indiscreet dieting, the stomach 

 may become impacted with a solid mass of alimentar}' material or 

 be distended by gas which ultimately results in irritation that 



