GASTRITIS. 165 



Nausea is apparent by a complete loss of appetite; and should 

 the poison have been Arsenic thirst is notable for its contanc}^ 

 Avhile the animal partakes of a few sips at a time; with some other 

 minerals the thirst demands a large quantity at a time but par- 

 taken of seldom for its slaking. After awhile the pulse becomes 

 weaker and almost imperceptible; the foeces loose, attended in dis- 

 charge with much straining; the legs and extremities generally 

 become deathly cold and sweat is general over the whole body. 

 When the poison belongs to minerals of the mercurial order, 

 salivation is a peculiarly marked feature, while in copper the 

 muscles are subject to spasms; the internal temperature sinks 

 below the normal, and there is general loss of power. If the 

 source of the poison and the nature of the agent that has been 

 partaken of can be discovered, the selection of an antidote is a 

 simple matter. For Mercurials and Copper, white of egg and 

 milk; for Arsenic, Peroxide of iron; for Lead, Epsom salts; for 

 the yew tree. Camphor; for Ammonia and other Alkaline agents 

 dilute acid as vinegar or lemon juice, and for acids dilute Alkali 

 such as Ammonia, a ver>^ small quantity to plent}^ of water. By 

 way of nutriment at such times, all .solids must absolutely be dis- 

 pensed with for many days, and nutritious mucilaginous drinks, 

 such as milk, linseed gruel, barley water, thin arrow root, etc., 

 provided instead. 



Inflammation of the stomach, as a primar)' disorder, rarely pre- 

 sents itself in the horse; but as has already been stated, amono- 

 other causes an overloaded or impacted condition will set up in- 

 flammation of the organ; at the same time the animal will probably 

 experience considerable pain and inconvenience long before inflam- 

 mation of either the muscular walls or simply the mucous mem- 

 brane lining them is established, and the point which the stableman 

 has to determine so far as he can is whether the pain the horse 

 evinces is due to an overloaded state of the stomach or to ordinary 

 colic affecting the intestines; when in consequence of a ravenous 

 appetite or partaking of coarse, indigestible, unsuitable food, the 

 stomach is filled to bursting, the process of digestion is arrested 

 and the alimentary material does not pass on, symptoms ver}- simi- 

 lar to those already quoted will present themselves; such as, pawing 

 with the fore-feet attempt at vomition accompanied by an escape of 

 gas through the mouth or nose; pain evinced by the horse turning its 



