90 THE VETERINARY SCIENCE. 



•nimal \n brought In for a nig-ht, and Is fed where he will hold up 



his head, the swelling will all disappear and will be all right 



in the morning. 



Treatment. — In some cases he does not need any treatment at 



all, but if the animal's blood seems very bad it would be well to 



give him a few doses of the following : 



Nitrate of Potash or Saltpetre ^ paund. 



Sulphur I '« 



Mix thoroughly and give a tablespoonful in a little grain 

 night and morning. 



CHAPTER IV. 



DISEASES OF STOMACH AND BOWELS. 



The stomach of the horse is very small in proportion to that 

 of other animals, and digestion takes place very quickly. 



ACUTE INDIGESTION. 



This is one of the most common diseases of the horse. 



Causes. — If the horse is not used to being fed very heavy, and 

 he gets a large feed of rich food, such as bran, oats or hay, it is 

 apt to set up the disease; or eating wheat may bring on a bad case 

 of it; it is sometimes caused by a horse being put to work-too soon 

 after a large meal. A change in the food will cause it, or even a 

 change of work, such as a horse being used to the farm and then 

 put on the road driving. When a horse is turned in on a field of 

 clover, after a rain or frost, it is apt to bring on a bad case of 

 Indigestion. 



Symptoms. — We will take a case as we often see it on a 

 farm. The farmer intends to take a journey of fifteen or twenty 

 miles, and the night before he gives the horse an extra good feed, 

 and, if he is used to feeding on cut feed he will probably change 

 the food to hay. The next morning he is up early and gives the 

 horse another good feed before starting on his journey. The 

 horse starts off lively, but after a few miles he becomes dull, 

 sweats freely around the belly and chest, and is noticed to pass 

 manure in small quantities, and in some cases he will even 

 scour ; if he is stopped he shows sii^-ns of cramps or pains in his 

 belly, and attempts to lie down, he looks around at his side, and 

 when you examine him he is slightly bloated ; as he is driven on, 

 Im becomes duller and more bloated, but finally reaches his 



