31 



" mad" staggers, but if we are careful to get the history of the ease, i. e., 

 ravenous eating after a long fast, or gaining access to graiu-biiis, we 

 should not be in much danger of confounding them. Post-mortem ex- 

 aminations sometimes reveal rupture of the stomach, owing to its enor- 

 mous distension, and to the violence with which he throws himself in his 

 delirium. If not ruptured the stomach will be distended to its utmost. 



Treatment for these cases is very unsatisfactory. A j)urgative of 

 Barbadoes aloes, 1 ounce, should be given at once. We should then 

 try to stimulate the walls of the stomach to contraction by giving cay- 

 enne pepper, one-half ounce, or half-ounce doses of Jamaica ginger. 

 Injections into the rectum, last gut, of turijentine 2 ounces, in 8 ounces 

 of linseed oil, may stimulate the bowels to act, and thus, in a measure, 

 relieve the stomach. Cold applications applied to the head may in 

 some cases relieve the cerebral symptoms already* referred to, and some 

 recommend bleeding for the same purpose. 



Tympanites of the stomach. — This is of somewhat frequent occurrence, 

 according to my observation, but is not, I believe, as a rule, separately 

 treated of by works on veterinary medicine. It is similar in cause and 

 symptoms to the above, yet distinct enough to enable the careful ob- 

 server to readily differentiate between them. In tymi)anites of the 

 stomach we find this organ to be greatly distended as before, but in 

 this case its contents are gaseous, or probably a mixture of food and 

 gases, like fermenting yeast. This disease of the horse corresponds 

 exactly with "hoven" or "blown" in cattle, and may be due to over- 

 loading the stomach with young, succulent, growing herbage, clover in 

 particular, from whose subsequent fermentation gas is liberated in 

 quantities sufficient to enormously distend the stomach. Growing 

 wheat or rye are also fertile causes of this distention if eaten in any con- 

 siderable amounts. Another very frequent cause of stomach-bloat is 

 overfeeding, particularlj' if given immediately before hard work. Many 

 l^eople, if they expect to make a long journey, think to fit their horses 

 for the fatigue consequent thereto by giving an extra allowance of oats 

 or other food just before starting. This is most injudicious. The horse 

 starts to his work feeling full and oppressed; he soon grows dull and 

 listless, and fails to respond to the whip ; sweats profusely; attempts 

 to lie down ; his head is carried forward and downward, and if checked 

 up is heavy on the reins, stumbles or blunders forward and often falls. 

 If looked at carefully you can not fail to observe that he is unusually full 

 over the posterior ribs. The flanks may also be distended Avith gas, 

 and sound like a drum on being struck, though I have seen cases where 

 the gases were entirely confined to the stomach. With this condition 

 the pain and distress are constant ; the swelling referred to plainly ap- 

 preciable; head extended and low, retching or even vomiting of fer* 

 mented food. On placing the ear to the horse's windpipe a distinct me- 

 tallic sound can be heard,, as of air rushing through the windpipe. 

 Such cases are rapid in their course and often fatal. 



