49 



Treatment.— Attention must be paid to the condition of the bowels; 

 they should be soft, but purging is to be avoided. The tumors should 

 be washed in warm water and thoroughly cleansed, after which we must 

 scarify them and gently but firmly squeeze out the liquid that will be 

 seen to follow the shallow incisions. While this treatment may be 

 considered as heroic, to say the least, by medical practitioners, yet it 

 has invariably proven successful in my experience, no, bad results fol- 

 lowing. After thus squeezing these tumors and before replacing 

 through the anus, bathe the parts with some anodyne wash. I prefer 

 for this purpose the glycerite of tannin and laudanum in equal parts. 

 Mucilaginous injections into the rectum may be of service for a few days. 



Enteritis is an inflammation of the mucous-membrane lining the 

 bowels. This inflammation may extend and involve the muscular or even 

 serous coats. From my observations enteritis is exceedingly rare in the 

 horse unless caused by irritants or corrosive poisons, or following from 

 invagination, twisting of the bowels, etc. In ftict, I can not remember 

 ever to have seen but one case of enteritis apart from these or similar 

 causes. It is claimed, however, by some that enteritis may be pro- 

 duced by drinking when warm large quantities of cold water, driving 

 through deep streams when the animal is heated, washing the entire 

 surface of the body at such a time, and by feeding moldy or musty 

 foods, or keeping the horse in damp cellar stables. 



Symptoms. — Febrile symptoms, from the onset, mark all attacks of 

 idiopathic enteritis. The membranes of the nose, mouth, and eyes are 

 congested and reddened, the mouth is hot and dry, respirations are in- 

 creased, the pulse is hard and rapid, temperature is elevated to 103^ or 

 105° Fah. Colicky pains are continuous. The horse walks about the 

 stall, pa«^s, lies down carefully, and most frequently turns himself upon 

 his back by the side of the stall and remains in this position for some 

 time. Thirst is present. As a rule, the bowels are sluggish or even 

 entirely inactive, but when this disease is due to irritant foods or med- 

 icines purging and tympanites may be present. The inflammatory 

 pulse, high temperature, continuous pain, which is increased upon 

 l^ressure, position of the horse when down, coldness of ears and legs, 

 etc., will enable us to diagnose a case of enteritis. Where enteritis fol- 

 lows as a complication of diseases before described, the symptoms will 

 depend upon the character of the original intestinal disorder. 



Treatment. — We must rely almost wholly upon opium internally. 

 Give 1 or 2 drams of powdered opium every three or four hours. 

 One dram of extract of belladonna should be added to the above 

 doses of opium. Calomel in 1-dram doses twice a day is also recom- 

 mended. As a rule, purgatives and enemas are not to be given ; our 

 object is to keep the bowels as quiet as possible. Hot blankets applied 

 to the belly, or counter-irritants to abdominal walls, are advisable. Give 

 mucilaginous drinks, as linseed tea, oatmeal gruel, and starch water. 

 Avoid all solid foods that are in the least hard, dry, and indigestible. 

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