55 



colicky paius, sliowii by looking back and striking at tlie belly with 

 the hind feet. Ofteuer, however, these colicky symptoms are absent. 

 Diarrhea often precedes death, but during the progress of the disease 

 the bowels are alternately constipated and loose. On percussing the 

 abdominal walls we find that dullness exists to the same height ou both 

 sides of the belly; by suddenly pushing or striking the abdomen we 

 can hear the rushing or flooding of water. If the case is an advanced 

 one the horse is pot-bellied to the extreme, and dropsical swellings are 

 seen under the belly and upon the legs. 



Treatment is, as a rule, unsatisfactory. Saline cathartics, as Epsom 

 or Glauber salts, and diuretics, ounce doses of saltpeter, are to be 

 given. If a veterinarian is at hand he should withdraw the accumula- 

 tion of water by tapping and should then endeavor to prevent its re- 

 currence (though this is almost sure to follow) by giving three times a 

 day saltpeter, 1 ounce, and iodide of potash, 1 dram, and by the appli- 

 cation of mustard or blisters over th^ abdominal walls. Tonics, min- 

 eral and vegetable, are also indicated". Probably the best tonic is one 

 consisting of powdered sulphate of iron, gentian, and ginger in equal 

 parts. A heaping tablespoonful of the mixture is to be given as a 

 drench or mixed with the feed, twice a day. Good nutritious foods 

 and gentle exercise complete the treatment. 



DISEASES OF THE LIVEE. 



This organ in the horse is but rarely the seat of disease, and when 

 we consider how frequently the liver of man is affected, this can not 

 but appear strange to all. There is a difference of the anatomical ar- 

 rangement of the liver of the horse from that of man that may to some 

 extent account for this rarity of disease in the former. It is very com- 

 mon to hear the w^ould-be veterinarian assert that a horse "has disease 

 of his gall-bladder." He thus displays his ignorance, as the horse has 

 no such biliary reservoir. This absence of the gall-bladder may ac- 

 count to a certain extent for his freedom from liver diseases; as over- 

 distension of this and the presence in it of calculi (stones) in man is a 

 frequent source of trouble. In domestic animals, as in man, hot cli- 

 mates tend to i)roduce diseases of the liver, just as in cold climates 

 lung diseases prevail. Not only are diseases of the liver rare in horses, 

 but they are also very obscure, and in many cases pass totally unob- 

 served until after death. There are some symptoms, however, which, 

 when present, should make us examine the liver as carefully as possi- 

 ble. These are jaundice (yellowness of the mucous membranes of the 

 mouth, nose, and eyes) and the condition of the dung, it being light in 

 color and pasty in appearance. 



Hepatitis, inflammation of the liver, may be general or local and may 

 assume an acute or chronic form. The symptoms of acute hepatitis are : 

 Dullness ; the horse is sufl'ering from some internal pain, but not of a se- 

 vere type; constipated and clay colored dung balls, scanty and high- 



