THE HORSE, ITS DISEASES. 35f 



Dissolve the aloes in a pint of warm water, add the buckthorn and gin- 

 ger, and give as a drench. 



/ 

 Xm. Inflammation of the Peritoneum. 



Inflammation of the lining membrane of the abdomen is likely to occur 

 in all domestic animals. In ruminants the right side is most affected, and 

 the animal will stand with its feet well together. 



Causes. — Injuries either from rupture of the stomach or intestines, or 

 from injuries to the abdominal walls, exposure to chill or cold, or giving 

 an exhausted horse a wet bed to lie on. 



How to know it. — There may be colic, or steady pain. This will be 

 acute when the affected parts are pressed. There may be chill and fever 

 alternately, and loss of appetite. The pulse will be rapid and hard, and 

 the breath quick and catching, but when eifusion takes place the breath- 

 ing will be deep and easier ; the pulse will soften, the belly will be pend- 

 ent, and there will be fluctuations when handled, fram the water contained. 



What to do. — In the early stages, give full doses of laudanum ; 1 to 2 

 ounces, as may be needed, to allay pain and keep the bowels inactive. 

 Apply mustard poultices to the abdomen, or in extreme cases the ammo- 

 niacal blister as previously described. Frequent injections of thoroughly 

 cooked gruel may be thrown into the rectum, but until the worst symp- 

 toms are past the animal should take nothing into the stomach. As the 

 disease progresses favorably, great care should be exercised in feeding. 

 Oat or rye meal gruel may first be given. If these agree well, give warm 

 soft bran-mashes, with a little oat meal added, and at length hay and 

 sound oats. 



In case absorption of the effusion of water in the cavity does not take 

 place, which may be known by regular and ample staling, give 6 drachms 

 potassa nitrate, daily, until the kidneys act. If tonics seem to be de- 

 manded, give daily doses of 1-2 drachm oxide of iron. 



XIV. Strangulation of the Intestines. 



This is produced by various causes, the result of colic and rupture 

 being the most frequent. Strangulation may be produced by the forma- 

 tion of false membranes, by the involvent of the intestines, by the 

 rupture of the mesentary, or by tlie rolling on itself of the intestine until 

 it is entirely strangulated. In this as in other abdominal difficulties, the 

 animal will often assume unnatural positions, as shown in the article 

 Rupture of the Stomach. If it be a ruminant, and in good flesh, it is 

 better to kill the animal at once. Some forms of strangulation in cattle 



