108 THEORY AND PRACTICE 



11. Nostrils dilated. 



12. Mucous membranes cyanotic. 



13. Pulse rapid, small, weak and hard. 



In a mild case that recovers the fermentation will stop. In 

 fatal cases the horse most commonly dies from syncope — a result 

 of the great nervous prostration, which is produced largely by 

 the pressure upon the diaphragm, and the animal finally dies from 

 collapse. Death occurs usually from 10-30 hours. The next 

 most common cause of death is asphyxia. The tympanitis is so 

 great and the gas cannot escape because of the cardiac fold of 

 the stomach or of the pyloric end folding upon the duodenum. 

 In such a case the pressure upon the diaphragm is so severe that 

 it interferes with the action of the heart and lungs. The animal 

 may die in 20 minutes, usually, however, in one or two hours. 

 The third cause of death may be rupture of the stomach, which 

 may take place in 4-5 hours. If the case runs on for 3-4 days, 

 and the horse does not die from any of the causes just men- 

 tioned, congestion and inflammation may result and the case 

 turn into one of gastritis. Death from gastritis can occur in 1-6 

 days. 



Great flatulence produces anaemia of the walls of the stomach 

 and prostration of the vaso-motor system, and as the flatulence 

 subsides, the atonic blood vessels fill with blood and become con- 

 gested. Then inflammation follows. 



14. The appetite is suspended. 



15. Temperature not so much affected until 



gastritis sets in. Then there will be 



an elevation of temperature. 

 Treatment. — This must be directed toward the arrest of the 

 fermentation, which is always present. The cases are always 

 urgent. Give drugs that will arrest the fermentation without 

 producing more gas. The acid to be combated is acetic acid, 

 not hydrochloric. Neutral salts are indicated, — hyposulphite of 

 soda — the sulphate is most popular and very effectual. Others 

 are sulphite of lime, magnesium sulphate. Such antiseptics as 

 turpentine, boracic acid, salicylic acid, cresylic acid, coal tar 

 emulsion, etc., are good. Carbolic acid also. 



