OF VETERIXARV MEDICINE. 121 



the bowel in this case are not hard and dry ; there is no impac- 

 tion nor disturbance, simply paralysis of the bowel. The normal 

 motion of the fecal matter has ceased, and the contents are lying 

 persistently in one place. This acts as an irritant but not enough 

 to stimulate the bowel to functional activity, enough, however, to 

 produce congestion and eventually inflammation. The paralysis 

 of the bowel is probably caused by too long continuation of one 

 kind of food ; the bowel gets tired, and this tired feeling may be 

 due to a loss of irritability in the peripheral terminations of the 

 sympathetic nerves, which supply the bowel with motor power. 



Treatment. — Naturally constipation would indicate the use of 

 a purgative, but much judgment needs to be used in treating a 

 case of this kind. As a rule, the drastic purgatives are contra- 

 indicated. The oleaginous, lubricating purgatives are better. 

 Consequently we give raw linseed oil instead of aloes, sulphate 

 of magnesia, or sulphate of soda. Sometimes these saline laxa- 

 tives work fairly well when ihe case is due to the second cause, 

 but otherwise they are not useful in equine practice. The lin- 

 seed oil stimulates the bowel sufficiently and it also lubricates it. 

 It can be repeated with safety, but not so with the other purga- 

 tives. In cases of severe constipation, aloes will not work; if 

 you repeat the dose even after a reasonable length of time, and 

 the bowels do finally get started, super-purgation and death will 

 probably follow. In addition to the oil, the horse needs a stimu- 

 lant, which in this case should be strychnine. I think that 

 strychnine in constipation is indispensable ; it will do more to 

 cure the trouble than any other drug. You can use other stimu- 

 lants right along too, such as ginger, capsicum, and carbonate of 

 ammonia. Further, give enemata (soap and water); these are 

 indispensable, too. They should be warm, about 100 degrees. - 



As a rule, in treating constipation, anodynes are not neces- 

 sary until the case gets along into a late stage, when the pain 

 may be so severe as to require an anodyne on humane principles. 

 We are inclined to think that they tend to decrease peristalsis, 

 which you want to increase, and therefore they must be such 

 as will not interfere with the very thing you are trying to bring 

 about. Chloral hydrate and chloroform can be given if neces- 

 sary. 



