288 BOTS. 



A viscus thus situated and thus employed must occasionally be subject tc 

 inflammation, and various other lesions. The symptoms, however, are obscure 

 and frequently mistaken. They resemble those of colic more than anything 

 else, and should be met by bleeding, oleaginous purges, mashes, tepid gruel, 

 and the application of the stomach-pump : but. when, in addition to the 

 colicky pains, there appear indistinctness of the pulse — and a very characteristic 

 symptom that is — pallidness of the membranes, coldness of the moutL, frequent 

 lying down and in such position that the weight of the horse may rest on the chest, 

 frequently pointing with his muzzle at the seat of pain, and, especially, if these 

 symptoms are accompanied or followed by vomiting, rupture of the stomach is 

 plainly indicated. Considering the situation of the stomach, and the concussions 

 and violence to which it is exposed from the diaphragm and from the viscera 

 around it, this accident will not appear extraordinary. The horse does not 

 necessarily die as soon as this accident occurs. In a case related by Mr. 

 Rogers, the animal died in about four hours after the accident * ; but in one that 

 occurred in the practice of the author, three days elapsed between the 

 probable rupture of the stomach, from a sudden and violent fall, and the death 

 of the animal, and in which interval he several times ate a little food. The 

 rupture was at the right extremity of the stomach, and there were several 

 distinct layers of impacted food between it and the liver. The liver seemed to 

 have acted as a kind of valve. The stomach was found still distended, the 

 edges of the rupture having the dull and sodden appearance of an old wound. 

 There was comparatively little fluid in the abdominal cavity, and no disposi- 

 tion to vomit occurred during any period t. 



A case showing the insensibility of the stomach, wisely and kindly given, 

 considering the shocks and dangers to which this viscus is exposed, is recorded 

 by Mr. Hayes J. A drench was ordered for a horse. For want of a horn, the 

 stable-keeper made use of a wine-bottle, without examining whether it was clean 

 or foul. Shortly afterwards it was discovered that the bottle had contained 

 three or four ounces of liquid blister. This was kept a profound secret until 

 the death of the animal, and that did not happen until twelve days afterwards. 

 The horse had eaten his provender in the same manner as usual, and had per- 

 formed his usual work until about two hours before his death, when he lay 

 down, rolled about, bruised himself sadly, and died. The food, consisting of 

 hay, oats, and beans, was lodged and impacted between the folds of the intestines, 

 and the whole abdominal viscera appeared as if they had been thus surrounded 

 a considerable time before death. The stomach was ruptured in many directions, 

 and almost decomposed. Its coats were nearly destroyed, and hung like rags 

 about the orifice through which the food was received, and that through which 

 it naturally was expelled. This account proves how little we are to depend 

 upon any apparent symptoms as indicating the real state of the stomach in the 

 horse. 



Mr. Brown relates a case of polypus found in the stomach, and which had 

 remained there unsuspected until it weighed nearly half a pound, it then 

 became entangled in the pyloric orifice, and prevented the passage of the food, 

 and destroyed the horse §. 



BOTS. 

 In the spring and earJy part of the summer, horses are much troubled by a 

 grub or caterpillar, which crawls out of the anus, fastens itself under the tail, 



* The Farrier and Naturalist, vol. ii. p. 9. J The Veterinarian, vol. x. p. 615. 



t The Veterinary-Medical Association, S Ibid., vol vii n 76 

 J836-?,p. 109. » -p. i». 



