Acute Intestinal Indigestion in the Horse. 1 99 



time than another, for some time there is rumbling in the bowels 

 followed by complete silence, as they are fully paralyzed, fasces 

 may be passed at first, but this ceases as the floating colon is 

 emptied and the gaseous distension becomes extreme, and urina- 

 tion which may take place in the early stages is no longer effected 

 in the advanced ones. The compression of the thorax causes 

 severe dyspnoea, accompanied, when the patient is down, by a 

 slight groan. 



Course. In the advanced stages the animal may sink to the 

 ground oppressed by the shock, poisoned by the carbon dioxide 

 which can no longer be exhaled through the lungs, and by hy- 

 drogen sulphide and other toxic products of intestinal fermenta- 

 tion. Death may follow two hours after a hearty meal and is 

 rarely long delayed in fatal cases. 



Improvement may be recognized by the termination of the 

 paresis, the lessening of the abdominal tension, the return of the 

 rumbling in the abdomen, the passage of faeces and flatus; and of 

 urine and by general relief. 



Lesions. In case of death the over-distension of the intestines 

 and abdomen is the most marked lesion, the composition of the 

 gas varying with the rature of the ingesta and the duration of 

 the illness. Carburetted hydrogen compounds abound as a rule 

 in the early stages, while carbon dioxide predominates later. 

 Pinner found 49 per cent, of carburetted hydrogen, 8 per cent, of 

 carbon dioxide, and 42 per cent, of nitrogen. 



The contents of the large intestines are usually in considerable 

 amount and in an undigested condition. The walls of the dis- 

 tended bowels are greatly attenuated and may show congestion, 

 petechias, or rupture. Rupture of the diaphragm is not uncom- 

 mon. Congestion of the lungs, but especially of the skin and 

 superficial structures of the body, and of the brain are natural 

 results of the expulsion of blood from the abdominal cavity. 



Treatment. The desiderata are : relief from existing gaseous 

 tension ; arrest of further fermentation ; and the restoration of 

 the vermicular movement of the intestine. 



The two first indications may sometimes be successfully met by 

 stimulants and antiseptics. Formerly, mild cases were success- 

 fully treated by oil of pepperment and oil of turpentine in oil, 

 and a free use of enemata. A more modern resort is a large 



