202 Veterinary Medicine. 



distended to a state of absolute paresis. All conditions of de- 

 bility, and all prolonged ill health tend to operate in this way by 

 lessening vermicular movement. 



Again in cases of nausea or intestinal disorder the supervention 

 of antiperistaltic movements, will tend to accumulate the ingesta 

 at one point and favor impaction (Ernst). 



As in the case of other indigestions the imperfect preparation 

 of the food is an active factor. Diseased teeth, jaws or salivary 

 glands, act in this way and a functionally weak stomach con- 

 tributes to this as to other intestinal disorders. 



An excess of food and especially indigestible food will con- 

 tribute to impaction. Heating grain, like corn, wheat, buck- 

 wheat, passed rapidly through the stomach in an imperfectly 

 digested condition, tends to accumulate in the larger intestines. 

 Hard, fibrous fodders like hay and straw that have run to seed, 

 or which have been washed out by rains, bleached or heated, 

 rye-straw, the stalks of beans, peas, vetches, which have been 

 similarly spoiled, and clover hay affected with cryptogams or 

 other ferments act in the same way. Even clover eaten green, 

 produces in foals impactions to which the hairs of the leaves and 

 chalices materially contribute ( Verrier ) . The allied plants alfalfa 

 and sainfoin when passed rapidly through the stomach tend to 

 impaction of the large intestines. But any fibrous, indigestible 

 and innutritious fodder, taken in excess to make up the deficiency 

 of nutriment is liable to act in this way. 



Other conditions that contribute to impaction are lack of 

 water, especially at night when much hay is consumed, and lack 

 of exercise which tends to torpor of both liver and bowels. 



Finally verminous aneurism and embolism of the iutestinal 

 arteries induce congestion, paresis, spasms, and other disorders 

 which tend to aggregation and impaction. Also tumors, stric- 

 tures and abstructions of all kinds tend to impaction. 



Symptoms. A certain amount of impaction is not incompatible 

 with ordinary health, but as this increases all grades of colic 

 may be met with from the most simple and transient to the most 

 persistent and severe. 



In the milder forms slight and transient colics come on after 

 meals, for days in succession, before any serious attack is sus- 

 tained. These are especially marked under dry bulky fodder 



