DIGESTIVE DISTURBANCES 219 



followed in a few hours by a remedy to decrease peristaltic action. 

 For this purpose nothing has been found more suitable than lauda- 

 num (opium) in 1-ounce doses at intervals of twenty-four hours. 



INDIGESTION 



Acute indigestion is really a form of colic. It is described in the 

 next section. Chronic indigestion affects either the stomach or 

 bowels or both of these organs. It occurs as a catarrhal inflam- 

 mation of the mucous lining. When the Uver fails to perform its 

 work in disposing of the toxic products of digestion, or excessive 

 gas formation occurs from the action of the bacterial flora on the 

 ingesta, indigestion results. Both of these conditions are referable 

 to errors in feeding, poor mastication of the food, or constitutional 

 weakness. 



The continued presence of gases leads to a stretching and tight- 

 ening of the intestinal walls and interference with the normal cir- 

 culation of blood. The result is a series of inflammatory changes 

 which, if long continued, ends in causing adhesions between the 

 intestine and the abdominal wall, or between different loops of the 

 intestine itself. 



The symptoms of chronic indigestion are loss in condition, de- 

 praved appetite, bloating, flatulence, mucous-coated feces. The 

 skin is dry, lacks its usual gloss, and the animal becomes "hide- 

 bound." Even the horn of the hoofs gets shelly and brittle from 

 the general inanition. 



Many times all the treatment necessary is the removal of the 

 operating causes and a regulation of the diet. The condition of the 

 teeth should be carefully examined and dental attention given if 

 they require it. A digestive tonic, composed of Glauber's salts, 

 22 parts; baking soda, 18 parts; common salt, 9 parts, is good to 

 stimulate the appetite and aid digestion. The dose is a table- 

 spoonful on the feed twice daily. Fowler's solution of arsenic 

 is one of the best tonics for horses affected with chronic indi- 

 gestion. It may be given in ounce doses three times a day. 



COLIC 



Colic is the most frequent and fatal disease of horses. As 

 ordinarily used, the term "cohc" is very inclusive and refers to any 

 condition in which the animal shows abdominal pain. Obviously, 

 then, colic would include a great many painful conditions of organs 



