508 DISEASES AND THEIR TREATMENT. 



pentine, or any of the vermifuges recommended, should be added to 

 the oil. Should it not yield to this, neutralize the acids in the bow- 

 els by giving an ounce and a half of prepared chalk and a dram and 

 a half of powdered catechu, mixed in a pint of water. Give once or 

 twice a day until purging ceases. Keep the animal without exercise, 

 and do not give much water to drink. 



If this disease should arise from nervous excitement, give a 

 drachm of powdered opium in the food once a day for three or four 

 days. Or give the following astringent drench :— 



Powdered opium \ .... 1 dr v 



Prepared chalk 4 oz. 



Gum acacia. . . '. 1 oz. 



Dissolve in warm water, and give in well-boiled flour or starch 

 gruel. It may be given two or three times a day, the gruel being 

 given frequently. If very severe, injections of solution of catechu 

 and starch, with a little tincture of opium, should be given. 



The belly may be stimulated with liquid blister. He must be 

 kept perfectly warm, and the legs bandaged. Care must be taken 

 not to induce an opposite state of the bowels by the injudicious use 

 of astringents. An ounce each of carbonate of soda and "ginger 

 should be given daily for some time after recovery. Rest and good 

 dry food are necessary for some time. 



Constipation, 



Constipation is a condition the very opposite of the abov,e, in 

 which we have a diminished action of the bowels, the dung being 

 dry and voided with difficulty, leading to dangerous "stoppage of 

 the bowels." It arises from various causes, especially from being 

 fed on dry, fibrous food. If in pasture in the .fall, when the grass is 

 tough and fibrous, with perhaps a scarce supply of water, the fibrous 

 ingesta are liable to become felted together, and impacted in the 

 bowels. Want of exercise, and feeding too much grain, are also 

 prominent causes. 



It is sometimes accompanied by inflammation of the bowels. 

 Horses that are kept up, or not worked regularly, and especially if 

 fed on dry food, should have an otcasional bran mash with plenty 

 of water to drink, or small doses of laxatives ; aloes is the simplest 

 and best, from two to four drachm doses, with green food. . If ac- 

 companied by colic, or inflammation of the bowels, back-raking, etc., 

 must be resorted to until relieved. Green grass is about the best 

 laxative. 



All horses, especially those advanced in years, should be watched 

 carefully, and when there is any tendency to constipation, it should 



