66 THE HORSE. 



about one-half pint to which add two ounces of laudanum. The veget- 

 able and mineral astringents may also be given. Starch injections con- 

 taining laudanum often afford great relief. Strength should be kept up 

 by milk punches, eggs, beef tea, oat-meal gruel, etc. In spite of the 

 best of care and treatment, dysentery proves fatal oftener than it comes 

 to a successful ending. 



Inflammation of the Bowels or Bnter itis. This is an inflam- 

 mation of the mucous membrane lining the bowels. This inflammation 

 may extend and effect the muscular and also the serous coats. The dis- 

 ease is rare unless it is caused by irritants or corrosive poisons, or follow- 

 ing invagination or twisting of the bowels. 



How to Know Enteritis. Fever symptoms mark, from the out- 

 set, all attacks. The lining of nose, mouth, and eyes are congested and 

 reddened, the mouth is hot and dry, respirations are increased, pulse is 

 hard and rapid, temperature is raised to 103° or 105°. Colicky pains 

 are continuous. Horse keeps moving; paws; lies down carefully; and 

 will often turn himself upon the back, remaining in that position for 

 some time; thirsty, and as a rule the bowels are sluggish or inactive, 

 but when due to irritant foods or medicine purging may be present. 

 The inflammatory pulse; position of horse when down; coldness of ears 

 and legs; high temperature; continuous pain, which is increased upon 

 pressure, will enable the careful observer to safely diagnose a case of 

 inflammation of the bowels. 



What to Do. Rely principally upon opium internally. Give one 

 to two drams of powdered opium every three or four hours. One dram 

 extract of belladonna should be added to the above doses of opium. 

 Calomel in one dram doses to be given twice a day is recommended. Do 

 not as a rule give purgatives or enemas; and keep the bowels as quiet 

 as possible. Hot blankets applied to the belly and counter-irritants to 

 abdomen are useful. Give linseed tea, oatmeal gruel, and starch water. 

 Avoid solid food, especially if hard dry and indigestible. If when the 

 inflammation has subsided, the bowels do not act, encourage action by 

 walking the horse and give injections into the rectum. Should these 

 fail then give oil. 



Apoplexy of the I^arge Bowels. By some called muco-enteri- 

 tis. This is much more common and most rapidly fatal of the bowel 

 diseases. It is most common in heavy draught horses. It seems to be 

 induced by the same causes that produce enteritis. Post-mortem ex- 

 amination reveals extensive clotting of blood between the mucous and 



