52 DISEASES OF THE HORSE. 



facilities are available, relief may be afforded by passing an esoph- 

 ageal tube through which some of, the gaseous and liquid contents of 

 the stomach may escape. 



Rupture of the stomach. — This mostly occurs as a result of en- 

 gorged or tympanitic stomach (engorgement colic) and from the horse 

 violently throwing himself when so affected. It may result from 

 disease of the coats of the stomach, gastritis, stones, or calculi, tumors, 

 or anything that closes the opening of the stomach into the intes- 

 tines, and very violent pulling or jumping immediately after the 

 animal has eaten heartily of bulky food. These or similar causes 

 may lead to this accident. 



The symptoms of rupture of the stomach are not constant or always 

 reliable. Always make inquiry as to what and how much the horse 

 has been fed at the last meal. Vomiting may precede rupture of this 

 organ, as stated above. This accident appears to be most likely to 

 occur in heavjf draft horses. A prominent symptom observed 

 (though it may also occur in diaphragmatic hernia) is where the horse, 

 if possible, gets the front feet on higher ground than the hind ones or 

 sits on his haunches, like a dog. This position affords relief to some 

 extent, and it will be maintained for some minutes ; it is also quickly 

 regained when the horse has changed it for some other. Colicky 

 symptoms, of course, are present, and these will vary much and pre- 

 sent no diagnostic value. As the case progresses " the horse will 

 often stretch forward the fore legs, lean backward and downward 

 until the belly nearly touches the ground, and then rise up again 

 with a groan, after which the fluid from his nostrils is issued in 

 increased quantity." The pulse is fast and weak, breathing hurried, 

 body bathed in a clammy sweat, limbs tremble violently, the horse 

 reels or staggers from side to side, and death quickly ends the scene. 



In the absence of any pathognomonic symptom we must take into 

 account the history of the case ; the symptoms of colic that cease sud- 

 denly and are succeeded by cold sweats and tremors; the pulse quick 

 and small and thready, growing weak and more frequent, and at 

 length running down and becoming altogether imperceptible ; looking 

 back at the flank and groaning; sometimes crouching with the hind 

 quarters ; with or without eructation and vomiting. 



There is no treatment that can be of any use whatever. Could we 

 be sure of our diagnosis it would be better to destroy the animal at 

 once. Since, however, there is always the possibility of a mistake in 

 diagnosis, we may give powdered opium in 1-dram doses every two 

 or three hours, with the object of keeping the stomach as quiet as 

 possible. 



(2) Obstruction colic. — The stomach or bowels may be obstructed 

 by accumulations of j^artly digested food (fecal matter), by foreign 

 bodies, by displacements, by paralysis, or by abnormal growths. 



Digitized by Microsoft® 



