18 SPECIAL EQUINE THERAPY 



TYMPANY OF THE GUTTURAL POUCHES 



To one who lias never seen this abnormality it gives 

 rise to thoughts of apprehension. Cases of distension of 

 the guttural pouches with air appear to be serious to 

 the veterinarian who has had no experience with them. 

 As a matter of fact, it is usually a very benign and de- 

 cidedly transient affection. 



"We meet with this condition most frequently, almost 

 always, in mares that have recently given birth to a foal 

 and that have been turned out to pasture after having 

 been confined to the stable for a long period of time, and 

 in debilitated colts of from one to three years of age 

 when turned out to pasture in the early spring when 

 they must graze nearly all the time to get sufficient nour- 

 ishment. 



A few hours seems to be all the time required for the 

 condition to become fully established, although as a gen- 

 eral thing the condition is first noticed towards evening 

 of the first day that the animal has been turned out. 



It is then seen that the region over the parotid glands, 

 the laryngeal region, and sometimes the space between 

 the rami of the inferior maxiUa are immensely swollen. 

 If a halter has been left on the mare while she has been 

 at pasture parts of it are deeply imbedded and buried in 

 the swelling. When the swelling is palpated it is found 

 to be drum-like and very tense. When force is applied 

 to one side by pressing with the flat hand over the parotid 

 region the opposite side bulges out in proportion. If a 

 finger is pressed firmly into the body of the swelling and 

 the pressure is suddenly released by quickly withdrawing 

 the finger great resilience is noted, and no pit remains. 



Near the borders of the swelling there is edema in some 

 cases, no doubt due to interference with the circulation 

 from direct pressure. 



