58 THE COMMON COLICS OF THE HORSE 



ministered. The balance of evidence, even now inclining 

 heavily towards ' stomach trouble,' is weightily dropped 

 by the exhibition of a definite and characteristic set of 

 symptoms on the part of the patient. There is an 

 entirely involuntary regurgitation of the oesophagus, with 

 a peculiar gurgling, bubbling noise in the chest, as, with 

 a suppressed squeal of pain, and a slight depression of 

 the head, the animal exudes a small quantity of ingesta- 

 stained fluid from the nostrils. 



The veterinary surgeon knows now he has a case of 

 tympanitic stomach, and that a bad one, on his hands. 

 Should it happen, however, that he is only partly con- 

 vinced, he will be made more certain still by closely 

 watching the animal's movements. The act of lying 

 down is performed with care, and, should his case 

 fortunately be uncomplicated by intestinal tympany, 

 he will notice distinct signs of tympany right forward, 

 under the last rib, on the left side. In addition to this, 

 some practitioners have observed that the perspiration 

 is confined to the left side, or more pronounced over 

 the region of the stomach. I cannot say that 1 have 

 noticed it. 



One other symptom, and that a fairly diagnostic one, 

 still remains. When down, the animal sometimes raises 

 himself on his fore-feet, and sits, dog-like, on his 

 haunches. Mr. Broad of Bath has declared that to be 

 almost, if not quite, diagnostic of stomach affection. He 

 says : ' Sitting on the haunches has its diagnostic value ; 

 it indicates the seat and nature of the pain evinced — that 

 is, overdistension of the stomach and anterior part of 

 colon, or both — the horse taking this position to relieve 

 the diaphragm of their weight and pressure.' 



With a set of symptoms like the above the veterinary 

 surgeon should have no great difficulty in summing up 



