Diseases of the Digestive Organs. 151 



Prevention should be sought by a more lasativo diet, by 

 a liberal supply of water, by exercise, or even by daily 

 doses of 1 or 2 oz. of sulphate of soda ia the food. The 

 addition of 2 drachms of powdered gentian and 10 grs. of 

 nux vomica will often restore lost tone to the bowels. 



CATAEEH OF THE STOMACH AND BOWELS IN HOESES. 



This is a form of chronic indigestion resulting from 

 faults in diet, as regards quality, quantity and regularity 

 from a habit of bolting food ; from starvation and hard 

 work ; from a sudden access of rich food ; from the irrita- 

 tion of worms ; from congested or torpid liver ; from 

 impaction of the bowels or from any irritant ia the food. 



Symptoms. Unthrifty appearance, rough coat, hide- 

 bound, irregular or capricious appetite, dullness at work, 

 emaciation, tucked up belly, clammy, furred tongue, irreg- 

 ularity of the bowels, diarrhoea alternating with constipa- 

 tion, hard balls of imperfectly digested dung covered with 

 a film of mucus, foetid sour odor of stools, and an inclina- 

 tion to lick the white walls or fresh earth. 



Treatment. A carefully regulated and easily digested 

 diet, (gi'een food, sound hay, ground oats, roots,) moderate 

 regular exercise, a clean, warm, comfortable stable, rock 

 salt to hck at will, and a course of tonics, (gentian with nux 

 vomica, white bismuth, and sulphate of soda,) morniag and 

 evening. Change from one tonic to another as they seem 

 to lose their eifect. Shppery elm, boiled linseed, maUow, 

 etc., are often useful in checking irritation. 



VOMITING. 



This is common in carnivora and pigs biit exceedingly 

 rare in cattle, and still more so in horses, asses and 

 mules. It may be due to a great variety of causes, as di- 

 rect irritation of the stomach by food, poison, congestion or 

 inflammation, disease of the brain, or of some other organ, 

 which profoundly affects the system, or which like the 

 throat or gullet has intimate nervous relations with the 



