22 DISEASES OF THE HOESE. 



distention to permit vomiting must be extreme, it not infrequently 

 happens that it leads to rupture of the stomach walls. This has 

 caused the impression in the minds of some that Vomiting can not 

 occur in the horse without rupture of the stomach, but this is incor- 

 rect, since many horses vomit and afterwards become entirely sound. 

 After rupture of the stomach has occurred vomiting is impossible. 



In examination of the abdomen one should remember that its size 

 depends largely upon the breed, sex, and conformation of the animal, 

 and also upon the manner in which the animal has been fed and the 

 use to which it has been put. A pendulous abdomen may be the result 

 of an abdominal tumor or of an accumulation of fluid in the abdom- 

 inal cavity; or, on the other hand, it may merely be an indication 

 of pregnancy, or of the fact that the horse has been fed for a long 

 time on bulky and innutritious food. Pendulous abdomen occurring 

 in a work horse kept on a concentrated diet is an abnormal condi- 

 tion. The abdomen may increase suddenly in volume from accu- 

 mulation of gas in tympanic colic. The abdomen becomes small and 

 the horse is said to be " tucked up " from long-continued poor appe- 

 tite, as in diseases of the digestive tract and in fever. This condi- 

 tion also occurs in tetanus from the contraction of the abdominal 

 walls and in diarrhea from emptiness. 



In applying the ear to the flank, on either the right or left side, 

 certain bubbling sounds may be heard that are known as peristaltic 

 sounds, because they are produced by peristalsis, or wormlike con- 

 traction of the intestines. These sounds are a little louder on the 

 right side than on the left on account of the fact that the large intes- 

 tines lie in the right flank. Absence of peristaltic sounds is always an 

 indication of disease, and suggests exhaustion or paralysis of the 

 intestines. This may occur in certain kinds of colic and is an un- 

 favorable symptom. Increased sounds are heard where the intes- 

 tines are contracted more violently than in health, as in spasmodic 

 colic, and also where there is an excess of fluid or gas in the intestinal 

 canal. 



The feces show, to a certain extent, the thoroughness of digestion. 

 They should show that the feed haS been well ground, and should, in 

 the horse, be free from offensive odor or coatings of mucus. A coat- 

 ing of mucus shows intestinal catarrh. Blood on the feces indicates 

 severe inflammation. Very light color and bad odor may come from 

 inactive liver. Parasites are sometimes in the dung. 



Rectal examination consists in examination of the organs of the 

 pelvic cavity and posterior portion of the abdominal cavity by the 

 hand inserted into the rectum. This examination should be attempted 

 by a veterinarian only, and is useless except to one who has a good 

 knowledge of the anatomy of the parts concerned. 



