DISEASES OF' THE DIGESTIVE OKGANS. 77 



stretching the head forward and upward and by turning the upper 

 hp outward. There may be more or less colicky pain. In the chronic 

 cases there is mental depression ; the horse is sluggish and dull. The 

 abdomen gradually becomes small, giving a " tucked up " appearance, 

 or, on the other hand, it becomes flaccid and pendulous. 



Treatment. — One should commence with the feed — its quality, 

 quantity, and time of feeding; examine the water supply, and see, 

 besides, that it is given before feeding; then carefully observe the 

 condition of the mouth and teeth ; and, continuing the observations 

 as best we may, endeavor to find the seat of the trouble. If the teeth 

 are sharp or irregular they must be rasped down ; if any are decayed 

 they must be extracted; if indigestion is due to ravenous eating or 

 bolting, the feed must then be given from a large manger where the 

 grain can be spread and the horse thus compelled to eat slowly. 



Any irritation, such as worms, undigested feed, etc., that is oper- 

 ating as a cause is to be removed by appropriate treatment, as advised 

 elsewhere. If there is a tendency to distention of the stomach and 

 bowels, with gas, during indigestion, the following may be used: 

 Baking soda, powdered ginger, and powdered gentian, equal parts. 

 These are to be thoroughly mixed and given in heaping tablespoonf ul 

 doses, twice a day, before feeding. This powder is best given by 

 dissolving the above-named quantity in a half pint of water and 

 given as a drench. 



As a digestive tonic the following is good : Glauber's salt, 2 pounds ; 

 common salt, 1 pound; baking soda, one-half pound. Of this a 

 heaping tablespoonf ul may be given in each feed. If diarrhea exists, 

 the treatment advised below may be used. 



DIARRHEA. 



Diarrhea is due to indigestion or intestinal catarrh or to irritatioh 

 of the bowels from eating moldy or musty feed, drinking stagnant 

 water, diseased condition of the teeth, eating irritating substances, to 

 being kept on low, marshy pastures, and to exposure during cold 

 nights, or in low, damp stables. Some horses are predisposed to scour 

 and are called " washy " by horsemen ; they are those with long 

 bodies, long legs, and narrow, flat sides- Horses of this build are 

 almost sure to scour if fed or watered immediately before being put to 

 work. Fast or road work, of course, aggravates this trouble. Diar- 

 rhea may exist as a complication of other diseases, as pneumonia and 

 influenza, for instance, and again during the diseases of the liver. 



The symptoms are the frequent evacuations of liquid stools, with or 

 without pronounced abdominal pain, loss of appetite, emaciation, etc. 



Treatment is at times very simple, but requires the utmost care and 

 judgment. If due to faulty feed or water it is sufficient to change 

 these. If it results from some irritant in the intestines this is best 



