412 DISEASES OF DIGESTION. 



Flatulent Colic. 



This dangerous form of colio is due to the distension of the 

 bowels by gas, resulting, gejierally, from the decompoeition of un- 

 digested food contained in them. It sometimes foUows spasmodic 

 colio, in which case, there is first, spasm due tO' irritation set up 

 by the presence of undigested matter; and, subsequently, dis- 

 tension, owing to its decomposition. 



It may be concluded that flatulent colic is usually caused by\ 

 errors in feeding and watering the horse. Perhaps, he has been 

 given a large quantity of rank grass, watery roots, or boiled grain, 

 which, on account of its moist nature, is quickly swallowed with- 

 out being properly masticated. The gastric juice, being too much 

 diluted by the fluid portiooa of the forage, performs its ofiioe im- 

 perfectly ; decomposition takes place ; and the bowels become filled 

 with gas. Or, the thirsty horse, after feeding, may have had a 

 draught of water which may have diluted the gastric juice to an 

 injurious extent, or may have checked its secretion by chilling the 

 stonmch, and a case similar to the one just described results. Or 

 the horse may have been worked soon after being fed. Here the 

 muscular labour will tend to check the secretion of gastric juice, 

 and arrest the movements in the stomach necessary to digestion ; 

 distension and colic being the probable results. Feeding horses 

 immediately after work, without watering them, is apt to cause 

 . colic. 



Horses fed on large quantities of boiled food, frequently become 

 chronically disposed to attacks of flatulent colio, from the fact of 

 their stomach having become weakened from continued over-dis- 

 tension. 



In Northern India, horses are generally fed on a kind of pea, 

 called gram. As it is hard and dry, some persons ignorantly con- 

 sider that it should be well soaked in water before being given to 

 the horse. If this be done, the gram is imperfectly masticated, 

 and the bolus of food, instead of being thoroughly mixed with 

 saliva befofe entering the stomach, in which state it would be 

 ready for reception by that organ, is simply saturated with water. 

 Sometimes, the gram is steeped so long that fermentation actually 

 commences in it before it is given to the horse. Naturally, this 

 system of feeding is a fruitful source of indigestion, and occa- 

 sionally produces colic. 



Some years ago, watering after feeding was a not infrequent 

 practice in batteries of artillery and regiments of cavalry in India, 



