SUPEEPURGATION. 423 



disease is liable to affect a large proportion of animals which are 

 under the same grazing conditions. 



The SYMPTOMS, generally, take two or three days to become 

 developed. The animal gradually becomes more or less unconscious 

 and paralysed, arid staggers if forced to walk. Although he may 

 have great difficulty in keeping on his legs, he is extremely averse 

 from going down, and leans for support against any convenient 

 object. He breathes in a snoring manner. The mucous mem- 

 branes are tinged with yellow. Convulsions, or spasms like those 

 of tetanus, may come on. 



Recovery may be expected in cases which are not marked by 

 extreme symptoms. 



TREATMENT.— Give a subcutaneous injection (p. 644) of 

 eserine (p. 621) or a full dose of aloes (p. 608), combined with a 

 drachm of calomel. Bleeding (p. 649) may be tried. Back rake 

 and administer a couple of enemas (p. 643) of warm water. 



Superpurgation. 



This term is applied to excessive diarrhoea brought on by the 

 action of purgative medicine. 



CAUSES. — Giving too strong a dose of aloes; giving a second 

 dose- before the first one has commenced to act; exercising the 

 horse before or soon after the physic has " set '' (physic is said to 

 " set " when the purging ceases and the dung begins to assume its 

 normal appearance) ; administering aloes without preparing the 

 animal for it; allowing him to drink a large quantity of cold 

 water shortly after giving aloes; giving aloes on an empty 

 stomach and then keeping the horse without food, etc. 



Be very careful in putting a horse to work soon after giving 

 him a dose of aloes which has failed to move him ; for the longer 

 a purgative is retained in the body, the greater the danger from 

 its superaction. 



SYMPTOMS. — Frequent purging. Loss of appetite. Debility. 

 Weak pulse. The dangerous symptoms are : offensive breath ; bad 

 smell from the evacuations ; glassy eyes ; and distension of the 

 belly with cessation of purging, caused by the bowel losing the 

 power to perform its natural movements on becoming inflamed. 

 Laminitis frequently results from superpurgation. 



TREATMENT. — If the symptoms are not very urgent, the action 

 of the physio should not be checked further than by keeping the 



