688 GENEEAL THERAPEUTIC MEASURES 



attainable. We may restrict the diet as a whole or in part. 

 Starving diminishes circulatory protein, increases tissue 

 "waste, weakens an animal, and lessens the natural resistance 

 against disease. Restricting the diet is useful in controlling 

 unmanageable animals, in diminishing sexual excitement, 

 and in the treatment of plethora when combined with proper 

 exercise. In most acute inflammatory diseases, as in acute 

 laminitis, a restricted laxative diet is desirable, as steamed 

 oats with bran and salt, roots and green fodder. In acute 

 indigestion, or in acute inflammation of the alimentary tract, 

 and in acute nephritis, all food should be withheld for at 

 least 24 hours. In acute peritonitis all food is contraindi- 

 eated, by the mouth. In the milder forms of acute gastro- 

 enteritis we riiust restrict the diet to small quantities of easily 

 digested food, as cracked or steamed oats, chopped hay and 

 gruels, with the addition of a little green fodder or roots for 

 horses; Ivhile carnivora are given milk and lime water. In 

 chronic digestive disorders the food must be readily digest- 

 ible and assimilable, and of a nitrogenous character, since 

 anaemia and malnutrition follow the defective digestion and 

 absorption. In chronic indigestion or gastro-enteritis of 

 horses, Zuill recommends oats (boiled, scalded or steamed, 

 and allowed to stand 12 hours), 2 parts; bran, 1 part; and 

 malted barley, 1 part. The addition of salt and a little 

 green fodder to this ration is palatable and desirable. The 

 dietary for constipation in horses should consist of bran 

 mashes twice a week with plenty of salt; roots and green 

 fodder at frequent intervals, combined with suitable exercise 

 and appropriate drug treatment. Dogs suffering from con- 

 stipation may be given raw liver twice a week, or may be 

 put on an occasional or exclusive diet of one of the com- 

 mercial dog breads or biscuits. These are laxative and are 

 invaluable in eczema of dogs. Avoid oatmeal, and feed 

 bread, soup and milk in acute eczema. If constipation is 

 A-ery obstinate, total abstinence from all food, water ex- 

 cepted, for a time, followed by the use of lean meat with salt 

 and beef tea, are indicated till the bowels are emiDtied man- 

 ually or by enemata. The ration for diarrhoea embraces the 

 partial restriction of water, which increases the bulk and 

 fluidity of the intestinal contents and so stimulates the move- 



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