152 CLINICAL DIAGNOSTICS. 



organ in other animals) and the large fundus of the horse's 

 stomach must be considered in this connection. 



A vigorous contraction of the stomach will serve to over- 

 come these obstacles and vomiting may occur in the horse. 

 In such cases, however, there is always danger of rupture of 

 the organ. This is the usual result when the stomach is well 

 filled with food. Vomiting in the course of colic is therefore 

 always a serious symptom. If, however, the stomach of the 

 horse is moderately filled with fluid contents, a rupture need 

 not occur. In such cases the act of vomiting is usually not 

 caused by an overloaded stomach but by direct stimulation of 

 the vomiting center. (Chloroform narcosis, hemorrhages and 

 inflammations near the medulla). 



Vomiting is always a symptom of dis- 

 ease and occurs under the following conditions : 



During the presence of foreign bodies in the larynx or 

 at the base of the tongue : pieces of bone, fish bones, needles, 

 feathers, etc., also when tough, stringy mucus collects in this 

 region in the course of pharyngitis and laryngitis. 



Obstruction of esophagus. 



Gastric affections, overloading of stomach, gastritis, and 

 in certain poisonings. 



Intestinal affections, such as prevent the normal progress 

 of food masses through the lumen of the intestine and thus 

 provoke antiperistaltic movements which cause the stomach 

 to become distended with intestinal contents, irritation of its 

 mucous membrane, and vomiting. 



Chronic vomiting is observed in cattle and is always to 

 be regarded as an unfavorable symptom. It indicates esoph- 

 ageal stenoses, diverticula, enlargement of the mediaestinal 

 glands, hernia of the diaphragm and constriction of the 

 pylorus. 



The character of the vomited material may often serve to 

 determine the cause of the act and the origin (stomach or in- 

 testine) of the ejected mass. 



