75 
weeks of life. The alvine discharges are at first of a yellowish-white colour, 
and there is little orno pain. In more advanced stages there is more or less 
abdominal pain, which may be very severe. If the disease continues, the 
foal ceases to suck, and loses flesh rapidly. The prognosis is usually very 
favourable in ordinary cases of diarrhcea, but in the infantile variety a fatal 
termination is not uncommon. 
We should, before treating diarrhoea, in the first place, endeavour to- 
ascertain its cause. If it proceed from irregularities in the feeding, or in the 
work, these should be immediately rectified. In most instances medicine is 
not required, unless the diarrhcea is excessive, or the pain and general 
disturbance very great. No cold water should be allowed on any account, 
and the animal should be kept quiet, and warmly clad. The food should be 
easily digestible, and linseed gruel or other demulcent drinks may be allowed. 
Where there is very great pain, a drench composed of one ounce of tincture 
of opium, one ounce of spirit of chloroform with a drachm of camphor, may 
be given three times daily in flour gruel. When prostration is very marked, 
and the pain severe, one ounce of tincture of opium, one ounce of sulphuric 
ether, and one ounce of spirit of chloroform may be given three times daily, 
with a moderate amount of alcoholic stimulant, such as brandy or whiskey.. 
Woollen cloths wrung out from warm water may be applied frequently to the 
belly, and stimulating liniments rubbed in during the intervals between the 
-applications. In treating diarrhea in youny foals, it is well to commence by 
giving three ounces of castor oil, in order to expel the irritant matter in the 
intestines. With the castor oil, two drachms of sulphuric ether may begiven. 
This treatment may be followed up by the administration of camphor and 
opium, with spirit of chloroform three times a day in water, or in strong 
decoction of tea. Each drench may contain of camphor, twenty grains ; 
tincture of opium, two drachms ; spirit of chloroform, three drachms ; liquid 
extract of bael fruit, six drachms; and water to foursounces. When 
weakness is very marked, a little alcoholic stimulant may be added, and the 
hot cloths and stimulating liniments applied to the abdomen. 
RUPTURE OF THE INTESTINES. 
RUPTURE of the walls of the gut is of more frequent occurrence in the large 
than in the small intestines, and is due in most cases to impaction of excreta 
or to excessive accumulation of wind, or to both these conditions together. 
, It will easily be seen that these disorders are especially liable to result 
when the walls of the gut are in an unhealthy condition. The symptoms of 
rupture are very variable and not characteristic. In most cases rapid 
exhaustion follows the intestinal rupture, wherever it may be situated. In 
some cases, collapse and death soon follow the occurrence; while in others, 
life is not extinguished for several days. In many cases, rupture is difficult 
to.diagnose from several other severe affections of the bowels. Sometimes, 
when following impaction of the excreta in the large bowel, or great 
