IMPACTION OF THE CECUM 87 



The subject was a sturdy gelding, one of a farm team, 

 weight about 1,300 pounds, age eight years. This team 

 was subjected to hard work and irregular, heavy feed- 

 ing on grain; they were rarely watered between the 

 evening and morning meals. The owner wished water 

 given during the evening, but as is too often the case 

 this was neglected. Relative to the system of watering, 

 I will insert an excerpt from Prof. Gofton's writings 

 on this subject. 



He says: 



"I attributed my cases of cecal impaction to one of 

 two causes, but I am not able to assess the relative im- 

 portance of each nor to say how far they acted con- 

 jointly. 



"Colic cases were of great frequency in this particular 

 stable, and they all ceased suddenly, their cessation co- 

 inciding with the simultaneous removal of what I con- 

 sidered the causal factors in operation. The first was 

 the system of watering. All of the horses were watered 

 when they returned from work at night, and before feed- 

 ing. From then until they turned out to work on the 

 following morning they had no drink of any kind. This 

 was altered by giving the horses the offer of a drink 

 after feeding at night and before feeding in the morn- 

 ing, in addition to the existing arrangements. 



"Secondly, molassine meal was mixed with the food 

 when prepared. 



"Food sufficient to serve three to seven days was pre- 

 pared at one time. 



"I think the damp molassine lying in the dry feed for 



