84 THE CANADIAN HORSE 



flour or starch gruel. It may be given two or three" times 

 a day, the gruel being given frequently. If very severe,, in- 

 jections of solution of catechu and starch, with a little 

 tincture of opium, should be given. 



The belly may be stimulated with liquid blister. He 

 must be kept perfectly warm, and the legs bandaged. 



Care must be taken not to induce an opposite state of the 

 bowels by the injudicious use of astringents. An ounce 

 each of carbonate of soda and ginger should be given daily 

 for some time after recovery. Eest and good dry food are 

 necessary for some time, 



CONSTIPATION, 



Constipation is a condition the very opposite of the above, 

 in which we have a diminished action of the bowels, the dung 

 being dry and voided with difficulty, leading to dangerous 

 " stoppage of the bowels." ' « 



Constipation arises from various causes, especially from 

 being fed on dry fibrous food, as most pastures are in the 

 fall tough and fibrous, with perhaps a scarce supply of water, 

 the fibrous ingesta becoming felted together, and impacted 

 in the bowels. Pea-straw is apt to produce very trouble- 

 some constipation, unless bran-mashes and plenty of water 

 are given with it. 



It often accompanies colic, either as the cause or conse- 

 quence. The formation of dust and calcareous halls in the 

 stomach or bowels causes complete stoppage, by becoming 

 ^ displaced from the pouch which forms for them, and me- 

 chanically closing up the passage. Sometimes, during the 

 struggles in colic^ the bowels become entangled, producing 

 gut-tie, or knot of the intestines, or the bowel becomes folded 

 in like a double night-cap, forming intussusception, pro- 

 ducing most obstinate and fatal constipation. 



