DISEASES OF THE STOMACH AND INTESTINES. 55 



that have a stone forming in their stomach. There is a disposition to 

 eat the woodwork of the stable, earth, and, in fact, ahnost any sub- 

 stance within their reach. This symptom must not, however, be con- 

 sidered as pathognomonic, since it is observed when calculi are not 

 present. Occasional colics may result from these " stomach stones," 

 and when these lodge at the outlet of the stomach they may give rise 

 to symptoms of engorged stomach, already described. There is, of 

 course, no treatment that will prove effective. Give remedies to move 

 the bowels, to relieve pain, and to combat inflammation. 



Intestinal concretions (^calculi {stones) in the intestines). — ^These 

 concretions are usually found in the large bowels, though they are 

 occasionally met with in the small intestines. They are of various 

 sizes, weighing from 1 ounce to 25 pounds; they may be single or 

 multiple, and differ in composition and appearance, some being soft 

 (composed mostly of animal or vegetable matter), while others are 

 porous, or honeycombed (consisting of animal and mineral matter), 

 and others are entirely hard and stonelike. The hair balls, so 

 common to the stomach and intestines of cattle, are very rare in the 

 horse. Intestinal calculi form around some foreign body, as a rule — 

 a nail or piece of wood — ^whose shape they may assume to a certain 

 extent. Layers are arranged concentrically around such nucleus until 

 the sizes above spoken of are attained. These stones are also often 

 found in millers' horses, as well also as in horses in limestone districts, 

 where the water is hard. When the calculi attain a sufficient size and 

 become lodged or blocked in some part of the intestines^ they cause 

 obstruction, inflammation of the bowels, colicky symptoms, and death. 

 There are no certain signs or symptoms that reveal them. Eecurring 

 colics of the type of impaction colic, but more severe, may lead one to 

 suspect the existence of this condition. Examination through the 

 rectum may reveal the calculus. 



The symptoms will be those of obstruction of the bowels. Upon 

 post-mortem examinations these stones will be discovered mostly in 

 the large bowels ; the intestines will be inflamed or gangrenous about 

 the point of obstruction. Sometimes calculi have been expelled by the 

 action of a physic, or they may be removed by the hand when found 

 to occupy the rectum. 



As in concretions of the stomach, there can be but little done in the 

 way of treatment more than to overcome spasm (if any exists), and 

 to give physics with the hope of dislodging the stone or stones and 

 carrying them on and outward. 



Intussusception, or invagination. — This is the slipping of a portion 

 of the intestine into another portion immediately adjoining, like a 

 partially turned glove finger. This may occur at any part of the 

 bowels, but is most frequent in the small guts. The invaginated por- 

 tion may be slight — 2 or 3 inches only' — or extensive, measuring as 



