266 The Diseases of Animals 



Indigestion may occur either in a mild or an acute 

 form. In the mild form the horse refuses his usual 

 food, appears sluggish and often lies down, but does 

 not seem to suffer acute pain. Frequently, the horse 

 will paw the ground and look around toward his flank. 



For mild cases but little medicinal treatment is 

 necessary. Give a light, laxative diet, and allow the 

 digestive system to rest and recuperate for a few days. 

 Bran mashes, fresh grass, etc., are usually sufficient. 

 Two-ounce doses of Jamaica ginger in a pint of mod- 

 erately hot water, given as a drench three times daily, is 

 excellent. If the horse is out of condition, the follow- 

 ing tonic "condition" powders may be given in the 

 food when he begins to eat : 



Sulfate of iron 2 ounces 



Nitrate of potash (saltpeter) .... .2 ounces 



Gentian root (pulverized) 2 ounces 



Nux vomica seed (pulverized) 1 ounce 



Ginger root (pulverized) 1 ounce 



These are to be thoroughly pulverized and mixed, 

 and a heaping teaspoonful of the mixture given in the 

 food three times daily. In case a horse will not eat 

 the powder, omit the gentian root and add linseed meal. 



The causes of acute indigestion are the same as for 

 the mild form; the symptoms are similar, but more 

 severe. The horse suffers much pain, lies down fre- 

 quently, paws, looks toward his flank and often stands 

 stretched out, as if to pass urine. This position of 

 straining, so frequent in indigestion, leads an ordinary 

 observer to think that there is some difficulty with the 

 urinary passage, — a rare occurrence in horses. In in- 



