104 DISEASES OF THE STOMACH AND BOWELS 



eat their feed out of a nose bag and are placed at hard work 

 too soon thereafter are the most frequent sufferers. On the 

 other hand, horses which are regularly fed or on pasture are 

 only occasionally attacked. There can be no doubt that 

 extremes in atmospheric temperature may predispose an 

 animal to an attack. It is commonly observed, therefore, 

 during very hot weather, especially when humid, or on the 

 other hand, during very cold.weather, particularly when damp. 

 Secondary dilatation is due to stasis of the gastric contents 

 resulting from impaction of the bowel (either simple or 

 complicated). Secondary dilatation is more common than 

 primary. 



Diagnosis. — As a general proposition gastric dilatation 

 may be diagnosed if a clear history of the kind of work, 

 food and method of feeding is obtainable, and a careful 

 examination of the patient made. In most cases the attack 

 of gastric pain comes on just after feeding or in some cases 

 during feeding. However, there are exceptions to this and 

 attacks are not infrequent as long as seven or eight hours 

 after the consumption of a meal. The patient is usually 

 dyspneic which, depending upon the degree of the dilatation, 

 will vary. It is usually quite marked, however, and due to the 

 hindrance offered the diaphragm by the distended stomach. 

 The dyspnea increases when the animal lies down. The 

 expression of the face is usually staring and anxious. The 

 conjunctiva in the early stages is slightly congested, in 

 severe cases cyanotic and "muddy." Depending upoa the 

 duration and the severity of the attack the pulse varies from 

 normal frequency and strength to weak, often imperceptible, 

 the number going as high as 80 to 100. The temperature 

 varies between 100.4 to 101.9° F., although where the con- 

 dition is protracted it often reaches 104.5° F. Symptoms 

 of pain are usually not very marked except in the beginning. 

 The intestinal peristalsis in nearly every case is partially 

 or entirely suppressed due to the associated involvement of 

 the bowel. In mild attacks there is usually little or no 

 sweating, but in severe cases the sweat outbreak may be 

 profuse. A symptom of great diagnostic importance but 

 unfortunately not always present is esophageal eructation 



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