CHAPTER IV. 
DISEASES OF THE STOMACH AND THE BOWELS. 
I. The Stomach. 
THE stomach of the horse is very small in proportion 
to that of other animals. It is the principal organ of 
the digestive system, the important duty of which is 
to abstract from the food sufficient nourishment to 
sustain life ; consequently any disarrangement of this organ 
or interference with its proper function is liable to terminate 
in serious illness. 
1. Acute Indigestion. 
Acute indigestion is one of the most common diseases of 
the horse. 
Causes. — A heavy feed of rich food such as bran, oats or 
hay, especially if not used to such feed, is liable to cause an 
attack, in fact the eating of wheat or any other kind of grain 
may have the same effect. Working too soon after a large 
meal, a change of food or even a change of work such as from 
Fig. 11. — Suffering from Acute Indigestion. 
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