14# 
THE VETERINARY SCIENCE 
that of the farm to driving on the road, may account for it ; 
while the turning of a horse into a field of clover, alfalfa 
especially, is almost certain to result in a serious attack or 
acute indigestion. 
Symptoms. — Suppose a case such as is often met with on 
the farm. The farmer intends to take a journey of fifteen or 
twenty miles. The night before he gives his horse an extra 
heavy feed, and if used to feeding on cut feed he probably 
changes to hay. The next morning he gets up early and 
gives another heavy feed before hitching up. The horse 
starts off at a lively gait but in a few minutes he becomes 
dull and sweats freely around the belly and chest. He passes 
manure in small quantities and it may be noticed that he even 
scours. If allowed to stop he shows signs of cramps or pains 
in the belly and may attempt to lie down. He looks round 
at his side and an examination discloses the fact that he is 
slightly bloated. As the journey proceeds he becomes duller 
and the bloating increases. He finally reaches the journey's 
end and by this time he is in such pain that it is a difficult 
matter to unhitch him. As soon as he is taken into the 
stable the symptoms become violent. He lies down, tries to 
roll on his back, then jumps to his feet, looks at his flank 
and again lies down. He paws first with one foot, then with 
the other, perspires freely all over the body because of the 
pain and repeats these symptoms until he gets relief. Tap- 
ping with the finger on his side, etc., will produce a drum-like 
sound, showing that gas is present. Sound the stomach and 
bowels with the ear and very little noise is heard, nothing 
more than the tinkling of gas. He is noticed to pass gas per 
anus, which is a good sign. The heat of the body, the legs 
and ears is about natural. This point should be noted, for 
with inflammation of the stomach or bowels, the legs and 
cars -are always cold and clammy. His pulse beats from 50 
to 75 per minute, and moderately strong, whereas with in- 
flammation the pulse is strong and wiry. He is also noticed 
to breathe heavily and quick, caused by the stomach being so 
distended with gas that it presses heavily on the lungs. By 
placing your ear to the bottom part of his neck you will hear 
a belching of wind ; this is a symptom peculiar to this disease 
only. It generally takes from twelve to twenty-four hours to 
run its course. In some cases if not so bad as the case out- 
lined, the symptoms are not so distressing. He will be 
noticed to leave his feed and commence pawing, then he 
