The Democratic advocate., 1883-01-20
Collie in the Horse.

Professor James Law, of Cornell Univcr
sity, who is at the head of the veterinary
profession in this country, gives the fol-
lowing advice as to the treatment of this
distressing and often fatal ailment, and an
explanation of the difficulties encountered in
its treatment: The horses stomach Is too
small to contain good feed and the gas extri-
Gated from such materials, when digestion is
prevented by immediate severe work after
eating or otherwise, and where fermentation
has set in. Even cow will die in half an
hour from sudden extrication of gases in
the paunch, which is capable of holding
about 250 quarts. How much more, then,
may the horse, whose stomach will hold but
from sixteen to twenty quarts? The COW
can sometimes relieve herself by eructation
or vomiting, or may be promptly cured by
puncturing the left flank and letting out
the gas. But the average healthy horse
can neither belch gas nor vomit; and to
puncture the stomach, you must first trans
fix the larger intestines above and beyond
which it lies Again, medicines given to
the horse in such circumstances are ex-
ceedingly uncertain. Even the healthy
stomach of the horse does not absorb,
much less that which is distended beyond
measure with gas Anything, therefore
which is introduced into the stomach must
be passed through into the intestines before
it can enter the circulation. But here
again is the obstacle of an ovcrstretched
and inactive stomach, unable to contract
on its contents or force them on into the
bowels. Again, the introduction of agents
into the stomach still further distends it,
and at first aggravates the symptoms.
Such case of acute indigestion and
tympany of the stomach, as might be ex-
pected, is one of the most hopeless and fatal
disorders of the horse. Yet, as delay is
usually equal to death, early ventures at
treatment give the only hope. Give by
the mouth one ounce tincture OF ginger, 30
drops oil Of peppermint, one-half ounce
aqua ammonia, and one scruple tincture OF
nux vomica in pint OF cold water. The
same may be given by an injection into the
rectum, the water being increased to two
quarts. In the absence Of these, give
whatever stimulant comes to hand-a pint
of whiskey, gin or brandy, or one-half ounce
of pepper, with a pint of lime-water, OF
even a teaspoonful of baking-soda and an
other of carbolic acid Gentle walking ex-
ercise may be given, with active rubbing
of the abdomen with straw wisps, and half
an hour after the medicated injection, in
injections of soap-suds to the amount of
four quarts in each. Six drachms of aloes
may also be given by the mouth. If re-
covery ensues, the feed should be limited
in quantity and of a quality easily digest
ed for week, and ten grains of nux yom-
lea and one-half ounce ground gentian may
be given daily for the same length of time.
In cases of collie arising from full drink
of cold water followed by an active run, the
prospects are far better. Here the suffer
ing will usually be at once relieved by a
stimulant and anodyne, and as the distur
bance is mainly in the intestines, this may
be introduced into the stomach with hope
of its speedily passing through and being
absorbed; one-haIf ounce tincture Of ginger
and one ounce laudanum viii usually suffice.
Should there be no relief in half an hour
it may be repeated as an injection, and at
the same time dose of laxative medicine
may be given by the mouth. Five drachms
aloes and one drachm powdered gentian
made into ball with syrup win usually