Mexico weekly ledger., 1886-11-18

lhlS small capacity or the
stomach naturally results in passing
food from the stomach into the small
err bowels, several times during a
meal, for although it may be distend-
ed to twenty quarts or more, it is
not sufficient to hold all the food
taken each meal. Consequently,
when a horse eats too much food, or
food which is very apt to ferment
rapidly and thus generate a great
quantity of gas, the stomach be-
comes enormously distended in a
very short time. The first distention
may pass unnoticed because the horse
having eighteen ribs extending far
backward and the stomach being
small, the d~istention is hidden by the
ribs. There may be collie, however,
to indicate digestive troubles. If
fermentation continues, it will, as the
food moves on the bowels. cause the
bloatlng of these organs by the gas
accommodating within them. Then the
bloating, if serious, becomes very
apparent.
Perhaps externally, any kind of
food taken in too great quantity at
once may cause in certain circum-
stances indigestion of the stomach
or bowels, hence this boating. But
if very fermentible food is freely
partaken of we can readily under
stand that it will be much worse.
Indeed, sometimes small quantities of
fermentible food kill horses by that
means.
Now, whatever may be the special
agent or agents which exist in certain
qualities of corn or corn fodder this
year, (whether worms have anything
to do with it or not,) it seems extra
ordinarily we'll composed to ferment
rapidly and enormously, and thus
cause indigestion, rupture of the
stomach and inflammation of the di-
gestive organs of the abdominal cav
ity. A preventive measure for those
accidents then. is obvious. Simply
use good judgment in feeding corn,
principally the fresh, unmatured,
mouldy or dried corn. Iu giving, if
it must be given now, a little bi-car-
Donate of soda in drinking water or
in a bottle Of water might prevent
to a certain extent the fermenting
process. 1t may be given three times
a day, before each meal.
But when COLES have made their
appearance this treatment may not be
sufficient, although in large doses, 4,
D or 6 ounces at a time, it may prove
beneficial and even save life. The
best treatment then-for here you
want curative agents. believe, is
the following:
One ounce of turpentine in one
pint of raw linseed oil, and one dram
of calomel for an adult horse of Or
binary size. If calomel is not added,
the Oil may be given in larger doses,
even to M quart. Then, to counter.
act fermentation and bloating to give
one ounce Of muriate of ammonia IN
about one pint of water every hour
or half hour, according to the inten,
sity of the bloating. These medi.
cines should be given as early as pos.
sible and the animal made to WALL
about quietly, not to run. If a sur.
geon can be had, a puncture with s
fine t~rocaD, in the most prominent
part of the bloated body, may be
performed with the best results. This
should be done before Inflammation
has set in. One-half to one dram oil
fluid extract of belladonna, every
two hours, and one-half dram of luiG
extract or powdered nux vomica
every three or four hours, for one
day, may be beneficial, especially
when the collie is severe and the bloat
ing not very prominent. In all case'
it is well to hasten the matter in th,
bowels in its course from the stom
ach backward, by giving four or fv,
injections of warm soap-suds. sa,
one, two, or more gallons at a time
with a large syringe, or by other non
injurious means that genius ma,
desire. And, by-the-way, a goot
, horse syringe should be in the hand
of every horse owner Injections
, judieiously administered, are yer,
!, useful in the digestive troubles whic
are so common in live stock.
>, Acute indigestion of the stomac
, or bowels in the horse, is one of tn
most fatal disease. l will be pleased
when at home, to give, directly, ad
vices TO any horse owner who ma
ask for them by mail, and will inclos
a postage stamp. Treatments ma
vary, according to special clrcum
stances. But on general principles
; the course indicated above is good.
Trusting that this letter. which wi
take more space in your valuabl
I paper than l intended to ask yot
will be published, and be of som
y benefit to your readers, I remain, sill
!, your humble servant,
PAUL PAoUIN,
1 Missouri State Veterinary Inspector
State Agricultural College, Golun
bia, Mo.