7. Duodenum. 8. Liver, upper extremity. 9. Large colon. 10. Cecum. 11.
Small intestine. 12. Floating colon. 13. Rectum. 14. Anus. 15. Left
kidney and its ureter. 16. Bladder. 17. Urethra.]
DISEASES OF THE DIGESTIVE ORGANS.
By CH. B. MICHENER, V. S.
[Revised by John R. Mohler, V. M. D.]
It is not an easy task to write "a plain account of the common diseases,
with directions for preventive measures, hygienic care, and the simpler
forms of medical treatment," of the digestive organs of the horse. Being
limited as to space, the endeavor has been made to give simply an
outline--to state the most important facts--leaving many gaps, and
continually checking the disposition to write anything like a full
description as to cause, prevention, and modes of treatment of diseases.
WATER.
It is generally held, at least in practice, that any water that stock
can be induced to drink is sufficiently pure for their use. This
practice occasions losses that would startle us if statistics were at
hand. Water that is impure from the presence of decomposing organic
matter, such as is found in wells and ponds in close proximity to manure
heaps and cesspools, is frequently the cause of diarrhea, dysentery, and
many other diseases of stock, while water that is impregnated with
different poisons and contaminated in very many instances with specific
media of contagion produces death.
Considering first the quantity of water required by the horse, it may be
stated that when our animals have access to water continually they never
drink to excess. Were the horse subjected to ship voyages or any other
circumstances where he must depend upon his attendant for the supply of
water, it may be roughly stated that he requires a daily average of
about 8 gallons of water. This varies somewhat upon the character of his
feed; if upon green feed, less water will be needed than when fed upon
dry hay and grain.
The time of giving water should be carefully studied. At rest, the horse
should receive it at least three times a day; when at work, more
frequently. The rule should be to give it in small quantities and often.
There is a popular fallacy that if a horse is warm he should not be
allowed to drink, many asserting that the first swallow of water
"founders" the animal or produces colic. This is erroneous. No matter
how warm a horse may be, it is always entirely safe to allow him from
six to ten swallows of water. If this is given on going into the
stable, he should have at once a pound or two of hay and allowed to rest
about an hour before feeding. If water is now offered him it will in
many cases be refused, or at least he will drink but sparingly. The
danger, then, is not in the "first swallow" of water, but is due to the
excessive quantity that the animal will take when warm if he is not
restrained.
Ice-cold water should never be given to horses. It may not be necessary
to add hot water, but we should be careful in placing water troughs
about our barns to have them in such position that the sun may shine
upon the water during the winter mornings. Water, even though it is thus
cold, seldom produces serious trouble if the horse has not been deprived
for a too great length of time.
In reference to the purity of water, Smith, in his "Veterinary Hygiene,"
classes spring water, deep-well water, and upland surface water as
wholesome; stored rain water and surface water from cultivated land as
suspicious; river water to which sewage gains access and shallow-well
water as dangerous. The water that is used so largely for drinking
purposes for stock throughout some States can not but be impure. I refer
to those sections where there is an impervious clay subsoil. It is the
custom to scoop, or hollow out, a large basin in the pastures. During
rains these basins become filled with water. The clay subsoil, being
almost impervious, acts as a jug, and there is no escape for the water
except by evaporation. Such water is stagnant, but would be kept
comparatively fresh by subsequent rains were it not for the fact that
much organic matter is carried into it by surface drainage during each
succeeding storm. This organic matter soon undergoes decomposition, and,
as the result, we find diseases of different kinds much more prevalent
where this water is drunk than where the water supply is wholesome.
Again, it must not be lost sight of that stagnant surface water is much
more certainly contaminated than is running water by one diseased animal
of the herd, thus endangering the remainder.
The chief impurities of water may be classified as organic and
inorganic. The organic impurities are either animal or vegetable
substances. The salts of the metals are the inorganic impurities. Lime
causes hardness of water, and occasion will be taken to speak of this
when describing intestinal concretions. Salts of lead, iron, and copper
are also frequently found in water; they also will be referred to.
About the only examination of water that can be made by the average
stock raiser is to observe its taste, color, smell, and clearness. Pure
water is clear and is without taste or smell.
Chemical and microscopic examination will frequently be necessary in
order to detect the presence of certain poisons, bacteria, etc., and
can, of course, be conducted by experts only.
FEEDS AND FEEDING.
In this place one can not attempt anything like a comprehensive
discussion of the subject of feeds and feeding, and I must content
myself with merely giving a few facts as to the different kinds of feed,
preparation, digestibility, proper time of feeding, quality, and
quantity. Improper feeding and watering will doubtless account for more
than one-half the digestive disorders met with in the horse, and hence
the reader can not fail to see how very important it is to have some
proper ideas concerning these subjects.
KINDS OF FEED.
In this country horses are fed chiefly upon hay, grass, corn fodder,
roots, oats, corn, wheat, and rye. Many think that they could be fed on
nothing else. Stewart, in "The Stable Book," gives the following extract
from Loudon's Encyclopedia of Agriculture, which is of interest at this
point:
In some sterile countries they [horses] are forced to subsist
on dried fish, and even on vegetable mold; in Arabia, on milk,
flesh balls, eggs, broth. In India horses are variously fed.
The native grasses are judged very nutritious. Few, perhaps no,
oats are grown; barley is rare, and not commonly given to
horses. In Bengal a vetch, something like the tare, is used. On
the western side of India a sort of pigeon pea, called gram
(_Cicer arietinum_), forms the ordinary food, with grass while
in season, and hay all the year round. Indian corn or rice is
seldom given. In the West Indies maize, guinea corn, sugar-corn
tops, and sometimes molasses are given. In the Mahratta country
salt, pepper, and other spices are made into balls, with flour
and butter, and these are supposed to produce animation and to
fine the coat. Broth made from sheep's head is sometimes given.
In France, Spain, and Italy, besides the grasses, the leaves of
limes, vines, the tops of acacia, and the seeds of the carob
tree are given to horses.
We can not, however, leave aside entirely here a consideration of the
digestibility of feeds; and by this we mean the readiness with which
they undergo those changes in the digestive canal that fit them for
absorption and deposition as integral parts of the animal economy.
The age and health of the animal will, of course, modify the
digestibility of feeds, as will also the manner and time of harvesting,
preserving, and preparing.
In the horse digestion takes place principally in the intestines, and
here, as in all other animals and with all feeds, it is found that a
certain part only of the provender is digested; another portion is
undigested. This proportion of digested and undigested feed must claim
passing notice at least, for if the horse receives too much feed, or
bulky feed containing much indigestible waste, a large portion of it
must pass out unused, entailing not only the loss of this unused feed,
but also calling for an unnecessary expenditure of vital force on the
part of the digestive organs of the horse. It is thus that, in fact, too
much feed may make an animal poor.
In selecting feed for the horse we should remember the anatomical
arrangement of the digestive organs, as well as the physiological
functions performed by each one of them. Feeds must be wholesome, clean,
and sweet, the hours of feeding regular, the mode of preparation found
by practical experience to be the best must be adhered to, and
cleanliness in preparation and administration must be observed.
The length of time occupied by stomach digestion in the horse varies
with the different feeds. Hay and straw pass out of the stomach more
rapidly than oats. It would seem to follow, then, that oats should be
given after hay, for if reversed the hay would cause the oats to be sent
onward into the intestines before being fully acted upon by the stomach,
and as a result produce indigestion. Experience confirms this. There is
another good reason why hay should be given first, particularly if the
horse is very hungry or if exhausted from overwork, namely, it requires
more time in mastication (insuring proper admixture of saliva) and can
not be bolted, as are the grains. In either instance water must not be
given soon after feeding, as it washes or sluices the feed from the
stomach before it is fitted for intestinal digestion.
The stomach begins to empty itself very soon after the commencement of
feeding, and continues rapidly while eating. Afterwards the passage is
slower, and several hours are required before the stomach is entirely
empty. The nature of the work required of the horse must guide us in the
selection of his feed. Rapid or severe labor can not be performed on a
full stomach. For such labor feed must be given in small quantity and
about two hours before going to work. Even horses intended for slow work
must never be engorged with bulky, innutritious feed immediately before
going to labor. The small stomach of the horse would seem to lead us to
the conclusion that he should be fed in small quantities and often,
which, in reality, should be done. The disproportion between the size of
the stomach and the quantity of water drunk tells us plainly that the
horse should always be watered before feeding. One of the common errors
of feeding, and the one that produces more digestive disorders than any
other, is _to feed too soon after a hard day's work_. This must never be
done. If a horse is completely jaded, it will be found beneficial to
give him an alcoholic stimulant on going into the stable. A small
quantity of hay may then be given, but his grain should be withheld for
one or two hours. These same remarks will apply with equal force to the
horse that for any reason has been fasting for a long time. After a
fast, feed less than the horse would eat, for if allowed too much the
stomach becomes engorged, its walls paralyzed, and "colic" is almost
sure to follow. The horse should be fed three or four times a day. It
will not do to feed him entirely upon concentrated feed. Bulky feed must
be given to detain the grains in their passage through the intestinal
tract; bulk also favors distention, and thus mechanically aids
absorption. For horses that do slow work the greater part of the time,
chopped or cut hay fed with crushed oats, ground corn, etc., is the best
manner of feeding, as it gives the required bulk, saves time, and half
the labor of feeding.
Sudden changes of diet are always dangerous. When desirous of changing,
do so very gradually. If a horse is accustomed to oats, a sudden change
to a full meal of corn will almost always sicken him. If we merely
intend to increase the quantity of the _usual_ feed, this also must be
done gradually. The quantity of feed given must always be in proportion
to the amount of labor to be performed. If a horse is to do a small
amount of work, or rest entirely from work for a few days, he should
receive a proportionate quantity of feed. If this should be observed
even on Saturday night and Sunday, there would be fewer cases of "Monday
morning sickness," such as colics and lymphangitis.
Feeds should also be of a more laxative nature when the horse is to
stand for several days.
MUSTY OR MOLDY FEEDS.--Above all things, avoid feeding musty or moldy
feeds. They are very frequent causes of disease of different kinds. Lung
trouble, such as bronchitis and "heaves," often follows their use. The
digestive organs always suffer from moldy or musty feeds. Musty hay is
generally considered to produce disorder of the kidneys, and all know of
the danger from feeding pregnant animals upon ergotized grasses or
grains. It has often been said to produce that peculiar disease known
variously as cerebrospinal meningitis, putrid sore throat, or choking
distemper.
HAY.--The best hay for horses is timothy. It should be about one year
old, of a greenish color, crisp, clean, fresh, and possessing a sweet,
pleasant aroma. Even this good hay, if kept too long, loses part of its
nourishment, and, while it may not be positively injurious, it is hard,
dry, and indigestible. New hay is difficult to digest, produces much
salivation (slobbering), and occasional purging and irritation of the
skin. If fed at all it should be mixed with old hay.
_Second crop, or aftermath._--This is not considered good hay for
horses, but it is prized by some farmers as good for milch cows, the
claim being made that it increases the flow of milk. The value of hay
depends upon the time of cutting, as well as care in the curing. Hay
should be cut when in full flower, but before the seeds fall; if left
longer it becomes dry, woody, and lacks in nutrition. An essential
point in making hay is that when the crop is cut it should remain in the
field as short a time as possible. If left too long in the sun it loses
color, flavor, and dries or wastes. Smith asserts that one hour more
than is necessary in the sun causes a loss of 15 to 20 per cent in the
feeding value of hay. It is impossible to state any fixed time that hay
must have to cure, this depending, of course, upon the weather,
thickness of the crop, and many other circumstances; but it is well
known that in order to preserve the color and aroma of hay it should be
turned or tedded frequently and cured as quickly as possible. On the
other hand, hay spoils in the mow if harvested too green or when not
sufficiently dried. Mow-burnt hay produces disorder of the kidneys and
bowels and causes the horse to fall off in condition.
The average horse on grain should be allowed from 10 to 12 pounds of
good hay a day. It is a mistake of many to think that horses at light
work can be kept entirely on hay. Such horses soon become potbellied,
fall off in flesh, and do not thrive. The same is true of colts; unless
the latter are fed with some grain they grow up to be long, lean, gawky
creatures, and never make so good horses as those accustomed to grain
with, or in addition to, their hay.
STRAW.--The straws are not extensively fed in this country, and when
used at all they should be cut and mixed with hay and ground or crushed
grain. Wheat, rye, and oat straw are the ones most used; of these, oat
straw is most easily digested and contains the most nourishment. Pea and
bean straw are occasionally fed to horses, the pea being preferable,
according to most writers.
CHAFF.--Wheat and rye chaff should never be used as a feed for horses.
The beards frequently become lodged in the mouth or throat and are
productive of more or less serious trouble. In the stomach and
intestines they often serve as the nucleus of the "soft concretions,"
which are to be described when treating of obstructions of the digestive
tract.
Oat chaff, if fed in small quantities and mixed with cut hay or corn
fodder, is very much relished by horses. It is not to be given in large
quantities, as I have repeatedly witnessed a troublesome and sometimes
fatal diarrhea following the practice of allowing horses or cattle free
access to a pile of oat chaff.
GRAINS.--Oats take precedence of all grains as a feed for horses, as the
ingredients necessary for the complete nutrition of the body exist in
them in the best proportions. Oats are, besides, more easily digested
and a larger proportion absorbed and converted into the various tissues
of the body. Care must be taken in selecting oats. According to Stewart,
the best oats are one year old, plump, short, hard, clean, bright, and
sweet. New oats are indigestible. Kiln-dried oats are to be refused, as
a rule, for even though originally good this drying process injures
them. Oats that have sprouted or fermented are injurious and should
never be fed. Oats are to be given either whole or crushed--whole in the
majority of instances; crushed to old horses and those having defective
teeth. Horses that bolt their feed are also best fed upon crushed oats
and out of a manger large enough to permit of spreading the grain in a
thin layer.
In addition to the allowance of hay above mentioned, the average horse
requires about 12 quarts of good oats daily. The best oats are those cut
about one week before they are fully ripe. Not only is the grain richer
in nutritive materials at this time, but there is also less waste from
"scattering" than if left to become dead ripe. Moldy oats, like hay and
straw, not only produce serious digestive disorders but have been the
undoubted cause of outbreaks of that dread disease in horses, already
referred to, characterized by inability to eat or drink, sudden
paralysis, and death.
WHEAT AND RYE.--These grains are not to be used for horses except in
small quantities, bruised or crushed, and fed mixed with other grains or
hay. If fed alone, in any considerable quantities, they are almost
certain to produce digestive disorders, laminitis (founder), and similar
troubles. They should never constitute more than one-fourth the grain
allowance, and should always be ground or crushed.
BRAN.--The bran of wheat is the one most used, and its value as a
feeding stuff is variously estimated. It is not to be depended upon if
given alone, but may be fed with other grains. It serves to keep the
bowels open. Sour bran is not to be given, for it disorders the stomach
and intestines and may even produce serious results.
MAIZE (CORN).--This grain is not suitable as an exclusive feed for young
horses, as it is deficient in salts. It is fed whole or ground. Corn on
the cob is commonly used for horses affected with "lampas." If the corn
is old and is to be fed in this manner it should be soaked in pure,
clean water for 10 or 12 hours. Corn is better given ground, and fed in
quantities of from 1 to 2 quarts at a meal, mixed with crushed oats or
wheat bran. Great care should be taken in giving corn to a horse that is
not accustomed to its use. It must be commenced in small quantities and
very gradually increased. I know of no grain more liable to produce what
is called acute indigestion than corn if these directions are not
observed.
LINSEED.--Ground linseed is occasionally fed with other feeds to keep
the bowels open and to improve the condition of the skin. It is of
particular service during convalescence, when the bowels are sluggish in
their action. Linseed tea is very often given in irritable or inflamed
conditions of the digestive organs.
POTATOES.--These are used as an article of feed for the horse in many
sections. If fed raw and in large quantities they often produce
indigestion. Their digestibility is increased by steaming or boiling.
They possess, in common with other roots, slight laxative properties.
BEETS.--These are not much used as feed for horses.
CARROTS.--These make a most excellent feed, particularly during
sickness. They improve the appetite and slightly increase the action of
the bowels and kidneys. They possess also certain alterative properties,
making the coat smooth and glossy. Some veterinary writers assert that
chronic cough is cured by giving carrots for some time. The roots may be
considered, then, as an adjunct to the regular regimen, and if fed in
small quantities are highly beneficial.
GRASSES.--Grass is the natural food of horses. It is composed of a great
variety of plants, differing widely as to the amount of nourishment
contained, some being almost entirely without value and only eaten when
nothing else is obtainable, while others are positively injurious, or
even poisonous. None of the grasses are sufficient to keep the horse in
condition for work. Horses thus fed are "soft," sweat easily, purge, and
soon tire on the road or when at hard work. Grass is indispensable to
growing stock, and there is little or no doubt that it acts as an
alterative when given to horses accustomed to grain and hay. It must be
given to such horses in small quantities at first. The stomach and
intestines undergo rest, and recuperate if the horse is turned to grass
for a time each year. It is also certain that during febrile diseases
grass acts almost as a medicine, lessening the fever and favoring
recovery. Wounds heal more rapidly than when the horse is on grain, and
some chronic disorders (chronic cough, for instance) disappear entirely
when at grass. In my experience, grass does more good when the horse
crops it himself. This may be due to the sense of freedom he enjoys at
pasture, to the rest to his feet and limbs, and for many other similar
reasons. When cut for him it should be fed fresh or when but slightly
wilted.
SILAGE.--Regarding silage as a feed for horses, Rommel in Farmers'
Bulletin 578 writes as follows:
Silage has not been generally fed to horses, partly on account
of a certain amount of danger which attends its use for this
purpose, but still more, perhaps, on account of prejudice. In
many cases horses have been killed by eating moldy silage, and
the careless person who fed it at once blamed the silage
itself, rather than his own carelessness and the mold which
really was the cause of the trouble. Horses are peculiarly
susceptible to the effects of molds, and under certain
conditions certain molds grow on silage which are deadly
poisons to both horses and mules. Molds must have air to grow,
and therefore silage which is packed air-tight and fed out
rapidly will not become moldy. If the feeder watches the silage
carefully as the weather warms up he can soon detect the
presence of mold. When mold appears, feeding to horses or mules
should stop immediately.
It is also unsafe to feed horses frozen silage on account of
the danger of colic. * * *
To summarize, silage is safe to feed to horses and mules only
when it is made from fairly mature corn, properly stored in the
silo. When it is properly stored and is not allowed to mold, no
feed exceeds it as a cheap winter ration. It is most valuable
for horses and mules which are not at heavy work, such as brood
mares and work horses during the slack season. With plenty of
grain on the cornstalks, horses will keep in good condition on
a ration of 20 pounds of silage and 10 pounds of hay for each
1,000 pounds of live weight.
PREPARATION OF FEEDS.
Feed is prepared for any of the following reasons: To render it more
easily eaten; to make it more digestible; to economize in amount; to
give it some new property; and to preserve it. We have already spoken of
the preparation of drying, and need not revert to this again, as it only
serves to preserve the different feeds. Drying does, however, change
some of the properties of feed, _i. e._, removes the laxative tendency
of most of them.
The different grains are more easily eaten when ground, crushed, or even
boiled. Rye or wheat should never be given whole, and even of corn it is
found that there is less waste when ground, and, in common with all
other grains, it is more easily digested than when fed whole.
Hay and fodder are economized when cut in short pieces. Not only will
the horse eat the necessary quantity in a shorter time, but it will be
found that there is less waste, and the mastication of the grains (whole
or crushed) fed with them is insured.