EFFECT ON HORSES OP DRINKING SANDY WATER.

Patea Mail, Volume VIII, Issue 1040, 28 May 1883, Page 2

EFFECT ON HORSES OP DRINKING SANDY WATER.

An important discovery lias been made in the Cdonamblie district (N.SW.). We learn from the Independent that daring the past two months there has been a frightful mortality amongst draught horses in this district. The cause of death in every case appeared to be inflammation of the bowels, which defied all efforts to cure, notwithstanding that Mr M’Gregor, (veterinary gurgeon) exercised all known remedies. In order to. discover, if possible, the exact nature of the malady, Mr M’Gregor examined the intestines of one of * the victims, and discovered the cause of the "\ — inflammation spoken of. He found the membrane of the stomach coated with sand, and completely riddled, as if a charge of shot had been fired through it. The smaller intestines were in a similar condition, and from one pound weight of these there were about two and a-haif ounces of sand taken. The whole; of the bowels were coated with sand, and . when opened resembled sand paper, this produced irritation and internal hemorrhage, resulting in death. It is thought that the sand is taken in by drinking in shallow water holes with sandy bottoms. But what appears just as probable is the circumstance that all the - affected animals were chaff fed, and it is an open question as to whether the fatal sand was not obtained from that source. Hay and corn dealers are not above little tricks of this kind to make their chaff a little heavier and thereby increase their profits. It would be just as well to test the quality of that article before supplying it to valuable horses.