294 REPORT ON THE DISEASES OF FARM HORSES. 



his hind legs, and appears uneasy ; attempts are made to urinate, 

 he scrapes alternately with both, or persistently with one of his 

 fore feet. Up to this time there is no disturbance of the tem- 

 perature, or apparently of the system generally ; the mouth is 

 cool and moist, but shortly becomes dry and parched, and the 

 breath is probably offensive. 



He now curls his tail, more frequently turns his head to the 

 flank, and lies down probably after a few crouching turns round 

 the box ; the twitchings of the muscles increase, the breathing 

 is slightly interfered with, and becomes shorter, even to forcible 

 respirations ; he rises frequently, turns, and lies down as before, 

 and endeavours to roll over on his back, sometimes maintaining 

 that position with the feet tightly pressed against the stall or 

 wall, &c. 



The bowels are irritable, and discharging excrement in small 

 but oft repeated quantities, which afterwards give way to con- 

 stipation and severe straining, preventing the retention of 

 enemas. Profuse perspiration bedews the whole body, the pulse 

 becomes accelerated, and if relief is not obtained symptoms are 

 speedily aggravated, which, as they increase, are indicative of 

 the presence or approach of those terminations already cited. 



Treatment consists in administering such agents as will effect 

 the removal of the offending cause, assisted by enemas of simple 

 warm water, or having an admixture of salt, soap, oil, &c. Oil 

 of turpentine, laudanum, &c, &c, form the chief ingredients of 

 the many colic draughts, with endless multiplications of ques- 

 tionable efficacy, except for harm. 



For the class of horse we are considering I have always 

 found the greatest success from the use of five or six drams of 

 Barbadoes Aloes, in solution with stimulants ; and during some 

 years' extensive practice have not had an adverse case, when 

 the condition of the animal and other circumstances have been 

 duly and accurately studied. 



We are seldom called upon to bleed now-a-days, and in this 

 disease warranted in abstaining from it. Successful terminations 

 of colic will take place in from one to four or five hours. Adverse 

 terminations are rupture, invagination, twisting, and strangula- 

 tion, peritonitis, and coma, or sleepy staggers. 



Symptoms of Rupture of the Stomach, Intestines, or Diaphragm 

 are coldness of ears and extremities, sudden suppression of 

 perspiration, the eyeballs protrude, pulse becomes quicker and 

 smaller, and at length imperceptible ; he ceases to roll, and stands 

 immovable, with contracted neck, and nose drawn towards the 

 chest. The respiration is short and catching, the flanks, tail, 

 and thighs quiver and tremble ; retching comes on, vomition 

 may be effected or partially so, and the animal drops dead. 



