NINTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK— PART X 411 
A physic should always be given in flatulent colic as early as possible, 
the best being Barbados aloes in the dose already mentioned. Injec- 
tions, per rectum, of turpentine, 1 to 2 ounces, linseed oil, 8 ounces,, may 
be given frequently to stimulate the peristaltic motion of the bowels and 
favor the escape of wind. Blankets wrung o t of hot water do much to 
afford relief; they should be renewed every five or ten minutes and 
covered with a dry wollen blanket. This form of colic is much more 
fatal than cramp colic, and requires prompt and persistent treatment. 
It is entirely unsafe to predict the result, some apparently mild attacks 
going on to speedy death, while others that appear at the onset to be 
very severe yielding rapidly to treatment. Do not cease your efforts 
until you are sure the animal is dead. In these severe cases puncturing 
of the bowels in the most prominent (distended) part by means of a 
small trocar and cannula or with a needle of a hypodermic syringe, thus 
allowing the escape of gas, has often saved life, and such punctures, if 
made with a clean, sharp instrument that is not allowed to remain in 
the horse too long are accompanied by little danger and do more to 
quickly relieve the patient than any other treatment. 
(4) Spasmodic, or Ci'amp, Colic. — This is the name given to that 
form of colic produced by contraction, or spasm, of a portion of the 
small intestines. It is produced by indigestible food; large drinks of 
cold water when the animal is warm; driving a heated horse through 
deep streams; cold rains; drafts of cold air, etc. Unequal distribution of 
or interference with the nervous supply here produces cramp of the 
bowels, the same as external cramps are produced. Spasmodic colic is 
much more frequently met with in high-bred, nervous horses than in 
coarse, lymphatic ones. 
Symptoms. — These should be carefully studied in order to diagnose 
this from other forms of colic requiring quite different treatment. Spas- 
modic colic always begins suddenly. If feeding, the horse is seen to 
stop abruptly, stamp impatiently, and probably look back. He soon 
evinces more acute pain, and this is shown by pawing, suddenly lying 
down, rolling, and getting up. During the period of pain the intestinal 
sounds, as heard by applying the ear over the flank, are louder than in 
health. There is then an interval of ease; he will resume feeding and 
appear to be entirely well. In a little while, however, the pains return 
and are increased in severity, only to again pass off for a time. As the 
attack progresses these intervals of ease become shorter and shorter, 
and pain may be continuous, though even now there are exacerbations 
of pain. Animals suffering from this form of colic evince the most in- 
tense pain; they throw themselves down, roll over and over, jump up, 
paw, or strike rather, with the front feet, steam and sweat, and make 
frequent attempts to pass urine. Only a small amount of water is passed 
at a time, and this is due to the bladder being so frequently emptied. 
These attempts to urinate are often regarded by horsemen as symptoms 
of trouble of the kindneys or bladder. In reality they are only one of 
the many ways in which the horse expresses the presence of pain. As 
a matter of fact, diseases of the bladder or kidneys of the horse are 
exceedingly rare. 
