DISEASES OF THE HORSE. 



SOT 



SYMPTOMS OF COLIC. 



Sudden in its attack, and without any warning. 



Pulse rarely much quickened in the early 

 period of the disease, and during the inter 

 vals of ease, but evidently fuller. 



Legs and ears of natural temperature. 



Relief obtained from rubbing the belly. 



Relief obtained from motion. 



Intervals of rest and ease. 



Strength scarcely affected. 



SYMPTOMS OP INFLAMMATION OF THE BOWELS. 



Gradual in its approach, with previous indica 

 tions of fever. 



Pulse very much quickened, but small, and 

 often scarcely to be felt. 



Legs and ears cold. 



Belly exceedingly painful, and tender to the 

 touch. 



Pain evidently increased by motion. 



Constant pain. 



Great and evident weakness.&quot; 

 As many of the symptoms of spasmodic colic are similar to those of inflammation of the 

 bowels, such as pawing, kicking at the belly, looking round at the flanks, rolling violently, 

 etc., it will be highly essential to distinguish between the two by the difference in symptoms 

 as previously given, since the treatment for the former might prove very injurious, if not 

 fatal, in the latter. 



Treatment for spasmodic colic. Having determined the symptoms to be those of spas 

 modic colic, and not inflammation of the bowels, the remedy should be resorted to as soon as 

 possible, as delay is hazardous. Various remedies have been found beneficial in such cases, 

 when promptly administered. One tablespoonful of chloroform mixed with a gill of whisky 

 and a pint of warm water will often stop the pain almost immediately. This should be 

 accompanied with an injection of warm soapsuds, using castile soap, or flax-seed water, made 

 by turning boiling water on flax-seed, letting it stand until blood-warm, then strain out the 

 seeds. A pint of linseed oil and a quart of warm water makes an excellent injection. If 

 chloroform is not at hand, a pint of warm water in which as much salt as possible has been 

 dissolved may be used as a substitute. This can be administered by a drenching horn or 

 long-necked bottle. 



Another remedy is one ounce of sulphuric ether, one ounce of laudanum, and a pint of 

 raw linseed oil. At the same time an injection as above given will prove very beneficial in 

 getting the bowels to act promptly. If this does not give relief in an hour the dose may be 

 repeated. A very simple as well as excellent remedy, and one always at hand, is a table- 

 spoonful of saleratus mixed witlj a pint of sweet milk and given at a single dose. 



Some veterinarians use spirits of turpentine in cases of colic, but we consider it very 

 objectionable, as having a tendency to irritate and inflame the throat and bowels, especially if 

 there is any tendency to inflammation of the bowels, as is usually the case. As previously 

 stated, clysters will greatly aid in exciting the bowels to action. Rubbing the bowels with 

 the hand or a warm flannel cloth is also good. Occasionally walking the horse about (never 

 trot or gallop him) will also serve the same purpose. Bleeding is sometimes resorted to when 

 other remedies fail, but we believe that where good may be done once in a thousand cases, 

 injury would result in the nine hundred and ninety-nine. 



Flatulent colic, sometimes called &quot;windy colic,&quot; is a very different form of disease from 

 spasmodic colic, and is caused by an inflation of the bowels with gas produced by the fer 

 mentation of undigested food in the stomach or large intestines. This distention is some 

 times so great as to cause strangulation or a rupture of the colon or caecum, producing instant 

 death. The cause is usually overloading the stomach, or giving improper food in large quan 

 tities. The symptoms at first are similar to those of spasmodic colic, but after a time (gener 

 ally from twelve to forty-eight hours), if not previously checked, the belly becomes 

 considerally increased, being most prominent on the right flank. 



Treatment for flatulent colic. Relief will be effected by the getting rid of the gas that is 

 inflating the bowels. For this purpose try first an injection, and if it results in the escape of 

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