LECTURE XLVI. 

 SAND COLIC* 



Occurs in horses, mules, and cattle. Especially common 

 in portions of the South. 



Organs involved. — /// horses the sand may be in the stomach, 

 the small intestines and in the large intestine (caecum and colon). 

 The sand accumulates most frequently in the caecum and large 

 colon. 



In cattle the sand may be found in any of the stomachs and 

 the intestines. Dieckerhoff says the sand accumulates usually in 

 the second and third stomachs, and small intestines (duodenum). 

 Harms claims that it collects in the second and first most fre- 

 quently. 



Causes. — Drinking in shallow water and sucking up the sand 

 with the water; grazing in short, sandy pastures; eating sanded 

 hay, fodder or grain ; and the habit of eating dirt, or eating grain 

 from the ground. 



Symptoms. — Chronic indigestion ; periodic attacks of colic 

 and diarrhoea ; passing of sand ; obstruction of the alimentary 

 canal (impaction). In cattle the loss of appetite; suspension of 

 rumination ; fermentation and bloat ; impaction with obstruction 

 of the intestinal canal ; and oftentimes chronic indigestion attended 

 by emaciation, and in cows decrease of milk flow. 



Diagnosis. — Sometimes sand may be observed in the feces. 

 Rectal exploration may enable one to feel the sand in the colon or 

 caecum. It is difficult to distinguish this disorder from chronic 

 indigestion, and from the impactions and intestinal calculi. Posi- 

 tive diagnosis in some cases is impossible. 



Prognosis. — Many cases are fatal. 



Treatment. — Remove the cause. Massage of the abdomen ; 

 rectal injections of large quantities of warm water; flooding the 



•Contributed by Dr. C. .\. Gary, Alabama, 



