300 FLATULENT COLIC. 



aloes, both large and small, are not unfrequent causes of colic. In some horses 

 there seems to be a constitutional predisposition to colic. They cannot be hardly 

 worked, or exposed to unusual cold, without a fit of it. In many cases, when 

 these horses have died, calculi have been found in some part of the alimentary 

 canal. Habitual costiveness and the presence of calculi are frequent causes of 

 spasmodic colic. The seat of colic is occasionally the duodenum, but oftener the 

 ileum or the jejunum; sometimes, however, both the caecum and colon are affected. 



Fortunately, we are acquainted with several medicines that allay these 

 spasms; and the disease often ceases almost as suddenly as it appeared. Tur- 

 pentine is one of the most powerful remedies, especially in union with opium, 

 and in good warm ale. The account that has just been given of the caecum will 

 not be forgotten here. A solution of aloes will be advantageously added to the 

 turpentine and opium. 



If relief is not obtained in half an hour, it will be prudent to bleed, for the 

 continuance of violent spasm may produce inflammation. Some practitioners 

 bleed at first, and it is far from bad practice ; for although the majority of cases 

 will yield to turpentine, opium, and aloes, an early bleeding may occasionally 

 prevent the recurrence of inflammation, or at least mitigate it. If it is clearly 

 a case of colic, half of the first dose may be repeated, with aloes dissolved in 

 warm water. The stimulus produced on the inner surface of the bowels by the 

 purgative may counteract the irritation that caused the spasm. The belly 

 should be well rubbed with a brush or warm cloth, but not bruised and injured 

 by the broom-handle rubbed over it, with all their strength, by two great fellows. 

 The horse should be walked about, or trotted moderately. The motion thus 

 produced in the bowels, and the friction of one intestine over the other, may 

 relax the spasm, but the hasty gallop might speedily cause inflammation to suc- 

 ceed to colic. Clysters of warm water, or containing a solution of aloes, should 

 be injected. The patent syringe will here be exceedingly useful. A clyster of 

 tobacco -smoke may be thrown up as a last resort. 



When relief has been obtained, the clothing of the horse, saturated with per- 

 spiration, should be removed, and fresh and dry clothes substituted. He should 

 be well littered down in a warm stable or box, and have bran mashes and luke- 

 warm water for the two or three next days. 



Some persons give gin, or gin and pepper, or even spirit of pimento, in cases 

 of gripes. This course of proceeding is, however, exceedingly objectionable. It 

 may be useful, or even sufficient, in ordinary cases of colic; but if there should be 

 any inflammation or tendency to inflammation, it cannot fail to be highly injurious. 



FLATULENT COLIC. 



This is altogether a different disease from the former. It is not spasm of the 

 bowels, but inflation of them from the presence of gas emitted by undigested 

 food. Whether collected in the stomach, or small or large intestines, all kinds 

 of vegetable matter are liable to ferment. In consequence of this fermentation, 

 gas is evolved to a greater or less extent perhaps to twenty or thirty times the 

 bulk of the food. This may take place in the stomach ; and if so, the life of the 

 horse is in immediate danger, for, as will plainly appear from the account that 

 has been given of the oesophagus and upper orifice of the stomach, the animal 

 has no power to expel this dangerous flatus by eructation 



This extrication of gas usually takes place in the colon and caecum, and the 

 distention may be so great as to rupture either the one or the other, or some- 

 times to produce death, without either rupture or strangulation, and that in the 

 course of from four to twenty- four hours. 



In some ill-conducted establishments, and far oftener on the north than the 

 south of the Tweed, it is a highly dangerous disease, and is especially fatal to 



