FLATULENT COLIC 283 



carefully, and stretching out upon the side at full length, with only 

 occasional wistful looks backwards. This attitude gives an even greater 

 appearance of tympany than when the animal is standing, but the pressure 

 on the under side of the body would appear to assist the patient in 

 breaking off wind. The pressure of the distended bowels in a forward 

 direction, and the pain experienced, cause the breathing to be quickened 

 and shallow, and the pulse frequent and diminished in force. The dura- 

 tion of this disease is variable and uncertain. In some animals relief 

 is speedily obtained by voluminous discharge of wind per rectum, with- 

 out medicinal or other agents; in others it may last for many hours, 

 and as long as two or three days. When flatulent colic has been caused 

 by succulent food, as green clover or lucerne, its duration will probably be 

 shorter than in a case where an animal has eaten excessively of meal or 

 grain or other food requiring greater digestion. 



Treatment. — To break up or disperse the gases is the primary object 

 of treatment, and a great many drugs have been credited with these 

 powers. Hand-rubbing and wisping the abdomen appears to lie agreeable 

 to the patient, and probably affords some relief. Walking the animal 

 about conduces also to breaking wind. The most rapid and effectual 

 method of giving relief is to insert a suitable instrument into the right 

 Hank, and by tapping the distended bowel give exit to the confined gas. 

 This operation has not hitherto been resorted to as frequently as it should 

 have been, owing to what now appears to be an unfounded fear of inducing 

 peritonitis. The insertion of the instrument and the withdrawal of the 

 trochar is followed by a free escape of gas and the rapid subsidence of 

 the distended belly. A marked diminution of pain and a more cheerful 

 expression on the part of the patient are also produced. Owing, however, 

 to the supposed danger of the operation it is frequently postponed until 

 the patient is in extremis. 



The medicinal agents to be chosen are those which will chemically 

 decompose the gas, arrest further fermentation, and carry away the offending 

 ingesta. It must also be our endeavour to restore the power of contractility 

 to the overstretched and weakened walls of the implicated bowel. 



Of the first class, aromatic spirit of ammonia and the carbonate of 

 ammonia have the best reputation. Linseed or other bland oil, as olive 

 or cotton-seed oils, appear to disperse or arrest the further elimination 

 of gas, and by their laxative qualities assist in removal of the offending 

 solids. 



Carbolic acid and the emulsions of creasote, very largely diluted, and 

 weak preparations of chlorine, such as may be produced by agitation of a 

 dram of chlorinated lime with a pint of water, arrest decomposition ; while 



