HORSES : THEIR POINTS AND MANAGEMENT 



term, using it to tliat afft^ction arising from simple functional 

 disturbances, due to a spasmodic contraction of the bowels, 

 devoid of any inflammation. Regarded in this light it is one 

 of the commonest affections to which the horse is subject, cer- 

 tainly more frequent in him than any other animal with which 

 we are acquainted. When the complaint is accompanied by 

 distension of the belly (bowels) with gas it is popularly known 

 as " flatulent colic," a complaint that demands immediate 

 treatment, otherwise a speedy death may be the termination. 



This rapid disengagement of gas within the bowels appears 

 to be the result of fermentative changes of the food, brought 

 about through a livirtg ferment inhabiting the intestines. Such 

 gases as marsh gas, carbon dioxide, and sulphuretted hydrogen, 

 appear to be the principal ones generated. Sometimes the 

 belly becomes so rapidly distended with these gases that the 

 animal is carried off within half an hour. 



Causes. — A frequent cause is impaction of food material in 

 the large bowel, chiefly within the double colon. Coarse, dry, 

 and indigestible food is liable to accumulate in this situation. 



Old horses and others having defective masticating powers, 

 are somewhat predisposed to suffer from this ailment. Con- 

 cretions within the bowels, especially when such are small, are 

 by no means an uncommon cause of colic. These small concre- 

 tions are chiefly dangerous in this respect, through their tendency 

 to shift along the course of the canal, and it is, we beheve, this 

 alteration of position which causes the pain, or by complete 

 stoppage of the bowel, exciting inflammation of the latter. 



Horses suffering from repeated attacks of colic ma\- be 

 suspected of having these concretions in the stomach or bowels. 



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