266 CHAPTER 30. 



abdominal pain, and repeated at intervals varying from half an hour to 

 an hour. The enema should consist of about two quarts of water, tem- 

 perature of new milk, with two ounces of linseed oil well shaken together. 

 A quart will be sufficient for succeeding enemata. Every effort should be 

 made to prolong the retention of the enema by depressing the tail for ten 

 minutes at least. The object is to increase the peristaltic (contractive) 

 action of the bowels. But it is not desirable to flood them with water. 

 If more than two enemata are needed in order to produce excretion of 

 the fseces, some soap may be dissolved in the water with one ounce of 

 linseed or olive oil. 



The effect of the enema is not confined to the lower gut, into which it 

 is injected. It is a frequent rule in nature, that if one portion of an 

 organ can be excited to action, other parts of the same organ, i. e. the 

 same intestines, sympathise with it and are also excited to action. 



If the foregoing treatment does not afford relief in the course of an 

 hour, a dose of laxative medicine must be given combined with a stimu- 

 lant, such as four or five drachms of aloes in solution, with one and a 

 half ounces of spirits of nitrous ether, or half an ounce of the aromatic 

 spirits of ammonia, or the stimulants may be given in a pint and a half 

 of linseed oil. 



The rubbing of the belly must be continued throughout, and if the 

 animal is in great pain, some walking exercise given at intervals of half 

 an hour will often alleviate the spasms and expedite the action of the 

 medicine. At the end of an hour and a half or two hours, if the spas- 

 modic attacks still continue, hot fomentations must be applied by means 

 of a rug steeped in hot water and held to the belly by a man on each 

 side. To obviate the liability to chill, when the fomentation is discon- 

 tinued, the belly should be rubbed with ammonia liniment. 



Throughout the attack every possible means should be taken, by the 

 assistance of three or more men, to prevent the patient from throwing 

 himself down, as rupture of the diaphragm or entanglement of the guts 

 is likely to result from any such violence. But if the animal prefers to 

 lie down and can be persuaded to keep himself, or can by any moderate 

 restraint be kept in this position, it is as good as any other. During 

 the process of recovery, when the pains become less severe, we generally 

 find the patient inclined to lie down. 



In the absence, as may often occur in private establishments, of diffus- 

 ible stimulants such as nitric ether, any kind of spirit such as gin, rum, 

 or whisky, or aromatics such as pepper and ginger, may be substituted. 

 These all possess antispasmodic properties, and may be found in every 

 house. 



Perseverance in these remedies will almost always be found sufficient 

 to bring about subsidence of the attack, although the case may be pro- 

 longed for some hours. 



This favorable result, however, does not always ensue. Prolonged and 

 especially continuous pain, which may supervene on the earlier spasmodic 

 pain, indicates disease of a very serious nature, and no time should be 

 lost in summoning professional aid. 



