204 



THE MODERN SYSTEM 



SPASM. 



Spasm is an irritability of the muscular 

 fibre, excited by an action of the nervous sys- 

 tem, producing various affectiofis, known 

 under the general name of spasi^j, but sub- 

 divided according to the part affected with this 

 excitement. When universal, it forms teta- 

 nus; when confined to the bowels, it forms 

 gripes ; and when it attacks the neck of the 

 bladder, obstruction to the urine follows. In- 

 flammation of the sensorium, or of the nerves, 

 or of the investing membranes of these organs, 

 can produce this excitement. Thus, in phren- 

 ites, the Horse is excited to exertions much 

 beyond his usual powers. Irritation occa- 

 sioned by foreign substances can also produce 

 it ; perhaps, by exciting an immediate in- 

 flammation, although the instantaneous spasm 

 which follows mechanical pressure, and irri- 

 tation, both in the sensorium and the nerves, 

 can scarcely be accounted for thus. Nor, in 

 truth, do I think it has much to do withit; 

 and I believe no satisfactory account has yet 

 been given on that part of our subject. Seda- 

 tives act either by allaying the nervous ex- 

 citement, or relaxing the pait affected with 

 spasm; such as opium, tobacco, &c. Anti- 

 spasmodics, also, by rousing the heart and 

 arteries to a new action ; as gin and pepper, 

 spirit of turpentine, rendering the part above 

 or below the disposition to be excited. In 



and most of the Horses used in that country are stallions ; 

 and these are the subjects that become affected. I never saw 

 it in a mare or gelding, with the exception, that the Horse 

 on the commencement of the attack had gone through the 

 operation of castration, which is imagined to be a remedy 

 for it ; but I never saw one cured by this, or any other 

 remedy ; for the Horse will continue getting worse and 

 worse, until he is unable to rise at all, and is consequently 

 destroyed. 



very violent cases of spasmodic affectionB. 

 copious bleeding, combined with with solu- 

 tions of aloes and opium, are powerful anti- 

 spasmodics. In the spasmodic state of the 

 neck of the bladder, nauseating medicines are 

 found to be the best antispasmodics ; such as 

 digitalis, or white hellebore. The remedies 

 which act by altering the susceptibility of the 

 parts, are principally bleeding, purging, or 

 glisters, and other evacuants, which do it by 

 diminishing the excess of power; and are, 

 therefore, extremely proper in plethoric sub- 

 jects, or when the spasm is attended with 

 great vascularity. When, on the contrary, 

 should the spasm attack a subject already in 

 a debilitated state, recourse then must be had 

 to the stimulant remedies, to bring the part to 

 a state to resist the impressions. (<S'ee list of 

 medicines.) 



SPASMODIC COLIC; OR, GRIPES. 



Spasmodic colic, or, as amongst agricultu- 

 rists, it is termed /re^ gripes, &c. Although it 

 is termed flatulent, or windy colic, wind is not 

 so predominant a symptom, as it is in the 

 human subject. I have before spoken of the 

 intestines containing three coats, one of which 

 is muscular; and I have said, such structure 

 is peculiarly liable to spasm. Consequently, 

 we are not to wonder that the alimentary 

 track of the Horse should be liable to it ; 

 though the stomach I never knew to be liable 

 to the disease. The small intestines seem 

 more the situation of spasmodic colic, than 

 any other part of the Horse ; but there are 

 instances where the large intestines have be- 

 come affected, and when it proceeds so far 

 back as the rectum, the bladder then also 

 participates in the convulsion, and frequent 

 ejections of urine occur. In other instances 



