G48 INTESTINAL SYMPTOMS AND FUNCTIONAL DISORDERS. 



with the laxative, or following it, as tincture of rhiiharb, cam- 

 phorated tincture of opium, carbonate of magnesia, or prepared 

 chalk. With many, a most useful draught is from half a 

 drachm to a drachm of chlorodyne given in strong tea, infusion 

 of camomile, or linseed-tea. When weakness is a prominent 

 feature, which it often is, I have found coffee and port wine, 

 or whisky with raw eggs, exceedingly serviceable. 



In the employment of all these agents it is much better to 

 exhibit them in moderate doses and often, rather than in large 

 quantities and at long intervals ; while all through the course 

 of the case we must be careful that the action of our medicines 

 does not induce undue confinement of the bowels. When 

 abdominal pain is considerable we can do much good by the 

 external employment of heat, dry or moist, to be followed by 

 soap or turpentine liniment; while, should there be any appear- 

 ance of amendment, and the foal be inclined again to take to 

 the teat, we must be careful that too large quantities of milk 

 are not ingested at once, seeing that in this way a recurrence 

 of symptoms is apt to ensue. 



III. Colic. 



Definition. — A jJciinful abdominal affection, usually of an 

 intermfiittent character, unassociated ivith fever and not aggra- 

 vated by nianiiJulation or pressure from luithout, arising from 

 functional disturbance of the intestinal canal. 



Pathology, a. Nature and Varieties. — Under the very 

 general terms of colic, intestinal indigestion, disordered boivels, 

 gripes, etc. — names which are probably chiefly employed to 

 indicate the existence of the one common feature, abdominal 

 pain — have been, and we fear must still continue to be, 

 grouped a variety of conditions. This mingling of causes 

 often essentially difierent because of a similarity of cog- 

 nizable phenomena, is a necessity arising in great measure 

 from the uncertainty of our knowledge in regard to organic 

 change, or functional disturbance of internal structures, and 

 the symptoms by which they are severally indicated. 



Seeing that the great leading feature or diagnostic sjnnptom, 

 abdominal pain, although in an especial manner associated with 

 derangement of the intestinal portion of the alimentary canal, 

 is yet a not unfrequent accompaniment of many visceral 



