COLIC. C61 



is secured from the anterior portion of tlie alimentary canal, 

 those situations where absorption is most rapid ; and in this 

 Avay it is that in colic its earliest effects become appreciable. 



Amongst the earliest, and certainly the most enthusiastic, 

 advocates for the employment of aloes alone in the treatment 

 of colic, Mr. Gamgee senr. strongly expresses his opinion in 

 favour of the use of Cape aloes in preference to the variety 

 generally in use, known as Barbadoes. During a lengthened 

 experience in the use of this drug in bowel affections in the 

 horse, I cannot speak thus favourably of the Cape variety, but 

 must express a 23artiality for the other, the Barbadoes. It is 

 possible that in my employment of the former I may never 

 have been fortunate enough to secure the correct extract he 

 so highly recommends. With the Barbadoes, in its employment 

 here, I have had no reason to complain, either because of its 

 uncertainty of action or its drastic results. 



The amount to be given must in every instance be regulated 

 by the character of the animal, its breed, age, bulk, as well as 

 by the manner in which it may have been fed for some time 

 previously. 



In conjunction with the administration of aloes in relieving 

 the bowels, we ought not to neglect the judicious employ- 

 ment of enemata. In the simpler cases these may of them- 

 selves prove efficacious, and need only consist of tepid water. 

 Where large masses of ingesta have accumulated in the colon^ 

 there seems reason to believe that benefit is derived from the 

 addition to this of a solution of aloes, or some bland mucilage 

 or oil. 



In all cases where pain is distressing, we regard it as even 

 more than expedient that in addition to the use of aloes and 

 •enemata, attention ought to be directed to the immediate alle- 

 viation of this, although anticipating that with the entrance 

 of the aloes into the circulation there will result a mitigation 

 of this most prominent feature. This may be accomplished 

 without largely interfering with the action of the aloes, or, 

 where they have not been employed, by the administration 

 once, or twice if necessary, of from one to two fluid ounces of 

 tincture of opium, or the same quantity of an equally strong 

 watery solution, given alone or in combination with from two 

 to four ounces of spirits of nitrous ether in half a pint of tepid 



