DISEASES OF THE HORSE 73 



Turpentine, twenty drops, and mix. Apply every forty- 

 eight hours until three applications have been applied. 

 Rub in for twenty minutes each time. 



During this treatment use the horse for slow work on 

 soft roads, etc. As a rule the splints will not disappear at 

 once, but will gradually. I may add that common splints 

 are not considered an unsoundness. 



SPASMODIC COLIC 



Cause : Horses seem to be predisposed to this form of 

 colic on account of the great length of their intestines 

 w^hich are apt to be telescoped, twisted or their circular 

 muscular fibers spasmodically contracted. Perhaps the 

 principal cause is a change of food, sudden change of 

 temperature, constipation, drinking cold or too large a 

 quantity of water^ especially if the animal is warm ; over- 

 loading the stomach with frozen or mouldy food. Worms 

 frequently produce colic. 



Symptoms : If the animal is tied it will become uneasy, 

 paw, point its nose to the flank, twitch the tail, lie down 

 and get up frequently. If the animal is loose it will walk 

 around, paw, kick at its belly with the hind feet, make 

 attempts to lie down, roll on its back and remain in that 

 position for a while. The pulse increases with the pain, 

 temperature rises from one-half to one degree, breathing 

 labored and fast, the animal sweats in spots, there may 

 be diarrhoea present, but this does not frequently occur. 



Unfavorable symptoms of spasmodic colic are cold 

 legs to the feet, point of the ears cold, trembling of the 

 muscles, cold sweats, mucous membranes of the nose, 

 mouth and eyes have a dark color due to the congestion. 



Treatment: In all cases of spasmodic colic, except 

 where there is diarrhoea present or mares heavily in foal, 

 give Aloin, two drams; Ginger, two drams. Place in 

 gelatin capsule and give with capsule gun. It is advisa- 

 ble to give rectal injection of Warm Water and Glycerine. 

 They are soothing and cooling to the intestinal canal. 



