SPASMODIC COLIC. 103 



The causes are over and irregular feeding — even with 

 healthy food ; cooked foods and foods of bad quality ; too 

 much rye, wheat, vetches, peas, and other green foods; 

 sudden changes of food ; overdrinking when heated ; dis- 

 ease of, and parasites, poisons, and stones in, the intes- 

 tines ; diseases of contiguous parts ; the influence of cold 

 and damp on the surface of the body, &c. 



Ordinary cases are relieved by a single dose of medi- 

 cine — sometimes without medicine. In severe cases if re- 

 lief does not come in about six hours, recovery is doubt- 

 ful. Fatal cases usually terminate in about 24 hours. 

 Whatever is given must be given at once. Watch for 

 relapses. 



Stallions should be examined for symptoms of rupture. 

 Examine the scrotum ; also the inguinal (groin) canals and 

 abdominal rings. (See f Inguinal Hernia/ page 58.) . 



Spasmodic colic is distinguished from inflammation of 

 the bowels (enteritis) in many ways, namely : there is no 

 preceding indisposition; no cold, hot, or shivering fits; 

 expressions of pain are stronger, and come on by fits and 

 starts ; remissions of pain, but constant watchfulness, as 

 if in expectation of pain ; pulse contracted to a thread, 

 yet not exceeding 50; drops down suddenly and rolls 

 about, instead of lying down quietly; absence of heat 

 about the abdomen. 



Symptoms. — Attack sudden; paws, stamps, and strikes 

 belly with hind feet ; after bending knees and crouching 

 body several times, advances hind feet in attempts to lie 

 down ; at last drops rather than lies down, the fall caus- 

 ing a grunt; rolls, each time trying to balance on its 

 back ; if, by getting against the stall, it succeeds, remains 

 quiet for a minute or two, the feet drawn down to the 

 belly, the head and neck curved to one side perhaps. 

 Sometimes, if it fails to balance on its back, it will rise 

 suddenly, shake itself, and stand quietly for a time. But 

 it soon averts its head and looks at its flanks anxiously. 



