PECULIAK TO HOESES.* 39 



supervenes, warm fomentations must be constantly applied to the 

 Dart, and a tube should be put up the teat, in order to facilitate the 

 escape of milk." 



SPASMODIC COLIC, AND ITS TREATMENT. 



Spasmodic Colic is a disease of very frequent occurrence among 

 horses, and in view of giving the readers of this work some definite 

 ideas of its seat, nature, and treatment, I introduce the following 

 as the result of my experience. 



The appellation of colic is usua^y given to abdominal pain, as it 

 occurs ill the intestines of horses; it is, however, a very dilterent 

 condition from that known as inflammation of the intestines, yet the 

 former often merges into the latter. Spasmodic colic, therefore, 

 consists of a morbid contraction of the muscular fibres of some part 

 of the intestinal tube, accompanied by pain, and constitutes what is 

 generally called " stoppage." 



The small intestine is the usual seat of spasmodic colic ; and dis- 

 sections show irregular contractions and shortenings of the intes- 

 tines, accompanied by engorgements. A few remarks on the struc- 

 ture of the intestines, will enable the reader to understand how, 

 and by what means, the spasmodic action takes place. 



The intestinal tube of the horse, which is about ninety feet in 

 length, is composed of three coats. The Jirsty or external, is the 

 peritoneal ; a tunic or covering, which, after having famished a 

 smooth, glistening lining to the interior of the whole abdominal 

 cavity, is reflected over the intestines and gives to them a complete 

 covering, identical with that which they are constantly in contact 

 with. The second coat is composed of muscular fibres of two 

 orders, one running longitudinally, the other circular. Should con- 

 traction occur in the longitudinal fibres, the bowel is proportionally 

 shortened ; when it occurs in the circular fibres, the calibre of the 

 intestines is decreased, and sometimes in severe spasm, complete 

 stricture of the part takes place ; this I have known to continue 

 even after death, when it was found diflicult to pass a small tube 

 through the contraction. The reader will perceive that if contrac- 

 tion of both these orders of fibres should occur, the intestines will 

 present a knotted appearance. The third, or inner coat of the intes- 

 tines, is of a villous, or rather, mucous character ; its sui-face is 

 adapted for secretion and absorption — thus by means of its lacteals, 

 alimentary and other matters are imbibed or absorbed and conveyed 

 into the general circulation. By means of an innumerable number 

 of small glands, a fluid is secreted, which finds its way to the surface 

 of the mucous membrane, and there operates to prevent mechanical 

 irritation, which may follow the administration of drastic cathartics 

 and poisons, or may result from the action of indigestible food, such 

 as bad hay, straw, corn-stalks, &c. 



Now the question arises — by what means is spasm of the bowels 

 produced ? The ordinary cause is the application of a stimulus or 

 agent, which calls into activity the contractile power of the involun- 

 tary muscular fibres of the intestines. It may follow the act of im- 

 bibing a quantity of cold water ; or may result from the presence of 



