176 PRACTICE OF EQUINE MEDICINE. 



What are the causes ? 



The equine race seems to be predisposed to colic on account 

 of their anatomical characteristics. They cannot vomit; they eat 

 fermentable food; then the great length of the intestines, which 

 are apt to become twisted and the like, and the fsecal matter may 

 become impacted. 



Then, again, chillings of the skin; the direct application of 

 cold to the mucous membrane, as a cold drink, or too large quan- 

 tities of water, especially if the animal be overheated. 



Overcharging the stomach may be a cause, so that we say 

 Monday is our colic day, or after a holiday, from a lack of exercise; 

 frozen food or poor food, or too much food. Calculi, by pressing 

 on the terminal branches of the nerves, cause ulceration and colicky 

 pains. 



Colic is rarely due to worms; sometimes it is due to starva- 

 tion, as seen in army horses on long marches; aneurisms of the 

 mesenteric arteries are quite a common cause, especially of periodical 

 colics. 



What are the symptoms of spasmodic colic ? 



There are a great variety of symptoms which are shown sud- 

 denly. 



If hitched before a wagon, the animal will stop, point the 

 nose around at the sides, paw, and want to lie down; while if in a 

 narrow stall, he will become uneasy, paw, s'^dtch the tail, look at 

 the sides, lie down, get up, etc. 



If in a box stall, he will walk around, paw, kick the abdomen 

 with the hind foot, crouch down, or in other cases will roll on 

 his back, and remain in this position for a time, and when the spasm 

 comes on will get up, paw, etc. 



The pain is paroxysmal at first, the intervals of ease often 

 lasting for a considerable length of time. It may be necessary to 

 watch these cases ten or fifteen minutes before the spasm recurs. 



The pulse is about 40, increasing during the pain; the tem- 

 perature is normal, or possibly elevated half a degree; the animal 

 may sweat. Diarrhoea or constipation may be present. 



Some of the unfavorable symptoms are a rapid and thready 

 pulse, the extremities cold to the feel (especialljuthe tips of the 

 ears when cold and clammy), together with muscular tremblings, 

 which can best be appreciated by applying the hand to the muscles 

 over the shoulder. Other unfavorable sjinptoms are cold sweat- 



