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HORSE— DISEASES AND REMEDIES. 



tance. The symptoms in all cases of 

 colic, by which it may be distinguished 

 from the last described disease, are as fol- 

 lows. In both acute pain is manifested 

 by stamping, looking at the flanks, and 

 rolling; but in enteritis the pain is con- 

 stant, while in colic there are intervals of 

 rest, when the horse seems quite easy, and 

 often begins to feed. In both the poor 

 (animal strikes at his belly; but in the 

 former he takes great care not to touch 

 the skin, while in the latter (colic) he will 

 often bring the blood by his desperate ef- 

 forts to get rid of his annoyance. In en- 

 teritis the belly is hot and exquisitely 

 tender to the touch, but in colic it is not 

 unnaturally warm, and gradual pressure 

 with a broad surface, such as the whole 

 hand, always is readily borne, and gener- 

 ally affords relief. The pulse also is little 

 affected in colic ; and lastly, the attack is 

 very much more sudden than in perito- 

 neal inflammation. 



Sure are the general signs by which a 

 case of colic may be distinguished from 

 inflammation of the bowels, but beyond 

 this it is necessary to investigate whether 

 it is pure spasmodic colic or produced by 

 flatulence, or by an obstruction in the 

 bowels. 



In spasmodic colic all the above symp- 

 toms are displayed, without any great 

 distension of the abdomen ; and if the 

 history of the case is gone into, it will be 

 found that after coming in heated, the 

 horse has been allowed to drink cold 

 water, or has been exposed in an exhaust- 

 ed state to a draught of air. 



In flatulent colic the abdomen is enor- 

 mously distended; the attack is not so 

 sudden, and the pain is not so intense, 

 being rather to be considered, in the av- 

 erage of cases, as a high degree of un- 

 easiness, occasionally amounting to a 

 sharp pang, than giving the idea of ago- 

 ny. In aggravated attacks the distension 

 is so enormous as to leave no doubt of 

 the nature of the exciting cause. Here 

 also the spasms are often brought on by 

 drinking cold water while the horse is in 

 a heated and exhausted state. 



Where there is a stoppage in the bow- 

 els to cause the spasm, on questioning the 

 groom, it will be found that the dung for 

 some days has been hard and in small 

 lumps, with occasional patches of mucus 



upon it. In other respects there is little 

 to distinguish this variety from the last. 



The treatment must in all cases be con- 

 ducted on a totally different plan to that 

 necessary when inflammation is present. 

 Bleeding will be of no avail, at all events 

 in the early stages, and before the disease 

 has gone on, as it sometimes will, into an 

 inflammatory condition. On the other 

 hand, stimulating drugs, which would be 

 fatal in enteritis, will here generally suc- 

 ceed in causing a return of healthy mus- 

 cular action. The disease is indeed simi- 

 lar in its essential features to cramp in the 

 muscles of the human leg or arm, the 

 only difference being that it does not as 

 speedily disappear, because it is impossi- 

 ble to get at the muscular coat of the in- 

 testimes, and apply the stimulus of fric- 

 tion. 



As soon as a case is clearly made out 

 to be of a spasmodic nature, one or other 

 of the following drenches should be given, 

 the choice being made in proportion to 

 the intensity of the symptoms : 



i. Sulphuric Ether i ounce. 



Laudanum 2 " 



Compound decoction of Aloes * * 5 " 

 Mix and give every half hour until relief is af- 

 forded. 



2. Spirit of Turpentine 4 ounces. 



Linseed oil - - • - • - . 12 " 

 Laudanum -.---... iy£ " 



Mix and give every hour until the pain ceases. 



3. Aromatic Spirit of Ammonia - - 1% ounces. 



Laudanum 2 " 



Tincture of Ginger .... \*£ •< 

 Hot Ale 1 quart. 



Mix and giv every hour. 



Hot water should also be applied to 

 the abdomen, as described under the 

 head of Enteritis, and if an enema pump 

 is at hand, large quantities of water, at a 

 temperature of 100 9 Fahrenheit, should 

 be injected per anum, until in fact the 

 bowel will hold no more without a dan- 

 gerous amount of force. 



In flatulent colic the same remedies 

 may be employed, but the turpentine 

 mixture is here especially beneficial. The 

 use of warm water injections will often 

 bring away large volumes of wind, which 

 at once affords relief, and the attack is 

 cured. Sometimes, however, the disten- 

 sion goes on increasing, and the only 

 chance of recovery consists in a puncture 

 of the caeum, as it lies high in the right 

 flank, where, according to French veteri- 

 nary writers, it may often be opened 



