PREVENTION AND FIRST AID TREATMENT OF DISEASE. 32 1 



or unsuitably prepared food, sudden changes of food, a surfeit of green 

 fodder, watering or working severely immediately after feeding, are all 

 causes of indigestion and colicky pains. In the horse we may distinguish 

 two distinct forms of colic^ — spasmodic and flatulent. 



Syinptoiiis — spasmodic colic. — The pain is not continuous, but there Symp- 

 are intervals of ease between the spasms during which the animal toms.— 

 appears quite well until another spasm suddenly occurs. The case is Spasmodic 

 generally violent, paws, stamps, kicks at its belly, lies or throws itself ^° ^^' 

 down, rolls, crouches in the loins when walking, stretches itself out as if 

 trying to stale, looks round at the sides, sweats in patches or, in very 

 severe cases, all over ; the pulse is fast, the breathing hurried and 

 distressed, the lining of the eye a bright red, the mouth dry, but the 

 temperature remains normal. Many or all of the symptoms may be 

 observed inside five minutes, and then there will be a cessation of pain 

 and the animal will appear well till another sudden spasm occurs. As 

 the attack progresses the pains get more frequent and longer and the 

 rests shorter. When relief is obtained the symptoms disappear very 

 quickly. Flatulent or zuindy colic is due to fermentation of the food in Flatulent 

 the bowels, which become distended by the resulting gases. The belly colic, 

 is inflated, giving the animal an unnaturally rotund appearance, and the 

 pain is continuous, though not so violent as in the spasmodic variety. 

 The animal does not throw itself about so much, but appears somewhat 

 sleepy, though uneasy and fidgety, scraping, Avandering slowly round, 

 attempting to lie doAvn but afraid to do so, while the pulse remains fast 

 and the temperature is not altered. 



In both varieties there is usually severe constipation during the whole 

 of the attack. Treatment should be directed to two points, viz., the 

 relief of the pain and stimulation of bowels. For the first, any of the 

 following remedies may be given : — -The animal should be walked about 

 and hot fomentations applied to the belly and a chloral hydrate ball given 

 for the immediate relief of the pain. To stimulate the action of the 

 bowels copious enemas should be given every half hour, and if the case 

 is not relieved in two hours, a physic ball should be given. Other 

 remedies for the relief of pain which may be administered and are likely 

 to be procurable are, ginger, t\vo teaspoonfulls ; brandy, or other spirit, 

 4 ounces ; turpentine, i or 2 ounces. The turpentine must be mixed with 

 oil, I pint, or beaten up with eggs and milk. For cattle and camels the 

 doses may be doubled. 



In cattle the most common condition which produces colicky pains is 

 " hoven," or a flatulent condition of the rumen, caused by fermentation of 

 the food in it. The distension is most noticeable in the left flank, which 

 (b 10948) X 



