CHAPTER VII. 



DISEASES OF THE DIGESTIVE, URINARY, NERVOUS, AND LYMPHATIC 



SYSTEMS. 



Diseases of the Digestive System. 



spasmodic colic gripes. 



(I'late XII. •) 



Spasmodic colic is a painful contraction of the intestines. The 

 usual seat of the trouble is the small intestines, and it is usually 

 caused hy indij^estible or chilled food or drink, and frequently by 

 sudden chillinfii; of the body. 



Symptoms. — The sufTerint^ is very viblent but of short duration; 

 the spasms appear suddenly and disappear with the same rapidity. 

 The horse paws, stamps, looks around at his flanks, lies down and 

 rolls, and if the })ain is very severe, sweats profusely. Durinj:: the 

 attack a few pellets of dunojmay be passed, and attempts to })ass 

 urine are fretpiently made. This latter symptom has misled many 

 persons to the impression that the disease was located in the "urinary 

 oro;an3." 



Treatment. — Place the animal in a laro;e, well-bedded stall and 

 jrive the followini^^: Cannabis indica 2 to 4 drains, aromatic spirits 

 ammonia 1 ounce, water to make 1 pint. Or, fluid extract bella- 

 donna 2 drams, nitrous ether 2 ounces, water to make 1 pint. Either 

 one of these prescriptions can be j!;iven at one dose and repeated in 

 three-(iuarters of an hour. If the animal is not relieved in one hour, 

 ^ive a j)urjz;ative of aloes (physic ball). 



Warm-water injections, per rectum, are often of advantage. 



n-ATULENT COLIC. 



Flatulent colic is generally due to the animal having eaten im- 

 proper foods, such as musty oats, sour bran, green corn, etc., which 

 interfere with the process of digestion and give off much gas. It is 

 sometimes caused merely by a sudden change of diet from oats to 

 corn. Tiiis trouble is also frequently observed in horses that have 

 the habit of wind sucking. 

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