118 HORSE, SWINE AND POULTRY DISEASES 



given while the animal is exhausted, new hay or grain, large quan- 

 tities of green food, food that has lain in the manger for some time 

 and become sour, indigestible food, irregular teeth, crib-biting, and, 

 in fact, anything that produces indigestion may produce flatulent 

 colic. 



The symptoms of wind colic are not so suddenly developed nor 

 so severe as those of cramp colic. At first the horse is noticed to be 

 dull, paws slightly, and may or may not lie down. The pains from 

 the start are continuous. The belly enlarges, and by striking it in 

 front of the haunches a drumlike sound results. If not soon re- 

 lieved the above symptoms are aggravated, and in addition there are 

 noticed difficult breathing, bloodshot eyes, and red mucous mem- 

 branes, loud tumultuous heart beat, profuse perspiration, trembling 

 of front legs, sighing respiration, staggering from side to side, and, 

 finally, plunging forward dead. The diagnostic symptoms of flatu- 

 lent colic is the distention of the bowels with gas, detected by the 

 bloated appearance and resonance on percussion. 



The treatment for wind colic differs very materially from that 

 of cramp colic. Absorbents are of some service, and charcoal may 

 be given in any quantity. Relaxants and antispasmodics are also 

 beneficial in this form of colic. Chloral hydrate not only possesses 

 these qualities, but it also is an antiferment and a pain reliever. It 

 is then particularly well adapted to the treatment of wind colic, and 

 should be given in the same-sized doses and in the manner directed 

 for spasmodic colic. Diluted alcohol or whisky may be given, or 

 aromatic spirits of ammonia in 1-punce doses at short intervals. 



A physic should always be given in flatulent colic as early as 

 j>ossible, the best being Barbados aloes in the dose already men- 

 tioned. Injections, per rectum, of turpentine 1 to 2 ounces, linseed 

 oil 8 ounces, may be given frequently to stimulate the motion of 

 the bowels and favor me escape of wind. Blankets wrung out of 

 hot water do much to afford relief; they should be renewed every 

 five or ten minutes and covered with a dry woolen blanket. This 

 form of colic is much more fatal than cramp colic; and requires 

 prompt and persistent treatment. It is entirely unsafe to predict 

 the result, some apparently mild attacks going on to speedy death, 

 while others that appear at the onset to be very severe yielding 

 rapidly to treatment. Do not cease your efforts until you are sure 

 the animal is dead. In these severe cases puncturing of the bowels 

 in the most prominent part by means of a small trocar and cannula 

 or with a needle of a hypodermic syringe, thus allowing the escape 

 of gas, has often saved life, and such punctures, if made with a 

 clean, sharp instrument that is not allowed to remain in the horse 

 too long, are accompanied by little danger and do more to quickly 

 relieve the patient than any other treatment. 



(4) SPASMODIC, OR CRAMP, COLIC. This is the name 'given 

 to that form of colic produced by contraction, or spasm, of a portion 

 of the small intestines. It is produced by indigestible food; large 

 drinks of cold water when the animal is warm; driving a heated 

 horse through deep streams ; cold rains ; drafts of cold air, etc. Un- 



