DISEASES OP DOMESTIC ANIMALS. 155 



Spasmodic Colic is a spasmodic contraction of the muscular fibres of 

 the intestines. The contraction of this muscular coat tends to pass the 

 contents toward the anus. Although spasmodic colic may be said to be 

 contraction of the muscular coat of the small intestines, I think it may 

 also affect the large intestines. In an ordinary case there is no great 

 amount of the intestine contracted, perhaps a few inches to a foot or 

 more, and if it continues, intus-susception may take place, or the mucous 

 linings may adhere together, from being pressed together so close by the 

 contractions of the muscular fibres. 



Causes. — Perhaps the principal cause is a change of food. Giving 

 cold water when the animal is heated may cause it, but not very 

 often. Roots, especially if frozen, and sometimes if in a proper con- 

 dition, may cause it. Some horses are particularly susceptible to 

 colic. Sudden changes of temperature tends to produce it, and also 

 constipation of the bowels, which sometimes supervenes a cathartic ; 

 and when giving a purgative, it is best to continue it with gentian, gin- 

 ger, etc. Although spasmodic colic is very painful it is not very fatal, 

 and is usually of short duration. It generally terminates favourably, and 

 it may terminate in enteritis, although some think it never does. 



Symptoms. — The attack is very sudden ; the animal begins to paw and 

 cringe ; looks at the sides, throws himself violently upon the ground, 

 after perhaps cringing down some. He lies down rather easily in enteri- 

 tis. In colic, he attempts to lie upon the back — will perhaps roll back 

 upon the side, get up, and he may be quiet for a while, and may even take 

 a little food, and then again be seized and show similar symptoms. In 

 some cases he may be covered with profuse persi^iration, and may pass 

 feces in small quantities, and there are frequent endeavours to urinate, 

 which tends to mislead some who do not understand the disease. It is 

 generally a good symptom to see^him urinate. You will also be guided 

 by the condition of the circulation. Take the pulse early in colic, during 

 the violent symptoms, and it perhaps will be sixty, and if taken a few 

 minutes after, when the horse is standing still, it may be only forty or 

 forty-five in a minute In enteritis the pulse begins about forty or forty- 

 five and gradually increases, is full and bounding and continues ; but the 

 pulse varies in different attacks of colic. If it attacks a horse after a hard 

 drive, or one in a debilitated condition, the pulse will be weak, and per- 

 haps fast, but still differs from the full bounding pulse of enteritis. In 

 colic, pressing upon the abdomen appears to afford relief, and causes pain 

 in enteritis. In a case of colic likely to terminate fatally, the symptoms 

 become more violent, and death may occur from extreme muscular con- 

 traction, or from terminating in enteritis, and it may so terminate. It is 

 of short duration in some cases — the animal is as well as ever apparently 

 — in other cases it may last ten or twelve hours or more ; but such cases 

 are not very violent, generally, for the horse could not last so long under 

 such severe pain. It is usually easily diagnosed, but you may meet_ a 

 case that will give you some trouble to tell whether it is colic or enteritis 



Treatment is generally satisfactory, and a student, when asked what he 

 would do if sent for in such a case, said he would "go just as fast as he 

 could, or the horse might be well before he got there," and it does not 

 matter so much what remedy is given, if it is given in time. Bleeding 

 was at one time regarded as the sheet anchor in treating colic, and some- 

 times it is good and acts like an anti-spasmodic, but I do not recommend 

 it Every practitioner has his favourite remedy, and I give sweet spirits 

 of nitre, one to two ounces, extract of belladonna one to two drachms, in 

 solution, with two ounces of water. Or sweet spirits of nitre one to two 



