560 THE DISEASES OF THE HORSE 



The Symptoms of spasmodic col'c are acute abdominal pain evinced by 

 pawing and scraping with the front feet, stamping and striking at the 

 belly with the hind ones, looking round at the flank, crouching, lying down, 

 rolling, sometimes gi^oaning, partial sweats, laying back the eai-s, anxious 

 countenance, ineffectual attempts to pass urine. Intervals of ease in which 

 the patient may I'esume the meal he had suddenly ceased to eat ; again all 

 the acute symptoms returning when the attendants imagine the attack has 

 passed away. 



The passing of urine generally follows relaxation of the spasm, and this 

 has given rise to a very general belief among stablemen that cases of colic 

 are nearly always attributable to the kidneys or " in the water." 



Treatment. — Diffusible stimulants and anodynes. Among the former, 

 aromatic spirit of ammonia, ether, nitrous ether, turpentine, brandj'^, whisky, 

 old ale, etc., have long enjoyed a reputation, while preparations of opium, 

 as the tincture (laudanum), chlorodyne, and other mixed sedatives are gen- 

 erally employed with good effect. Unloading the rectum with an oiled 

 hand (back-raking), clysters of warm soap and w.ater, tobacco-smoke, etc., 

 are recommended. The modern veterinarian, armed with subcutaneous 

 syringe and tabloids of concentrated drugs, may inject morphia and aconite, 

 or belladonna, choosing the loose thin skin behind the elbow or other con- 

 venient situation. Hand-rubbing and kneading the abdomen with the 

 knuckles appears to be grateful to the patient in some instances. Walking 

 him about when in acute pain is a long-established custom based upon the 

 fear of twisted gut or rupture occurring in the animal's struggles upon the 

 ground if allowed to choose those attitudes which suggest themselves alike 

 to man and beast ; there can be no proof adduced that the former lesion is 

 brought about by rolling, but that rupture of an organ already distended 

 mav so occur has some support in the fact that horses cast for surgical 

 operations, or falling in harness or the chase, occasionally come to an 

 untimely end in this way. 



When an attack has passed off an aperient dose may be advisable, and a 

 general inquiry into the feeding and management in order to prevent a 

 recurrence through any error of diet. 



FLATULENT COLIC 



While resembling spasmodic colic in the symptoms of pain and distress 

 and the suddenness of the attack, has the additional one of distended flank, 

 a drum-like condition is observed on striking the space between the last rib 

 and the hip, besides which there may be eructations and frequent flatus 

 from the rectum. A quantity of fermented food may generally be sur- 

 mised, and a dose of aloes proportionate to the size and constitution of the 

 animal should be prescribed. It will be doing its work in removins 

 the mass of ingesta, while anti-spasmodic remedies are administered tc 

 relieve pain, decompose gases, and reduce the tension of the bowels and 

 stomach. These gases are of variable composition, and remedies intended 

 to act chemically by decomposing them into harmless salts are not so 

 successful in practice as might be expected if an accurate knowledge of 

 them were possessed. For the most part they are composed of carbonic 



