394 THE PRACTICE OF VETERINARY MEDICINE. 



reveals more or less extensive adhesions of the muscular 

 and mucous coats of the intestines. As a rule, there is no 

 tendency to any inflammatory action. Pea-straw and raw 

 potatoes have a strong tendency to cause colic. 



Synqdoms. — Colic is characterized by the suddenness of 

 the attack. The animal is seen apparently in good health, 

 standing quietly eating his hay, when he is suddenly seized, 

 turns his head around to his side, whisks his tail, stamps 

 and paws, and in some cases kicks as though he were 

 trying to strike his abdomen with his hoof ; he cringes, 

 then suddenly casts himself violently upon the ground, and 

 rolls violently from side to side, while apparently he is 

 suff"ering pain of a most agonizing character. After rolling 

 awhile he gets up ; and after standing quietly for a few 

 minutes, and evidently free from pain, he is suddenly 

 seized again, and goes through the same performance as 

 before. During the attack the pulse runs up rapidly, and 

 usually attains a speed of about sixty beats per minute. 

 Still, it occasionally runs up to seventy or eighty in a pure 

 case of colic. During the interval when the animal is 

 standing quietly, and suffering no pain, the pulse-beats 

 rapidly decrease in number, until the rate becomes normal. 

 During the attack the patient generally makes frequent 

 but ineffectual attempts to urinate. The neck of the 

 bladder, being spasmodically contracted, prevents the 

 proper performance of the act ; but when the attack is 

 relieved he generally urinates freely : hence a copious flow 

 of urine is usually regarded as a sign of improvement. 

 The ears and extremities, in some cases of colic, become 

 deathly cold. Whilst rolling he usually makes an eff'ort to 

 balance himself upon his back. He generally paws and turns 

 around a few times before lying down. The belly has a 

 tucked-up appearance. The animal usually begins to eat 

 freely during the intervals between the paroxysms, and passes 



