FLATULENT COLIC. 399 



may be frequent escapes of flatus through the anus. The 

 animal lies down and gets up more carefully than when 

 sufl'ering from spasmodic colic, and the pain is also more 

 constant than in the latter disease. The abdomen on 

 being struck with the fingers gives out a resonant drum- 

 like sound, and is tense and elastic to the touch. This 

 form of colic is far more serious and dangerous to life than 

 spasmodic colic. 



Treatment. — The treatment must be prompt and ener- 

 getic. The administration of diff'usible stimulants is indi- 

 cated, hence give spts. seth. nitrici or ol. terebinth, in doses 

 of ll — Bii-j the latter remedy being preferable. Frequent 

 enemas may be employed with great benefit, and should 

 consist of tepid water with a small quantity of sodium 

 chloride in solution. An escape of gas per anus affords 

 relief, and is to be regarded as a favourable sign ; and at 

 this time remedies must not be pushed too far, or harm 

 may result. Tobacco enemas are highly useful in this as 

 well as the other forms of colic. Agents which combine 

 chemically with, or otherwise combat, the formation of gas, 

 should be given ; hence asafoetida, lime, soda, ol. terebinth, 

 etc., may be given, and in many cases it is good practice to 

 follow with a purgative ; but the practitioner must be dis- 

 creet in the administration of purgatives, as they occasion- 

 ally set up a considerable amount of irritation. In cases 

 where the treatment described above has been tried and 

 failed to give relief, recourse must be had to the operation 

 of puncturing the colon to allow the escape of the gas con- 

 tained therein. This operation, if properly performed, and 

 before the vital energies have become weakened to any 

 great extent, in a pure case of flatulent colic, is ahnost 

 uniformly successful ; being rarely, if ever, followed by any 

 very serious results. The animal begins to experience 

 relief the instant the trocar is withdrawn ; and by the time 



