122 COLIC AND GRIPES. 



remedy to be employed, pending the arrival of the vete- 

 rinary surgeon. Some animals are peculiarly subject 

 to them, from a susceptible state of the alimentary canal. 

 Cold water, taken on an empty stomach, or when a 

 beast is heated, will cause the malady. 



The symptoms are distress, evinced by pawing, lift- 

 ing of the fore and hind feet towards the stomach, the 

 head being turned towards the sides, with a look of 

 anguish ; a cold sweat will sometimes bedew the body. 

 A desire to lie down may be exhibited, and when on 

 the ground the animal rolls about in evident agony. 

 The upper lip is strained upwards from the teeth, 

 almost closing the nostrils, and the pulse indicates 

 derangement of the system. 



When the true character of the ailment has been as- 

 certained, it is well to inquire as to the character of the 

 evacuations. If they are in a lax state, and a cause for 

 the same can be discovered, of course discontinue it, 

 and use astringent clysters for the bowels (page 159). 

 If there be reason to apprehend that some offending 

 matter is retained in the alimentary canal, use emollient 

 laxatives and clysters (pages 158 and 159). But if 

 anything like costiveness is present, and other remedies 

 fail, recourse must be had to that of " back-raking," a 

 process which need not be here explained, being well 

 known to every experienced groom, any one of whom 

 may safely be intrusted with the operation, the only 

 necessary precaution being to have rather a small hand 

 used, and that well lubricated with lard or oil. Let all 

 the faecal matter that can be reached be carefully ex- 

 tracted. Afterwards a warm enema, composed of one 

 pint of turpentine mixed in two quarts of hot soap-suds, 

 and a soothing drench of 



