MANUAL OF EQUINE MEDICINE. 



diarrhoea is due to hepatic engorgement or obstruction to 

 the portal circulation, dilute nitric acid, with nux vomica 

 and gentian, may be administered in the form of a draught 

 twice daily. 



Treatment of Diarrhoea in the Young. — It is well to 

 commence the treatment of this form of diarrhoea with a 

 laxative, such as castor oil, in order to expel irritant matter 

 in the intestines. 



A dose of tincture of opium may be given with the oil. 



This treatment may be followed up by the administration 

 of camphor and opium, with spirits of chloroform, three 

 times a day, in water, or in strong decoction of tea. 



When weakness is very marked, a little alcoholic stimu- 

 lant may be added, and the hot cloths and stimulating 

 liniments applied to the abdomen. Other remedies also 

 found beneficial are carbonate of magnesia, catechu, Bael 

 fruit, and prepared chalk. 



COLIC. 



Abdominal pain may arise from functional derangement 

 of the intestinal canal, or it may be due to organic lesions 

 of varying extent and nature. To the functional disturb- 

 ance the term Hrue colic' is applied; while when depend- 

 ing on organic lesions this condition is sometimes spoken 

 of as ^ false colic' 



True colic is of two varieties, which may be associated 

 together. The one, termed ' spasmodic colic,' is due to spas- 

 modic contraction of the muscular walls of the gut ; the 

 other, termed ' flatulent colic,' is owing to extensive gaseous 

 accumulation in the intestine. It is said that the spasmodic 

 form may terminate in intestinal inflammation. This is 

 not at all improbable, but nevertheless it is not easy to tell in 

 such instances tvhelher the colic may not he an early symptom of 

 commencing inflammation. 



