224 MANUAL OF EQUINE MEDICINE. 



disease, more especially abscess, of the mesenteric glands, 

 which not unfrequently accompanies strangles and other 

 suppurative diseases; chronic changes in the walls of the 

 intestines, as, for example, thickening, degeneration or 

 atrophy of the coats ; malignant growths ; intussusception 

 and dysentery. 



Symptoms of Spasmodic Colic. — The onset of spasmodic 

 colic is generally more or less sudden. The horse shows 

 signs of abdominal pain by looking round at his flanks, by 

 restlessness, by striking at his belly with his hind feet, and 

 in various other ways. He lies down, and rolls about 

 from side to side. After a while he rises and eats a little, 

 and soon perhaps a paroxysm of pain again attacks him. 



In uncomplicated cases of colic the number of the pulse 

 and respirations and the temperature are rarely elevated, 

 except during the paroxysms of pain. The pulse is then 

 much accelerated, and the respiration becomes hurried or 

 sighing. 



The attack may now subside, or gradually become more 

 and more severe, the paroxysms becoming more continuous 

 and the pain more intense. 



The restlessness and excitability increase, or partial 

 stupor supervenes, and the attack, if unrelieved, may end 

 in death from continued pain or exhaustion, with varying 

 complications. 



In most cases of colic the bowels are constipated, and 

 the faeces, if any are passed, are usually hard, and often 

 coated with mucus. The urine is frequently retained, 

 or passed in a jerky manner. Great restlessness, much 

 pain, frequent pawing and looking to the sides, are said 

 to be especially indicative of invasion of the small intes- 

 tine, while stretching of the body, throwing of the head 

 upwards, with curling of the upper lip and pressing of the 

 posterior part of the body against the wall or stall-post, 



