DISEASES OF THE INTESTINES. 225 



more especially point to colic resulting from impaction of 

 the large intestine. 



Symptoms of Flatulent Colic. — Flatulent colic, due to 

 distension of the intestine with gas, may be associated with 

 spasm of the muscular coats, or it may occur independently 

 of the spasmodic variety. The flatulent form is especially 

 to be attributed to digestive disturbance depending on in- 

 gestion of food specially prone to undergo fermentation. 

 This affection usually comes on suddenly. The horse is 

 noticed to be very restless, and the abdomen distends and 

 becomes tense, and gives a tympanitic note on percussion. 

 The breathing is short, and chiefly thoracic, and the pulse 

 is increased in frequency, and feeble. The extremities are 

 cold, and there may be more or less delirium and vertigo. 

 When the animal is inclined to lie down, he does not throw 

 himself suddenly on the ground, as in spasmodic colic, but 

 allows himself to fall more slowly and carefully. 



If unrelieved, the continued distension and thoracic com- 

 j)ression may lead to further circulatory and inspiratory 

 disturbance, and death may result from asphyxia. Some- 

 times rupture of the colon or other part of the bowel, or of 

 the diaphragm, is the cause of death. 



Prognosis of Spasmodic and Flatulent Colic. — In severe 

 cases of flatulent colic the prognosis is not so favourable as 

 in the spasmodic form, but in ordinary cases the prognosis 

 is very favourable in both varieties. 



In all prolonged cases with great pain and restlessness 

 there is danger of displacement or entanglement of the in- 

 testine ; and when tympanitic distension is very great, or 

 the struggles very violent, there is great risk of rupture of 

 the large bowel or of the diaphragm. 



Morbid Anatomy of Spasmodic and Flatulent Colic. — 

 AVhen colic is due to continued spasm, there may be found 

 a peculiar degenerative change of both the mucous and sub- 



15 



