322 DISEASES OF THE INTESTINES. 



should the pain not abate, but, on the contrary, the disease 

 appear growing worse, blood ought to be let in quantity- 

 regulated by the consideration of the condition and 

 strength and age of the patient. Two gallons, or but one, 

 or any less or intermediate quantity may be drawn, according 

 to the exigencies of the case. 



Two hours after the first drench, a second one of the same 

 composition may be exhibited ; and a couple of hours after 

 the second, a third ; which altogether will amount to (since 

 every |j of the decoction contains 5J of aloes) Jiss of Barba- 

 does aloes, gvj of laudanum, and 5xij of ether, swallowed 

 by the patient; quite a sufficiency, in my opinion, to 

 counteract and allay spasm, if not by a direct antidote at 

 once, at some future period through purgation. 



Should the decoction of aloes — that admirable formula — 

 not be at hand, we must content ourselves with a simple 

 solution of aloes in hot water; bearing in mind that the 

 dose in the whole is meant to amount either to twelve drachms 

 of Barbadoes aloes, or to two ounces of Cape. In a horse 

 who was often " subject to colic,^^ and in whom none of the 

 ordinary antispasmodics, or olive oil, or nitre, or emetic 

 tartar, did any good, Sig. Cantiello, veterinary surgeon to 

 the Queen of Naples, succeeded perfectly by exhibiting half 

 an ounce of the extract of belladonna ; and this is what I 

 would strongly recommend the trial of. (Vet. for 1839, 

 p. 487.) I have given chloroform in lieu of ether without 

 success. 



Exercise. — The common practice, supposing the attack 

 to have just commenced, is to give an antispasmodic drink 

 or ball, and immediately after, to send the horse out to be 

 exercised for twenty minutes or half an hour ; the old rule 

 in regard to pace being, that he may be trotted, but not so 

 as to be made to perspire. I feel quite persuaded that 

 exercise, taking it for granted that the case is one of genuine 

 colic, is often productive of a great deal of benefit; and 

 therefore I am not so scrupulous about the pace (though I 

 do not approve of sweating) as some are : it increases the 

 peristaltic motion, causes often the expulsion of air and 



