THE MODEKN HOUSE DOCTOR. 151 



most frequent may be said to be immoderate feeding — eating or 

 drinking whatever disagrees with the stomach, either in regard to 

 quantity or quality. Every tyro in medicine knows that a 

 drink of hard water will often produce colic, both in man and 

 beast, provided the digestive function shall be impaired. Mr. 

 White says, " When the Royal Dragoons were quartered at 

 Croydon, scarcely a day passed without one or more horses being 

 attacked with flatulent colic, and, on examining the water made 

 use of in the barracks, it was found remarkably hard." Our own 

 experience confirms this fact, for before the introduction of 

 Cochituate water into Boston, very many of our employers' horses 

 were frequently attacked with both flatulent and spasmodic colic, 

 which are now entirely free from it, since they use pure, soft 

 water. 



The treatment should consist, first, in the use of diffusible 

 stimulants, (not alcoholic,) of a carminative nature, such, for 

 example, as grains of paradise, caraway seed, ginger, &c. ; and 

 these should be given in a liquid form. Stimulants of a sanative 

 nature are always indicated in the treatment of colic; for if the 

 stomach be distended with a load of semi-putrid food, how can we 

 get rid of it except by the ordinary way, when the parts are in a 

 healthy state? Men have strangely erred in recommending 

 medicine — castor oil, salts, aloes, opium, turpentine, &c. — for the 

 cure of colic, and, perhaps, we ourselves are not free from blame ^r 

 in this matter. Experience, and nothing else, has changed our 



milk, and sometimes with molasses ; both of which contain an acid, and must 

 therefore partly neutralize the alkali before it enters the horse's stomach, 

 where it often does more harm than good. The action of an alkali, when used 

 in this view, is only palliative, as it does not correct that diseased state of the 

 digestive organs which favors the formation of acid or gas. The constant use 

 of saleratus on horses tends to produce a disease of the alimentary canal, and 

 thus lay the foundation for future attacks of colic. Alkalis should always be 

 combined with carminatives, and sometimes tonics; and in no case should large 

 doses be given. If the animal labors under pyloric obstruction, and the gas is 

 supposed to exist in the stomach, the following is the best preparation : — 



Carbonate ammonia, 1 drachm, «^T 



Tincture of ginger, 1 ounce, ^s^ 



Water, 1 pint. 



Mix, and drench the horse. 



If the acid or gas exist in the bowels, substitute lime water for ammonia, and 

 add half an ounce of tincture of gentian. • 



