DISEASES OF THE HOESE. 59 



shorter duration as the ease progresses), the violent pain, the normal 

 temperature and pulse during the intervals of ease, the frequent 

 attempts to urinate, etc., and there is but little danger of eonfoundir.g 

 this with other forms of colic. 



Treatment. — Since the pain is due to spasm, or cramp, of the bowels, 

 medicines that overcome spasms — antispasmodics — ^are the ones indi- 

 cated. Chloral hydrate may be used. This is to be given in a dose 

 of 1 ounce in a pint of water as a drench. As this drug is irritant to 

 the throat and stomach, it has to be well diluted. A common and 

 good remedy is sulphuric ether and laudanum; of each 2 ounces in a 

 half pint of linseed oil. Another drench may be composed of 2 ounces 

 each of sulphuric ether and alcohol in 8 ounces of water. If nothing 

 else is at hand give whisky, one- half pint in hot water. Jamaica 

 ginger is useful. If relief is not obtained in one hour from any of 

 the above doses, they may then be repeated. The body should be 

 warmlj^ clothed and perspiration induced. Blankets dipped in very 

 hot water to which a small quantit}'- of turpentine has been added 

 should be placed around the belly and covered witli dry blankets, or 

 the abdomen may be rubbed with stimulating liniments or mustard 

 water. The difficulty, however, of applying hot blankets and keeping 

 them in place forces us in most instances to dispense with them. If 

 the cramp is due to irritants in the bowels, a cure is not complete until 

 there is given a cathartic of 1 ounce of aloes or 1 pint of linseed oil. 

 Injections into the rectum of warm soap}^ water or salt and water aid 

 the cure. 



Rectal injections, el^^sters, or enemas, as a rule should be lukewarm, 

 and from 8 to 6 quarts are to be given at a time. They may be repeated 

 every half hour if necessary. Great care is to Ijc taken not to injure the 

 rectum in giving such injections. A large syringe or a i}iece of rubber 

 hose 4 or 5 feet long, with a funnel attached at one end, affords the 

 best means by which to give them. The pipe of the syringe or the 

 hose introduced into the rectum must bo blunt, rounded, and smooth. 

 It is to be thoroughly oiled and then carefully pushed through the 

 anus in a slightly upward direction. Much force must be avoided, for 

 the rectum may be lacerated and serious complications or even death 

 result. Exercise will aid the action of the bowels in this and similar 

 colicky troubles, but severe galloping or trotting is to be avoided. 

 If the horse can have a loose box or padciock, it is the best, as he will 

 then take what exercise he wants. If the patient be exti^cmely violent, 

 it is often wise to restrain him by leading him with a halter, since 

 rupture of the stomach or displacement of the bowels ma}^ result and 

 complicate the trouble. 



(5) Worm colic. — Parasites of many kinds reside in the intestinal 

 canal of horses. There are three kinds of tapeworms, one long round- 

 worm, and several kinds of smaller roundworms. Besides these are 



