SPASMODIC COLIC. 233 



Tlie attack of colic is usually very sudden. There is often not the slight>3St warn- 

 ing-. The horse begins to shift his posture, look round at his flanks, paw violently, 

 strike his belly with his feet, and crouch in a peculiar manner, advancing his hind 

 limbs under him ; he will then suddenly lie, or rather fall down, and balance himself 

 upon his back, with his feet resting on his belly. The pain now seems to cease for 

 a little while, and he gets up, and siiakes himself, and begins to feed ; the respite, 

 however, is but short — the spasm returns more violently — every indication of pain is 

 increased — he heaves at the flanks, breaks out into a profuse pers|)iration, and throws 

 himself more recklessly about. In the space of an hour or two, either the spasms 

 becin to r^ lax, and the remissions are of longer duration, or the torture is augmented 

 at every jtaroxysm ; the intervals of ease are fewer and less marked, and inflammation 

 and death supervene. The pulse is but little affected at the commencement, but it 

 soon becomes frequent and contracted, and at length is scarcely tangible. 



It will presently be seen that many of the symptoms very closely resemble those 

 of inflammation of the mucous membrane of the bowels : it may therefore be useful to 

 point out the leading distinctions between them. 



COLIC. INFLAMMATION OF THE BOWELS. 



Sudden in its attack. Gradual in its approach, with previous indi- 



cations of fever. 



Pulse rarely much quickened in the early Pulse very much quicken'^d, but small, and 

 period of ihe disease, and durmg the intervals often scarcely to be felt. 

 of ease ; but evidently fuller. 



Legs and ears of the natural temperature. Legs and ears cold. 



Relief obtained from rubbuig the belly. Belly exceedingly tender and painful to the 



loach. 



Relief obtained from motion. Motion evidently increasing the pain. 



Intervals of rest. Constan;'^pam. 



Strength scarcely affected. Rapid and great weakness. 



Among the causes of colic are, the drinking of cold water when the horse is heated. 

 There is not a surer origin of violent spasm than this. Hard water is very apt to pro- 

 duce this effect. Colic will sometimes follow the exposure of a horse to the cold air 

 or a cold wind after strong exercise. Green meat, although, generally speaking, 

 most beneficial to the horse, yet, given in too large a quantity, or when he is hot, will 

 frequently produce gripes. Doses of aloes, both large and small, are not urifrequent 

 causes of colic. In some horses there seems to be a constitutional predisposition to 

 colic. They cannot be hardly worked, or exposed to unusual cold, without a fit of it. 

 In many cases, when these horses have died, calculi have been found in some part of 

 the alimentary canal. Habitual costiveness and the presence of calculi are frequent 

 causes of spasmodic colic. The seat of colic is occasionally the duodenum, but 

 oftener the ileum or the jejunum ; sometimes, however, both the CEecum and colon are 

 affected. 



Fortunately, we are acquainted with several medicines that allay these spasms ; 

 and the disease often ceases almost as suddenly as it appeared. Turpentine is one of 

 the most powerful remedies, especially in union with opium, and in good warm ale. 

 The account that has just been given of the caecum will not be forgotten here. A 

 solution of aloes will be advantageously added to the turpentine and opium. 



If relief is not obtained in half-an-hour, it will be prudent to bleed, for the continu- 

 ance of violent spasm may produce inflammation. Some practitioners bleed at first, 

 and it is far from bad practice ; for although the majority of cases will yield to tur- 

 pentine, opium, and aloes, an early bleeding may occasionally prevent the recurrence 

 of inflammation, or at least mitigate it. If it is clearly a case of colic, half of the first 

 dose may be repeated, with aloes dissolved in warm water. The stimulus produced 

 on the inner surface of the bowels by the purgative may counteract the irritation that 

 caused the spasm. The belly should be well rubbed with a brush or warm cloth, but 

 not bruised and injured by the broom-handle rubbed over it, with all their strength, 

 by two great fellows. The horse should be wnlked about, or trotted moderately. 

 The motion thus produced in the bowels, and the friction of one intestine over the 

 other, may relax the spasm, but the hasty gallop might speedily cause inflammation 

 to succeed to colic. Clysters of warm water, or containing a solution of aloes, should 

 be injected. The patent syringe will here be exceedingly useful. A clyster of tobacco- 

 smoke may be throw^n up as a last resort. 



20* 2e 



