SI'AS^rODIC COLIC. ,32.3 



the muscular coat of some portion of the intestines rn.ay be tlius affected. 

 The spasm may be confined to a very small part of the canal. The gut 

 }\as been found, after death, strangely contracted in various places, but 

 the contraction not exceeding five or six inches in any of them. In the 

 hoi'se, the ileum is the usual seat of this disease. It is of much importance 

 to distinguish between spasmodic cohc and inflammation of the bowels, 

 for the symptoms have considerable resemblance, although the mode of 

 treatment should be very different. 



The attack of colic is usually very sudden. There is often not the 

 slightest warning. The horse begins to shift his posture, look round at 

 his flanks, raise his head, curl the upper lip, and make frequent attempts 

 to void his urine ; he will then paw violently, strike his belly with his 

 feet, and crouch in a peculiar manner, advancing his hind limbs under 

 him ; he v.dll then suddenly He, or rather fall down, and roll himself upon 

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

 for a httle while, and he gets up, and shakes 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 profase perspiration, and throws himself more recklessly about. In 

 the space of an hour or two, the spasms begin to relax, and the remissions 

 are of longer duration, and, in the great majority of cases, cease altogether, 

 and the horse shortly resumes his work. Or, on the other hand, when 

 the causes are of a more serious or mechanical nature, the torture is 

 augmented at every paroxysm ; the intervals of ease are fewer and less 

 marked, and inflammation and death supervene. The pulse is but little 

 affected at the commencement, but, if relief is not obtained, it becomes 

 frequent and contracted, and at length is scarcely tangible. 



It will presently be seen that many of the sjinptoms very closely 

 resemble those of inflammation of the bowels : it may therefore be useful 

 to point out the leading distinctions between them. 



COLIC. INFLAMMATION OF THE BOAVELS. 



Sudden in its attack. Less sudden in its approach, with previous 



indications of fever. 

 Pulse rarely much quickened in the early Pulse very much quickiMicd, Init small, and 



period of the disease, and during the in- often scarcely to be felt. 



tervals of ease. 

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

 Relief obtained from rubbing the bell3^ Belly exceedingly tender and painful to the 



touch. 

 Intervals of ease. Constant pain. 



Strength scarcely affected. Rapid and great weakness. 



Among the causes of cohc are, the drinking of cold water when the 

 horse is heated. There is not a surer oi'igin of violent spasm than this. 

 Hard water is very apt to produce this effect. Colic will sometimes 

 follow the exposure of a hoi\se 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 fre- 

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

 unfrequent causes of colic. In some horses there seems to be a constitu- 

 tional predisposition to colic. They cannot be hardly worked, or exposed 

 to unusual cold, Avithout 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 ; sometinit's, however, both the cacum 

 and colon are affected. 



