COLIC, on GRIPES.] I^rODERN VETERIXA"RT PRACTICE, [colic, on oripes. 



tion of iiitostiiio witliiii nnollior. In nttciuU 

 ing to the meilicnl treatment of colic, care 

 sliouUl be takon that it is not confoumied 

 with iiillammation of tlio bowels; tho romo- 

 dies for each of thoso diaoascB being diainetri- 

 callv opposite to each other. 



Spasmodic colic generally nialces its appear- 

 ance very suddenly, and is not marked, as in 

 inllamniation of the bowels, by previous indis- 

 position ; the horse being, at once, attacked 

 with considerable uneasiness, shifting his posi- 

 tion from side to side, pawing the ground, and 

 stamping with his feet, impatiently and vio- 

 lently. 



In a few minutes after tliis, tlie pain will 

 appear to go oft", and leave the animal toler- 

 ably easy; but in inflammation of the bowels, 

 the pain constantly occasions the stamping, 

 and it does not pass away, even for the shortest 

 space of time. As the colic proceeds, remis- 

 sions of pain become less and less. The horse 

 lies down frequently, and, on rising, shakes him- 

 self, looking anxiously round to his sides, and 

 sometimes, in desperate cases, even biting at 

 them, or snapping at them with his teeth. 

 He also strikes at liis belly with his hind feet, 

 as if determined to remove his sufferings 

 himself. In inflammation of the bowels, the 

 above symptoms are seldom so severe, the 

 pain not being so great. Wlien on the ground, 

 he frequently rolls on his back; in which 

 situation he will remain four or five seconds, 

 or probably roll over ; neither of which he 

 does in simple inflammation. 



The pulse is the next thing to command 

 attention, which, in colic, seldom becomes 

 much altered from its natural state, unless 

 the affection has existed some considerable 

 time, when marks of general irritation some- 

 times present themselves ; the pulse being 

 somewhat hardened and quickened. Occa- 

 sionally, when the paroxysms are on, a slight 

 alteration may then be felt ; also in the 

 early stages, should the pain be great ; but 

 slight alterations comu and go as the pain 

 passes off. 



If the horse is under the immediate influ- 

 ence of existing spasm, he will, in some in- 

 stances, present a full bounding pulse, but 

 oftener a wiry, though quickened beat ; both 

 of which may be taken for inflammation. The 

 legs in colic are but seldom affected, and 



never remain cold fop considerable periods of 

 time together ; but tho coat stares, and the 

 horse breaks out frequently into cohl swcatH. 

 He often attempts to stale, without effect; at 

 other times ho stales frequently. Oonerally 

 ho is costive; a few dry balls only being forced 

 from him during tho spasmodic fits. 



Spasmodic colic is produced by cold super- 

 veniiig on heat, either through the medium of 

 application to tho skin, or by sudden applica- 

 tion to the bowels, in the form of cold water, 

 taken when tho horse is very warm. Costive- 

 iieas will sometimes occasion it, through im- 

 proper food ; also tares, or vetches, given on 

 their being first cut. When they are full of 

 moisture, the animal is apt to eat greedily of 

 them ; and especially if the weather is warm. 



In some, gripes are frequent, under every 

 variation of food, situation, habits, &c.; so as 

 to give reason to suppose there must be some 

 peculiarity of formation, hereditary tendency, 

 or the presence of calculi in the intestines of 

 such animals as are subject to them. 



For the cure o? gripes, we should recommend 

 bleeding, more or less liberally, according to tho 

 violence of the disease, or its longer or shorter 

 duration ; or its continuance, without miti- 

 gation. Extensive bleeding is one of the most 

 powerful relaxers of spasm with which we are 

 acquainted ; and, instead of its being an anta- 

 gonist to the antispasmodic treatment, usually 

 adopted by internal remedies, it is found to bo 

 infinitely increased in efficacy ; and especially 

 when conjoined with opium. Though most of 

 the ordinary cases of gripes will pass away 

 with the common treatment of stimulants, and 

 many go off without any treatment at all, yet 

 bleeding is always a safe and prudent precau- 

 tion, as a preventive of inflammation ; and, in 

 more aggravated cases, it becomes essentially 

 necessary, both to combat tho inflammatory 

 tendency, and to promote the relaxation of the 

 spasmodic irritation. It is likewise particularly 

 to be noticed, in violent or protracted cases, to 

 counteract the irritative qualities of the anti- 

 spasmodics, which, in simple gripes, may do no 

 harm, yet may do so when an inflammatory 

 tendency is at all suspected, or already begun. 

 In every such case, bleed liberally ; say, at 

 least six quarts ; which, if the horse is in any- 

 thiuc: like moderate condition, cannot do barm. 

 AVe have known horses bled in the mouth for 



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