124 COLIC. 



Colic. 



Colicky pains may be the effect oi Inflammation, or of 

 Constipation, or they may be occasioned by a Bilious colic. 

 All these are treated of under Inflamed Bowels. The most 

 violent pains may be occasioned within the bowels by Poisons, 



which see. 



Spasmodic colic will be further noticed under Rheumatism, 

 which is by much the most fertile source of colic in dogs. But 

 besides this, there is a spasmodic constriction of the bowels 

 that not unfrequently occurs, most distressing in its symptoms, 

 obstinate in its character, and very often fatal in its termina- 

 tion. 1 formerly attributed all these cases to worms, and I 

 am still inclined to think that these animals, particularly the 

 tape worm, will now and then occasion similar symptoms ; 

 but the generality of cases may be considered as arising from 

 a disease sui generis. A person, not very conversant with 

 the diseases of dogs, might also conclude that the head, in 

 these cases, was the sole seat of the complaint ; but innu- 

 merable instances have convinced me, that the bowels are 

 primarily and principally the seat of the disease, which is 

 of a peculiar spasmodic nature, and is commonly attended with 

 a slight degree of inflammation. 



The symptoms are dulness, loss of appetite; the nose is hot, 

 but the forehead particularly so ; with some panting, and much 

 restlessness. In some cases, there are appearances of acute 

 occasional pain ; in others, there appears but little ; but in 

 all there is a particular stupor, and a very remarkable inclina- 

 tion to run round in a circle, and that always in the same di- 

 rection. The sight seems affected, and sometimes the senses 

 are wholly lost ; at others, although the stupor is consider- 

 able, yet the faculties are not totally obscured. In some 

 cases paralysis comes on, and the head becomes drawn to one 

 side ; and I have always observed it to incline to the same side 

 that, while capable of moving, the dog turned upon. The 

 limbs also participate in these extreme cases, and become con- 

 tracted likewise. 



