302 SPASM. 



Bilious vomitings may be known from the bile appearing- with 

 the matter brought up. When this kind of sickness is not 

 accompanied with inflammation, give an emetic also, and 

 then a mercurial purgative: but, when the sickness is inces- 

 sant and distressing, it shews there is bilious inflammation : — 

 which see. The most urgent aud continued vomitings arise 

 from the action of poisons, and from idiopathic inflammation 

 of the stomach. — See these heads. 



Spasm. 



By spasm is understood an irregular motion in the muscular 

 fibre, occasioned usually by some excitement on the senso- 

 rium. It may be partial or general. When general, it is 

 usually called convulsion. Dogs are very subject to spasm 

 from a variety of occasional causes. Spasm is also the usual 

 accompaniment of several idiopathic diseases. Rheumatism 

 produces spasmodic aifections of the bowels, and often like- 

 wise of the neck, fore extremities, &c. Distemper is also a 

 very fertile source of spasm, sometimes in the form of univer- 

 sal or partial twitthings, like St. Vitus's dance in the human; 

 sometimes in bowel affections, and sometimes in general 

 convulsion. In rabies, spasmodic contractions are very com- 

 mon. Spasmodic colic is not unfrequent in dogs ; it also 

 affects the bowels of puppies in a very particular manner 

 sometimes. — See Colic. 



Cramp, which is the familiar term among sportsmen for 

 spasm, occasionally seizes the limbs suddenly, attacking first 

 one and then the other. Tetanus, or locked jaw, is also a 

 spasmodic affection. 



The best external antispasmodics are the warm bath, with 

 close confinement in flannel afterwards. In some cases, an 

 extraordinary degree of warmth has proved useful, with vo- 

 latile embrocations applied to the pained parts. Internally* 

 the following may be given: — 



