262 Management and Treatment of the Horse. 



but this must only be resorted to when accom- 

 panied with general febrile symptoms. The horse 

 must be kept well clothed, and its legs thoroughly 

 rubbed and bandaged. The next disease of the 

 bowels is 



SPASMODIC COLIC. 



This disorder generally comes on very suddenly, 

 without any premonitory signs. The horse be- 

 comes very restless, shifts his position, paws the 

 ground, and looks round at its flanks with great 

 anxiety, sometimes raising its foot as high as 

 its belly, and strikes it violently. It will also 

 lie down and roll about on its back ; in a few 

 minutes the spasm will subside, and the animal 

 after shaking will resume feeding ; at longer or 

 shorter intervals the attack is renewed, but with 

 increased violence, when it will throw itself on 

 the ground with considerable force, will break 

 into a copious perspiration, and heave greatly at 

 the flanks. The spasms are renewed at intervals, 

 and gradually become less frequent and less 

 severe, or if on the contrary they are more 

 frequent and acute, and at length manifest an 

 almost uninterrupted series, then it may be 

 suspected that violent inflammation and mortifi- 

 cation have taken place, and that death will 

 speedily ensue. Stones and large earthy lumps 

 in the intestines cause colic pains, but we cannot 

 tell why they are present. Drinking cold water 

 when over-heated is frequently a cause of this 

 complaint ; green food is also apt to induce these 

 pains. Worms and bots are frequently the cause 



