COLIC. 



891 



Symptoms. — The animal is suddenly seized Avith pain in the 

 bowels, becoming restless and uneasy, crouching, sometimes strik- 

 ing up towards the belly with the hind foot, looking round to his 

 flanks, evincing great distress; he gets down after several appar- 

 ent eflbrts, rolls about, sometimes on his back, sometimes quite 

 over.* (These symptoms I try to illustrate by Figs. 780 and 781, 

 which of course are ideal, but w-ill serve to give a good idea of the 

 main symptoms. Fig. 777, which I copy from Mayhew, is con- 



FiG. 779. — First stage of Spasmodic Colic. 



siderably exaggerated, head being held too high, showing too ex- 

 cited and nervous an expression, and the hind leg brought too 

 near the body. Fig. 779 shows a common symptom of the early 

 stage, drawn under my own supervision, and is more natural.) 

 Profuse perspiration breaks out over him. The paroxysm soon 



* He may also act as if he wanted to make water, which he cannot do, there be- 

 ing a spasmodic contraction of the urethra. Hence the desire to give diuretic 

 medicine. Straining in this way is usually prompted by a desire to relieve the mus- 

 cles of the belly. No diuretic medicine should be given, as the horse cannot pass 

 urine until the attack of colic ceases, or it is taken from him with a catheter. It is 

 very seldom necessary to use a catheter. In fact, it is not necessary to pay an}' at- 

 tcntio!! to this symptom. As soon as relieved of the colic, the horse will pass water 

 freely. 



