AILMEXTS AND THEIR REMEDIES. 113 



ACUTE DISEASES OF THE BOWELS. 



Spasmodic Colic is violent and rapid. The attack usually 

 comes without the slightest warning. The horse paws violently, 

 kicks at his belly, puts his nose to his flanks, lies down, rolls on his 

 back, breathing heavily. The paroxysm seems to cease, the horse 

 rises, shakes himself and looks for food, but there is a sudden recur- 

 rence of the spasms, the sufferer breaks into profuse perspiration, 

 and throws himself about as before. In an hour or two either the 

 intervals between the spasms are longer, or they become more and 

 more violent and death ensues. Many of the more evident symptoms 

 of coUc resemble those which indicate inflammation of the bowels, 

 while the pathology and treatment of the two diseases are quite 

 unlike. Youatt points out in the following table the means of deter- 

 mining one from the other. 



INFLAMMATION OF THE BOWELS. 



Gradual in its approach, with pre- 

 vious indications of fever. 



Pulse very much quickened, but 

 small and often scarcely to be felt. 



Legs and ears cold. 



Belly exceedingly painful, and tender 

 to the touch. 



COLIC. 



Sudden in its attack, and without 



any warning. 

 Pulse rarely much qiiickened in the 



early period of the disease, and 



during the intervals of ease, but 



evidently fuUer. 

 Legs and ears of natural temperatui-e. 

 Relief obtained from rubbing the 



belly 



Rehef obtained from motion. | ^^^^ evidently increased by motion. 



Intervals of rest and ease. | Constant pain. 



Strength scarcely affected. j Great and evident weakness. 



The causes of colic are improper feeding, either in quality or 

 quantity; drinking to excess of cold water, or standing unprotected 

 in the cold air, when heated. The horse should be placed at once in 

 a roomy box stall, well littered down with straw. At the first quiet 

 interval between spasms the following may be given as a drench: 

 Chloroform, tincture of opium, sulphuric ether, each one ounce ; lin- 

 seed oil eight ounces. This is one dose.- Or the following : Tincture 

 of opium, tincture of capsicum, essence of peppermint, tincture of 

 rhubarb, spirits of camphor, each one half ounce ; to be mixed in 

 half a pint of molasses and one pint of water. Divide into two 

 equal doses, to be given at an interval of half an hour. Injections 

 may also be given of aloes dissolved in warm water. The operation 

 of these remedies is aided by walking the horse around, and rubbing 

 the belly with a brush or hot flannel cloth. Aftei an attack of colic 

 a horse should be given several days of rest, for even if apparently 

 cured, he will be sore and weak all through. 



