78 COLICS AND THEIR TREATMENT 



veterinarian's operation, very old and very simple, but 

 no less valuable because of this. The total value of horses 

 saved by this simple operation would be well worth re- 

 cording. When this operation has been done, appro- 

 priate medical treatment per os must follow. Analgesics ? 

 No. Cannabis indica, chloral, opiates are just so many 

 harmful agents that should have no place in the treat- 

 ment of this condition, or, in fact, in the treatment of 

 any form of colic for that matter. 



During the past few years I have followed, with won- 

 derful success, the treatment of the late Dr. N. P. Whit- 

 more, of Illinois, which consists of the administration 

 of ether in large doses. Whitmore would administer to 

 his patients, sick with acute indigestion, gastric or intes- 

 tinal, a full half-pint of ether as a drench. I have been 

 told on good authority that he sometimes drenched a 

 horse with one-half pint and even a full pint of ether 

 from the original package without dilution. This we 

 have modified to six ounces given with linseed oil. The 

 effect of ether vapor upon intestinal fermentation is phe- 

 nomenal, when given in large doses. 



A purgative of aloin or aloes given as soon as the acute 

 symptoms have passed, will act as a stimulant to the colon 

 some hours later, at a time such stimulation is needed to 

 prevent obstipation. 



Impaction of the Colon 



The second disorder of the large bowels is impaction 

 of the colon — a condition consisting of the accumulation 

 of more or less solid masses of aliment throughout or 

 at different points of this large folded compartment. It 



