COLICS IN THE HORSE 103 



quantities of corn, barley, bran or chop are fed. Horses 

 which are fed irregularly, such as cab horses, express 

 wagon horses owned by individuals, etc., which eat out 

 of a nosebag and are placed at hard work too soon there- 

 after are the most frequent sufferers. On the other 

 hand, horses which are regularly fed or on pasture are 

 only occasionally attacked. There can be no doubt that 

 extremes in atmospheric temperatures, especially if the 

 air is damp, may predispose to an attack. It is com- 

 monly observed, therefore, during very hot weather or 

 very cold weather, particularly when it is humid. Dila- 

 tation of the stomach is, as noted, quite commonly sec- 

 ondary, resulting from impaction of the bowel either 

 simple or complicated. 



Symptoms. — As a general proposition gastric dilata- 

 tion may be diagnosed, provided a clear history of the 

 kind of work, food and method of feeding are obtain- 

 able and a careful examination of the patient made. In 

 most cases the attack of gastric pain comes on just after 

 feeding, or more rarely during feeding. However, there 

 are exceptions to this, and not infrequently attacks occur 

 as long as seven to eight hours after feeding. 



The patient is usually dyspneic, which, depending upon 

 the degree of dilatation, will vary. It is usually well 

 marked, however, and due to the distended stomach's 

 interference with the action of the diaphragm. The dys- 

 pnea is more marked when the animal is recumbent. The 

 expression of the face is usually staring and anxious, 

 the conjunctiva in the early stages is slightly congested, 

 in severe cases cyanotic and muddy. Depending upon 

 the severity and duration of the attack the pulse varies 



