116 COLICS AND THEIR TREATMENT 



The Folly of Using Aloes in Colic 



That elimination of the contents of the stomach and 

 bowels is essential in the treatment of the various forms 

 of gastro-intestinal affections, from spasmodic colic to 

 the graver conditions, there can be no doubt, as irritating 

 contents, either bacterial, chemical or mechanical, is the 

 cause of the various morbid conditions that give rise to 

 colic in its manifold forms. 



But such elimination can be secured more quickly and 

 safely by other means than through the action of aloes. 

 Such agents as physostigmine, arecoline and raw linseed 

 or castor oil, coupled with, in some cases, liberal rectal 

 injections, are far preferable. 



Aloes never has, and never will, overcome impaction 

 of the bowels; but it has been the cause of numberless 

 cases of this ailment, ''running into" inflammation of the 

 bowels. 



Aloes requires a period of from eighteen to twenty-four 

 hours to produce the first evacuation in a horse, and 

 furthermore causes an intense congestion of the posterior 

 portion of the intestines, that is the large intestines. 



The folly of administering it as an aid to "cure" colic, 

 can be seen by the length of time it takes it to act. Most 

 colic cases will be well or dead before it acts, so the 

 question of its usefulness in the great majority of cases 

 may be disposed of by saying it is nil, for obviously 

 neither a well nor a dead horse has any need for the ac- 

 tion of aloes. But in addition to its uselessness its ad- 

 ministration is fraught with danger in colics. Suppose a 

 horse has suffered a severe attack of one of the forms of 



