MEDICINAL TREATMENT OF "COLICS" 127 



some specific contra-indication as previously noted in this 

 article. 



I wish to repeat my injunction, do not use arecoUne in 

 gastric flatulence, for the reason, already mentioned, that 

 it commonly causes the death of the patient. 



I consider salicylic acid the most powerful antiferment 

 we have, that is applicable for use in a horse's stomach. 

 It not only checks the fermentation but in some inex- 

 plicable way seems to get rid of the gas already in the 

 stomach. 



Eserine, in one to one and one-half grain doses, is used 

 to empty the stomach and bowels. 



Spasmodic Colic 



The condition usually diagnosed as spasmodic colic 

 may be of a comparatively simple nature and yield to 

 very simple treatment, such as a three, four or five-grain 

 dose of morphine, or a dram or two of fluid extract of 

 belladonna or to some warming up medicament of a car- 

 minative nature as alcohol, whisky, tincture of ginger, 

 tincture of capsicum, oil of turpentine, spirits of cam- 

 phor or spirits of nitrous ether, etc., etc. ; but what seems 

 to be a simple spasmodic colic, is frequently the earlier 

 stage of some more serious condition, and even if it is 

 only spasmodic colic, it denotes the presence in the intes- 

 tinal tract of an irritant which should be expelled by the 

 use of a prompt cathartic (eserine is preferred by the 

 writer) and the administration of a carminitive or a mix- 

 ture similar to the one recommended as a type of stock, 

 colic mixtures on pages 119 or 128. 



