86 THE COMMON COLICS OF THE HORSE 



appear to regard spasm as a condition standing alone. 

 Percivall even goes so far as to describe finding spasmed 

 portions of bowel after death. He says : ' The seat of 

 spasm, in common, is the small intestines ; in particular, 

 the jejunum and ileum. I have seen the duodenum, 

 however, contracted as well ; in one case, a few inches 

 from the stomach, its canal appeared to be perfectly im- 

 passable. I have also, in three or four instances, met 

 with it in the large guts ; in one all three of them 

 exhibited evident marks of spasm ; the caecum was 

 exceedingly distorted by contraction ; . . . even the 

 rectum had manifestly been spasmed.' 



If spasm, as spasm only, is what we are to treat in 

 these cases, then the exhibition of a suitable anodyne is 

 doubtless the most correct treatment. Nothing more 

 need be given. Opium in the crude, as a watery decoc- 

 tion, or in the form of a tincture, was usually resorted to. 

 Modern treatment, however, calls for the administration 

 of morphia, or morphia and atropine, hypodermically. 

 Extract of cannabis indica, too, has crept to the front a 

 great deal during the last few years. It is said not to 

 derange the stomach and intestines to the extent that 

 opium does ; that it relieves spasm and pain as quickly 

 and more permanently, and without arresting the action 

 of the bowels. Chloral hydrate, also, is a favourite drug 

 with those who adopt this treatment. 



Even when the more simple explanation of uncom- 

 plicated spasm is denied, and the case admitted to be one 

 of obstruction, practitioners still continue the adminis- 

 tration of sedatives or anodynes for a different reason. 

 'It is the pain,' they say, 'that will wear the animal out.' 

 We are not, therefore, to administer a purgative, and 

 simply wait for its operation. We must at the same 

 time alleviate the animal's sufferings. Those who 



