128 THE COMMON COLICS OF THE HORSE 



the animal's safety will allow, and with it should be 

 included, at intervals, some good stimulating agent. 

 Whether detached pieces of faeces come away with the 

 ejected water or not, the rectal irrigation should be per- 

 sisted in, and the attendants should be firmly impressed 

 with the idea that it is the constant warmth that tends to 

 do good. 



Should all these means prove futile and the case still 

 linger on, the long rectum-tube of Smith should be 

 passed into the gut and, if possible, while a stream of 

 water is passing through it, inserted for the whole of its 

 length. It is important to keep a constant flow of water, 

 at a fairly high pressure, through the tube, in order that 

 it may find a ready and correct road. In case the tube 

 should not be available, a similar length of garden-hose 

 of suitable stiffness will answ^er tolerably w-ell. The 

 only drawback to the use of the rectal tube is the need 

 of a forced water-supply. To those resident in a country 

 district that obstacle to a correct treatment is in most 

 cases an insurmountable one — unless the animal is 

 walked to the nearest market-town to the veterinary 

 surgeon's establishment. 



Finally, if all the efforts of the veterinary attendant 

 are in vain, he may, if his position will bear the shock of 

 a serious failure, and the age of the animal and its market 

 value warrant him, talk to his client of operative 

 measures. But of that more in a future chapter. 



