134 THE COMMON COLICS OF THE HORSE 



Correctly treated, the animal may begin to mend in a 

 few hours, or the pains may last for as long as seven or 

 eight days. Commonly it is only a day or two before the 

 animal is, to all appearances, fully recovered. 



In every case I have yet seen the critical symptom ap- 

 pears to be the voiding of a huge mass of faeces (clay-like, 

 both in colour and consistence) from the anterior end of 

 the intestinal tract. The offensive smell from this can only 

 be fitly described as ' disgusting.' From that time on- 

 ward the pains of obstruction vanish, and after a few days' 

 careful dieting and nursing, the animal is out of danger. 



Diagnosis. — Much of the matter under this heading is 

 often but a reiteration of facts related under the symptoms. 

 Little thus remains for the writer but to emphasize in 

 brief such symptoms as he regards as diagnostic. 



Primarily, we must consider the long period of general 

 dulness noticed by the attendants before skilled advice 

 is sought ; the comparative absence of fulness of the 

 abdomen as revealed by rectal exploration, and the non- 

 appearance of tympany ; the biliary staining of the 

 conjunctiva, and the clammy, foetid condition of the 

 mouth, with the yellowness of the buccal membranes. 

 These may all be regarded more or less as premonitory 

 diagnostic symptoms, and it is not until the more notice- 

 able colic pains come on and the offensive purge 

 commences that the veterinarian is able to fully satisfy 

 himself as to the correct nature of his case. 



The character of the purge is doubtless due to want of 

 sufficient bile in the intestines. The bile exerts certain 

 antiseptic effects on the intestinal contents, and when it 

 is withheld extreme fcetor of the faecal matters is a con- 

 sequence. Thus, the foetor may, to a certain extent, 

 serve somewhat in locating the seat of trouble — may, in 

 fact, in this case, be relied on as a diagnostic. 



