166 DISEASES OF THE HORSE. 



testines from gas ; it is accordingly very frequent in the summer 

 season with horses that are fed on green food, and it may also 

 be produced by the indigestion of any description of food. It 

 is probably the most frequent variety. 



The pain of spasmodic colic is immediately caused by the 

 violent contraction of the muscular coat of the intestines, just 

 as the spasmodic contraction of an external muscle produces 

 cramp. 



It is frequently occasioned by a draught of cold water, parti- 

 cularly if it be of a hard quality, having sulphate of lime in it. 

 It may also be produced by unwholesome food, and any thing 

 that disorders the stomach or intestines. 



Some horses are particularly liable to colic ; and in them it is 

 often produced by causes that wovild have no effect with other 

 horses. This predisposition generally increases as the animals 

 get older, and in them the disease usually proves fatal at last. 



That variety of colic produced by the obstruction of fjod 

 is characterised by symptoms more moderate than the other 

 varieties, though they are longer continued and usually more 

 obstinate. The horse lies down, but does not rise again quickly, 

 nor struggle so violently ; and the pain is more continued than 

 in the varieties before mentioned. 



The symptoms are more like inflammation of the bowels, but 

 there is little or no inci'ease of pulse. There may or may not 

 be costiveness, according to the previous natiu*e of the food. 



Treatment. — Our best plan, in the first place, is to administer 

 a powerful antispasmodic. A great number of medicines are 

 recommended for this disease, and most of them are effectual in 

 ordinary cases. It is, however, desirable to give the ])reference to 

 those not only most effectual, but least likely to prove injurious 

 should inflammation supervene. If no medicines are at hand, 

 or can be quickly procured, the following will frequently be 

 found effectual : — a quarter of a pint of gin, a tea-spoonful of 

 powdered ginger, and a pint of warm beer. This domestic 

 remedy is, however, by no means so successful as many others. 



Spirit of turpentine, in doses of four ounces, is recommended 

 at the Veterinary College. It is a powerful remedy, but liable 

 to produce inflanuuation : it should always be given with linseed 

 or olive oil, otherwise it is likely to make the mouth and throat 

 sore. 



Some practitioners administer an ounce of hartshorn, and 

 the same quantity of tincture of myrrh, with a pint of wai'm 

 water. This is very eftectual, but I have found the hartshorn 

 inflame the mouth and throat very much ; and it is the more 

 apt to do so in consequence of the disinclination to swallow so 

 frequently evinced in the complaint. The medicine is thus de- 

 tained in the throat, and the spirituous portion of it separating 



