THE DIGESTIVE ORGANS 161 



more or less by colicky pains. Spasmodic colic proper is due to 

 spasm or cramp of the muscular coat of the intestines, more par- 

 ticularly the small intestine. It arises from a variety of causes, such 

 as drinking cold water when the animal is heated, improper food, such 

 as wet grass, roots, worms, sudden chills, tumours, etc. (Figs. 6 and 7). 

 This was taken from a photo of a portion of the mesentery or net 

 of a five-year-old cart gelding which died from rupture of the 

 stomach. The animal was for about eighteen months prior to death 

 subject to periodical attacks of colic at intervals of five or six weeks, 

 the pains varying both in severity and duration. The animal was 

 always in good condition. The tumours shown on the diagram are 

 tubercular, and very unique in the horse. When first attacked, the 

 horse wriggles the body from side to side, sniffs the ground, paws 

 with its fore-feet, cringes on its hind-legs, bends its knees, and then 

 throws itself down, rolls about, balances itself on its back, perspires 

 freely, and looks back at its side, and at times sits on its haunches 

 like a dog. This may go on for a few minutes or half an hour, when 

 the pain leaves the animal for an interval, and it stands or lies 

 perfectly quiet. In a short time, however, the pain returns again. 

 No time must be lost in getting relief, as injury sometimes follows 

 by the horse knocking itself about ; or the spasm, if severe, may 

 eventually terminate in a loop or knot in the bowel, or it may be 

 telescoped, from excessive contraction of the longitudinal and circular 

 muscular fibres of the intestine. Treatment. — From 2 to 4 ounces 

 of laudanum, along with 2 ounces of turpentine, in a pint of linseed 

 oil, may be given at once, and if no abatement is noticeable, repeat 

 half the quantity of laudanum and oil in half an hour, or give ball 

 (par. 1062, No. II.) Apply hot-water blankets or mustard-and-water 

 to the belly, and give warm-water injections. Bleeding, to the 

 extent of 6 to 8 quarts, has in some cases a very beneficial effect, 

 but do not be too long in getting professional assistance, for hypo- 

 dermic injections of morphia and atropine are here again of the 

 greatest service (par. 259). A dose of arecoline hydrobromide may 

 also be injected under the skin with advantage. 



256. Flatulent Colic is distension of the bowel with gas, 



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