258 The Hoese Industky in New York State 



in the neck will usually brinj^ relief. Two or three tablespoonfuls 

 of laudanum, given by the mouth, while not so rapid, generally 

 effect a cure in a few minutes. 



general conclusions on the treatment and prevention of 



COLIC 



Very little has been said in the foregoing article about preven- 

 tion of colic, although it is the essential thing in caring for horses. 

 Since a somewhat lengthy discussion of the causes of colic has been 

 given, it would be but a repetition of what has already been stated 

 to include them again under the subject of prevention. A few 

 suggestions that apply to all forms of colic are offered. 



When horses are recovering from colic, farmers often tempt 

 them to eat hay or grain. This is wrong. When a horse cannot 

 digest his food, and colic results, he should not have more food, 

 since that aggravates matters and often causes a relapse. Wait 

 at least a couple of hours after all pain has subsided and then 

 feed only a little hay, wheat bran, or possibly a very few oats. 

 Horses that have had long sieges should be fed sparingly for 

 several days. If they do not respond to treatment in a reasonable 

 time a dose of physic should ordinarily be given. Usually about 

 one quart of raw linseed oil is the safest thing for the layman to 

 give. It usually takes from twenty-four to thirty-six hours, and 

 often longer, to physic a horse, so do not make the mistake of 

 repeating the second dose too soon, as it might kill the horse. 



Rectal injections are very benelicial. Three or four gallons of 

 water heated to body temperature, or even a little warmer if it 

 does not inconvenience the patient, can be injected every hour or 

 two. A cupful of raw linseed oil or glycerine, or even a little 

 hard soap, is often added to the water. A very simple device on 

 the farm is to use a rubber hose and a funnel. Care should bo 

 exercised to see that the hose is well oiled and is inserted into the 

 rectum carefully. If much force is used the rectum may be 

 ruptured. 



In many cases the farmer does not know which kind of colic the 

 horse has. He perhaps does not see the horse when first taken, and 

 finds him suffering from pain, and, being somewhat nervous and 

 excited, does fairly well if he will call it under the general name 



