THE HORSE AND ITS DISEASES. 141 



CLASS VI. 



SPASMODIC COLIC FLATULENT COLIC ENTANGLE:MEXT OF THE 



GUT STONE IN THE INTESTINES HERNIA, OR RUPTURE — 



SUPPRESSION OF URINE PROFUSE STALING. 



Spasmodic Colic. 



This disease generally attacks rather suddenly, and is 

 brouglit on by various causes ; sometimes it is occasioned 

 by drinking a large quantity of cold water, when the body 

 has been heated, and the motion of the blood accelerated 

 by violent exercise. In horses of delicate constitutions 

 that have been accustomed to hot stables and warm 

 clothing, it may be brougiit on merely by drinking water 

 that is very cold ; bad hay appears to be another cause 

 of the complaint, but it frequently occurs without any 

 apparent cause, and then probably depends upon a 

 spasmodic action of the stomach, or bowels, occasioning 

 an obstruction of the intestines and a confinement of air. 



It has not been ascertained whether this air be pro- 

 duced by a fermentation of the contents of the bowels, 

 or formed by the arteries of their internal coat ; which- 

 ever of these is the source of the air, there is no doubt 

 that the immediate cause of its formation and confinement 

 is weakness, or loss of vital energy. 



Symptoms. — This disorder in general, comes on very 

 suddenly, without any premonitory signs. The horse 

 becomes very restless, shifts his position, paws the 

 ground, and looks round with anxiety at his flanks, 

 sometimes raising his foot as high as his belly, and 

 striking it violently, he will also lie down and roll about 

 on his back. In a few minutes the spasm subsides, and 

 tlie animal, after shaking himself, will resume feeding. 

 At longer or shorter intervals, the attack is renewed, 

 but with increased violence, he will throw himself with 

 considerable force on the ground, will break into a 

 copious perspiration, and heave greatly at the flanks. 

 These spasms are renewed at intervals, and gradually 



