SPASMODIC COLIC. 4g3 



but we have not a sufficient knowledge of the animal economy 

 to discover that cause. 



Inflammation majbe considered with reference to the mem- 

 branes which it attacks. 



Tlie Mucous Membranes line all the cavities that communi- 

 cate with the external surface of the body. There is frequent 

 inflammation of the membrane of the mouth. "Blain, or glysyn- 

 thrax, is a vesicular enlargement which runs along the side of 

 the tongue. Its cause is unknown. It should be lanced freely 

 and deeply, and some aperient medicine administered. Barbs 

 or paps, are smaller enlargements, found more in the neighbor- 

 hood of the bridle of the tongue. They should never be touched 

 with any instrument ; a little cooling medicine will generally 

 remove them. Lampas is inflammation of the palate, or enlarge- 

 ment of the bars of the palate. The roof of the month may be 

 slightly lanced, or a little aperient medicine administered ; but 

 the sensibility of the mouth should never be destroyed by the 

 application of the heated iron. Canker and wounds in the 

 mouth, from various causes, will be best remedied by diluted 

 tincture of myrrh, or a weak solution of alum. 



Foreign bodies in the gullet may be generally removed by 

 means of the probang used in the hove of cattle ; or the £esopha- 

 gus may be opened, and the obstructing body taken out. 



It is on the mucous membranes that poisons principally 

 exert their influence. The yew is the most frequent vegetable 

 poison. The horse may be saved by timely recourse to equal 

 parts of vinegar and water ejected into the stomach, after the 

 poison has been as much as possible removed by means of the 

 stomach pump. For arsenic or corrosive sublimate there is 

 rarely any antidote. 



Spasmodic Colic is too frequently pi-oduced by exposure to 

 cold, the drinking of cold water, or the use of too much green 

 meat. The horse should be walked about, strong friction used 

 to the belly, and spirit of turpentine given in doses of two 

 ounces, with an ounce each of laudanum and spirit of nitrous 

 aether, in warm water, ale, or gruel. If the spasm is not soon 

 relieved, the animal should be bled, and injections of warm 

 water with a solution of aloes thrown up, if constipation exists. 

 This spasmodic action of the bowels, when long continued, is 



