COLIC. 557 



6. Superpnrgation. 



Superpurgation may either be a symptom of a badly-treated or neglected diarrhoea, or that 

 of dysentery. A dog suffering from long-continued abdominal flux is a most miserable being 

 indeed. The emaciation is extreme, the coat staring, the eye glassy and probably half closed, 

 the flanks tucked in, and the poor dog shivers at the slightest breath of air. 



It is often produced by the abuse of purgatives, especially of aloes. 



The treatment consists in removing the cause, in taking the animal in out of the cold, and 

 in judicious dieting, and the administration of astringent medicines, as recommended in diarrhoea. 



Carbonate of ammonia may do good in these cases in doses of from two to five grains 

 three or four times a day. 



7. Colic. 



Colic is a most distressing complaint, far from uncommon among the canine race, and not 

 unattended with danger. By colic we must be understood to mean a non-inflammatory disease, 

 usually termed " the gripes," or " tormina," due to an irregular and spasmodic action of the bowels. 



Causes. The disease may be caused by cold, parasites, or the passage of a calculus ; but is 

 more often the result of some indigestible matter irritating the small intestine or the colon. 



Symptoms. Great pain in the region of the abdomen, as evinced by the restlessness and 

 distress of the animal, who frequently gives vent to piteous moans and cries. That there is 

 nausea with colic no one will ever doubt who has seen a poor animal suffering from an attack 

 of it. His wish is to lie quiet and take no food, although he will drink readily enough; also 

 to lie quiet if the pain would permit him ; this, however, comes on every now and again, causing 

 the dog to jump up howling, and presently, when the pain in some measure subsides, to seek out 

 another position and lie down again, his distress being piteous to behold. There is no sign of 

 inflammation, however ; the animal prefers to lie curled up, seemingly to relax the abdominal 

 muscles, to relieve the tormina. During the attacks the breathing is quickened and the pulse 

 accelerated, and the animal's countenance gives proof of the agony he is enduring. If the 

 pains be not continuous, which they seldom are, the nose may continue throughout the attack 

 cool and wet, and the eye remain uninjected. The bowels are nearly always constipated. 



Diagnosis. The pain of colic is relieved by pressure and friction ; in inflammation, pressure 

 cannot be borne. The pulse, too, is not of the inflammatory character. The suddenness of the 

 attack is likewise a good clue. 



Treatment. The first indication of the treatment of colic, from whatever cause, is evidently 

 to get the bowels to act, and thus effect the expulsion of offending matter. This offending matter 

 may be either indigestible food, hardened fceces, or some irritating substance which the dog may 

 have swallowed. A young dog, for example, but little over his puppyhood, had swallowed 

 some lead paint, which gave rise to severe colic. This was relieved by cathartics, the warm bath, 

 chloroform and opium, with simple aperients for some days to come. If the dog is otherwise 

 apparently in good health, give the following : Of castor-oil three parts, syrup of buckthorn two 

 parts, and syrup of poppies one part (this is a prescription of Youatt's) ; followed immediately 

 by an anodyne draught, such as 



$, Spirit. ^Etheris 1T[x. ad 5 ij. 



Spirit. Chlorof. fl^v. ad IT^ xxx. 



Sol. Mur. Morphi;e ... TTLiij. ad TT^ xx. 



Aquae Camph q. s. M. 



F l haustus. 



