STUD BOOK. Ill 



Symptoms. — It is of much importance to distinguish 

 between spasmodic colic and inflammation of the 

 bowels, for the symptoms have considerable resem- 

 blance, although the mode of treatment should be very 

 different. 



The attack of colic is usually very sudden. The 

 horse begins to shift his posture, look around at his 

 flanks, paw violently, strike his belly with his feet, 

 and crouch in a peculiar manner, advancing his hind 

 limbs under him ; he will then suddenly lie, or, rather 

 fall down, and balance himself upon his back, with his 

 feet resting on his belly. The pain now seems to 

 cease for a little while, and he gets up and shakes him- 

 self, and begins to feed ; the respite, however, is but 

 short, the spasm returns more violently — every indica- 

 tion of pain is increased — he heaves at the flanks, 

 breaks out into a profuse perspiration, and throws 

 himself more recklessly about. In the space of an 

 hour or two, either the spasms begins to relax, and the 

 remissions are of longer duration, or the torture is 

 augmented at every paroxysm ; the intervals of ease 



