1,56 SPASMODIC GOLIC. 



during the progress of the complaint, must be considered as purely 

 symptomatic, and as not at all referrible to any specific affection 

 of the sensorium itself; and although the head feels hot during 

 the disease, the eyes are flushed, and great pain appears in it, from 

 the pressure that is always made by the animal against the hand, 

 when it is held to it ; and the sense of pleasure that is manifested 

 when the forehead is rubbed yet direct medical applications 

 to the head, as fomentations, blisters, and leeches, have always 

 failed to give any relief; while the only remedies that have suc- 

 ceeded have been such as were applied immediately to the bowels. 

 The treatment I have found most successful consisted in early 

 and active evacuations, as 



Castor oil half an ounce 



Oil of peppermint 1 drop 



Tincture of opium 20 drops. 



If this should fail to relieve the bowels in half an hour, repeat it ; 

 and in an hour or two from this second exhibition, if no stool has 

 been procured, and real costiveness had been previously present, 

 give aloes half a drachm to a drachm, or a drachm and a half, 

 according to the size of the dog. Aperient clysters must also be 

 thrown up, and often repeated, until the bowels are sufficiently 

 evacuated. During the course of that part of the treatment di- 

 rected to opening the bowels, the spasmodic constrictions can be 

 attended to at the same time also, by bathing in water sufficiently 

 warm. Frictions with some spirituous mixture to the belly, as 

 gin, or olive oil two parts and oil of turpentine one part. When 

 the bowels are emptied, then give the following : — 



iEther half a drachm to a drachm 



Tincture of opium ditto 



Camphor 3 to 6 grains 



Castor oil 3 to 5 drachms. 



I add castor oil to the antispasmodic mixture, from a confidence in 

 its being a valuable agent in quieting the irritation, as well as in 

 overcoming the obstruction : but if diarrhoea have already come 

 on, then it should be omitted. Anodyne clysters must also be 



1 



