DOGS I THEIR MANAGEMENT. 863 



venture to reason upon the matter. The uterus is prin- 

 cipally composed of white muscular fibre, upon which 

 structure heat has a sedative and cold has a stimulative 

 action. The members of our profession well know this 

 fact ; and the reader, who can hardly be unacquainted 

 with the colic, may in that affection find a proof to con- 

 vince him of its truth. Cold water will bring on the 

 belly-ache. This is occasioned by a chill to the intes- 

 tines, causing their muscular fibre, which resembles that 

 of the womb, to spasmodically contract. The vitality of 

 the muscles of the intestines is excited ; and to allay the 

 pain, that excitability must be destroyed. Heat will 

 effectually do this ; and hot clothes, bags of sand, or bot- 

 tles, are placed against the belly for that purpose. When 

 the suffering depends on cold alone, the relief is speedy ; 

 and when it is dependent on other causes, the sense of 

 comfort imparted testifies to the effect of the application. 

 The heat allays the spasm, which the cold provoked. 



Warmth, therefore, is a sedative to organic muscular 

 fibre ; and now, let it be asked, if during labor we should 

 seek to dispel the contraction of the womb ? During 

 gestation the muscular eoat of the uterus is passive ; but 

 when that function has been perfected, Nature endues it 

 with energy to expel the foetus. Upon the violence of 

 its contractions the performance of this important office is 

 wholly and entirely dependent. Without it the young 

 cannot be borne ; and however painful may be its force, 

 nevertheless, such pain is to be welcomed, and regarded 

 thankfully. The throes may be agonizing, but it is more 



