2o6 THE COMMON COLICS OF THE HORSE 



membranes are an intense livid red; the nostrils are 

 widely dilated, and the breath coming and going in short, 

 painful sobs. The getting up and down has resolved 

 itself into a ceaseless circular tramp around the box ; 

 the pulse has become more imperceptible still, but yet 

 maintains its speedy beating, and the belly is growing 

 tympanitic. 



Later still, all symptoms of pain quickly subside. 

 The bowels, so lately the seat of the most agonizing 

 spasms, have become gangrenous, and consequently dead 

 to feelings of pain. The animal then stands quiet, and 

 will even drink and endeavour to feed. The owner is 

 pleased, and anticipates recovery. Not so the veteri- 

 narian. He knows too well that it is but the beginning 

 of the end. 



The haggard expression of the face still remains ; the 

 pulse continues thready and imperceptible ; the ex- 

 tremities are even more cold than before; the mouth is 

 cold, clammy, and foetid, and the body is shaking with 

 involuntary tremors. The eyes grow amaurotic ; the 

 lips hang pendulous ; the legs are widely propped apart 

 to keep the staggering, half-unconscious brute upon his 

 feet, and a nervous, anxious whinny greets a passing 

 equine friend. 



But a short time further sees the end. The stagger 

 gives way to an aimless blunder forward ; the limbs 

 collapse, and the tortured animal sinks to expire in con- 

 vulsions. What was, perchance, but six short hours 

 before a handsome specimen of the equine race, with 

 beauty, health, and strength depicted in each line of his 

 glossy, well-kept body, now Hes a dirt-besmeared, worth- 

 less carcass. 



Diagnosis. — Once seen, I do not think that enteritis 

 is often likely to be misdiagnosed. As a boy, I 



