2i6 THE COMMON COLICS OF THE HORSE 



of one's own senses leads one quickly enough to the 

 truth. More than that need not be said. 



Prognosis. — To a great extent this must always be 

 guarded. Even should the pulse and other symptoms 

 point to nothing really alarming, the practitioner must 

 always bear in mind the only too probable sequels of this 

 condition. 



Many cases, unfortunately, end with some such serious 

 trouble as pneumonia ; others in a long and severe 

 attack of laminitis, leaving the animal a useless cripple. 



Taking these as only of occasional occurrence, no one 

 will attempt to deny the susceptibility of the horse to 

 enteritis. That alone should lead us to endeavour to 

 explain to the owner the risk the animal is running, and 

 prepare his mind for the probability of the patient rapidly 

 sinking under an exhaustive inflammation of the bowels. 



Treatment. — Called in at the commencement of 

 doubtful symptoms, the best and most simple treatment 

 is a dose of chloral. 



]^. Chloral hydratis §i. 



Aq. fervens - - - - - . - ad gx. 



Misce ; fiat haust. 

 Sig. : To be given in a pint of thick, cold gruel. 



It is unusual, however, for the veterinary surgeon to 

 be summoned early. He is not called in until the 

 symptoms have become really dangerous. He finds his 

 patient with quick and feeble pulse, abdomen drawn up, 

 and extremities cold. 



Again I advise the administration of the chloral, this 

 time accompanied with a hypodermic injection of from 

 3 to 5 grains of acetate of morphia. This will tend to 

 allay the irritability in the intestines, and induce a com- 

 fortable sleep. At the same time the animal should be 

 well rugged down and kept perfectly quiet. 



