238 THE COMMON COLICS OF THE HORSE 



up tympany, nor hinder secretion of the intestinal fluids. 

 It is well to remember also that this drug has a marked 

 antiseptic action, almost equalling carbolic acid in that 

 respect, and that it has an irritant action on the skin 

 and mucous membranes. 



Cannabis indica, a deliriant narcotic, anodyne, and 

 anti- spasmodic, is said to relieve pain and spasm as 

 quickly as opium, but more permanently, and without 

 arresting the action of the bowels. 



Circumstances which have led the Veterinarian 

 to the Frequent Administration of Sedatives. — Very 

 probably the first of these is the idea that anodynes 01 

 sedatives invariably relieve cases of uncomplicated spasm 

 — that is to say, ' uncomplicated ' so far as we can judge. 



Next in order we may place the very creditable in- 

 stinct that urges man to allay pain and suffering in a 

 dumb animal. 



We also find it contended that in colic it is the pain 

 that will quickly wear the animal out — that unless we 

 relieve the pain the patient will die, not as a direct 

 result of the malady he is suffering from, but actually 

 from the pain itself. 



So far as I can gather, those are the arguments ad- 

 vanced favouring the frequent use of sedatives in the 

 cases we are discussing. I w^ould add to them, however, 

 that peculiar fear some practitioners have of witnessing 

 a little rolling ; that absolute dread of allowing the 

 pains, even as symptoms, to manifest themselves. I 

 would even go so far as to state that it is, in many in- 

 stances, a fear of his client's opinion that urges the 

 veterinarian to a course he would naturally reason as 

 wrong if not unfairly influenced. The client, perhaps, is 

 standing by — anxious, alarmed. He suggests that the 

 pains should be stayed ; wonders they are not. ' Can 



