THEIR PATHOLOGY, DIAGNOSIS, AND TREATMENT. 29 



and, under one name or another, is well known to all who have had 

 much to do with horses. Some horses are much more disposed to it 

 than others, but all are liable to it under certain conditions, which are for 

 the most part avoidable. The attacks of colic are always sudden, and of 

 course unexpected, and often create unnecessary excitement and alarm, 

 a state of things which is apt to lead to what is most to be avoided by 

 permitting professedly knowing, but really ignorant persons, to adopt 

 means for the animal's relief of such a nature as to run great risk of 

 turning a comparatively harmless attack of colic into dangerous inflam- 

 mation of the bowels. The causes generally producing colic are, giving 

 of cold water to drink whilst the beast is warm, perhaps covered with sweat ; 

 or being exposed to cold when in that state will sometimes do it ; the over 

 eating of green food, or other food that the stomach fails thoroughly to 

 digest ; costiveness, too, is a not uncommon cause. Sometimes the adminis- 

 tration of aloes is at the bottom of it, and it sometimes comes on unac- 

 countably after a sharp drive. One of the surest symptoms by which to 

 distinguish it is the sudden nature of its attack. The horse may be just 

 taken out of the shafts, apparently quite well, and led into his stall, 

 begin to eat, when all at once he stops, shakes himself, paws the litter 

 with his fore feet, or stamps violently and looks round wistfully towards 

 his flanks. The pain being severe he will kick at and even strike his belly 

 with his hind feet. In some cases staling is profuse, in others he makes 

 various attempts to void urine unsuccessfully. As the spasm passes he be- 

 comes quiet, and, with the absence of pain, returns to his manger 

 and again begins to eat ; shortly, however, the paroxysm of pain 

 returns, and the horse shows uneasiness, shifting from side to side, 

 pawing and kicking as before, showing a disposition to lie down, on 

 doing which he will frequently roll on his back, kicking impatiently and 

 evincing great pain, so intense indeed as frequently to cause him to sweat 

 profusely. 



The most important thing in such cases is for the stableman and horse 

 owner to be able to distinguish clearly and confidently between colic and 

 inflammation of the bowels, and the following are in substance the rules 

 for so doing laid down by all recent veterinary authorities : In colic the 

 attack is always sudden, in inflammation of the bowels the disease i3 

 gradual in its approach, marked by loss of appetite, uneasiness, fits 

 of shivering, &c In the first the pulse is not affected, except during the 

 attacks of pain, when it is accelerated. In the second the pulse is con- 

 siderably quickened, but small, not full, and difficult to feel. In the first 

 relief is given by rubbing the belly. In the latter the belly is very tender, 

 and gives pain on being touched ; in the first motion gives ease, and a 

 moderate trot or sharp walk will often give gveat relief, whereas in the 

 latter the animal is not only averse to motion, but it evidently gives 

 increased pain— in the former too -and this is a very marked distinction 

 — the pain is intermittent, and when free from the paroxysms the horse 

 seems right enough, but in inflammation the pain is constant. In the former 



