40 THE DISEASES OF HORSES, 



considerable pain, and the horse shows it in both cases by pawing the 

 ground, striking at the belly, and looking round dolorously towards the 

 flank. In colic the pain is intermittent, whereas in enteritis it is con- 

 stant, although sometimes accompanied with spasm and paroxysms of 

 greater pain, when the horse will crouch with his belly to the ground, or 

 lie down, roll over, and kick, and getting up again pant with pain, whilst 

 the sweat rolls off him. 



Inflammation comes on more gradually than colic, whioli is always 

 sudden in its appearance, and is marked by loss of appetite, feverishness, 

 and general depression, and dulness. The pulso is always increased, but 

 is small and wiry, and the cars and extremities are cold ; the animal will 

 sometimes be alternately covered with sweat, and suffering cold tremors, 

 none of which symptoms indicate colic ; the mouth and tongue are also 

 very hot and dry, a certain indication of inflammation. In this disease the 

 horse loses strength rapidly, pressure on the belly causes pain, as does any 

 quicker motion than a quiet walk, whereas, in colic, the animal retains his 

 strength, is often eased by a moderate trot, and rubbing the belly gives relief. 



Inflammation of the bowels sometimes follows castration ; it is often 

 caused by giving powerful medicines injudiciously, as for instance strong 

 physic balls without proper preparation, or it may bo induced by im- 

 proper food, causing constipation ; and it not unfrequently is the result 

 of neglected or improperly treated colic ; so that horse owners should 

 be careful to use only approved remedies and means of relief in that 

 comparatively simple and innocent disease, and avoid the rough measures 

 and stupid nostrums so much in vogue. 



By way of treatment the first thing to be done is to bleed freely from the 

 jugular vein, taking away blood quickly in a full stream, and almost to 

 fainting. The bowels must be relieved, and to accomplish this both back- 

 raking (p. 33), as already explained, and a very free use of clysters, should 

 be resorted to, and purgatives should be also given. 



Drench for Enteritis. — Some veterinarians give linseed oil ; Walsh 

 prescribes a pint with 2oz. of laudanum, every six hours, till the bowels 

 are relieved ; whilst Percival depends on aloes, and prescribes it in the 

 following form : compound decoction of aloes, 4oz. ; spirit of sulphuric 

 ether and laudanum, each 2oz. ; warm water, a pint ; given as a drench, 

 and repeated each two hours with only half the quantity of aloes, till 

 four doses are given. 



Compound Decoction of Aloes. — The form Percival gives for the compound 

 decoction of aloes is as follows : take Barbadoes aloes, 2oz.; bicarbonate 

 of potash, 2oz. ; gum acacia, 2oz. ; water, 1 pint ; dissolve gently with 

 heat, and add, when cold, sufficient spirit of wine to keep it. The pro- 

 duct should be 1 pint and a quarter. 



By way of external application hot fomentations should be constantly 

 used, or a cantharidino blister— a liquid one, either made with vinegar 

 or turpentine -applied, or a poultice of strong mustard and vinegar well 

 rubbed in. 



