362 THE HORSE. 



Hot water should also be applied to the abdomen, as described 

 under the head of Enteritis, and if an enema pump is at hand, 

 large quantities of water, at a temperature of 100° Fahrenheit, 

 should be injected per auum, until in fact the bowel will hold no 

 more without a dangerous amount of force. 



In flatulent colic the same remedies may be employed, but 

 the turpentine mixture is here especially beneficial. The use of 

 warm water injections will often bring away large volumes of wind, 

 which at once aifords relief, and the attack is cured. Sometimes, 

 however, the distension goes on increasing, and the only chance 

 of recovery consists in a puncture of the caecum, as it lies high in 

 the right flank, where, according to French veterinary writers, it 

 may often be opened when greatly distended, without dividing the 

 serous covering. The operation, however, should only be per- 

 formed by an experienced hand, as it is one of great danger, and 

 a knowledge of the anatomy of the parts concerned is required to 

 select the most available situation. 



The treatment of impaction must be completely a pos- 

 teriori^ for all anterior proceedings with aperient medicines will 

 only aggravate the spasms. Injection of gallons of warm water, 

 or of gruel containing a quart of castor oil and half a pint of spirit 

 of turpentine, will sometimes succeed in producing a passage, and 

 at the same time the spasm may be relieved by the exhibition at 

 the mouth of one ounce of laudanum and the same quantity of 

 sulphuric ether. If there is any tenderness of the abdomen, or 

 the pulse has a tendency to quicken, it will be better to resort to 

 bleeding, which alone will sometimes cause the peristaltic action 

 to be restored in a healthy manner. The case, however, requires 

 great patience and judgment, and as no great good can often be 

 effected, it is highly necessary to avoid doing harm, which can 

 hardly be avoided if the remedies employed are not at once suc- 

 cessful. 



When the urgent symptoms of colic in any of its forms are 

 relieved, great care must be exercised that a relapse does not take 

 place from the use of improper food. The water should be care- 

 fully chilled, and a warm bran mash should be given, containing in it 

 half a feed of bruised oats. Nothing but these at moderate inter- 

 vals, in the shape of food or drink, should be allowed for a day 

 or two, and then the horse may gradually return to his customary 

 treatment, avoiding, of course, everything which may appear to 

 have contributed to the development of colic. 



DIARRHOEA AND DYSENTERY. 



A distinction is attempted to be made between these two dis- 

 eases, — the former name being confined to an inflammation of the 

 mucous n embrane of the small intestines, while the latter is said 



