838 STABLE MANUAL AND HORSE DOCTOR 



Occasional or accidental costiveness must be treated 

 differently. First back - rake, next throw up a large 

 laxative clyster, and then proceed to give a mild purgative 

 by the mouth. 



SPASMODIC COLIC. 



Colic, " the Fret," " Stomach Cramp," or " Gripes " of 

 farriers, is divided by medical authorities into several 

 varieties, of which only two seem worth notice in a general 

 compendium of horse diseases — these are spasmodic and 

 flatulent or windy colic. We have preferred treating of it 

 here, though the section on the Intestines, or Bowels^ has 

 fully as much claim to it. 



The pain of spasmodic colic is due (unlike enteritis, or 

 inflammation of the bowels) to a contraction of some 

 portion or portions of the intestinal tube. The tube, by 

 virtue of its muscular coat, possesses a power of contract- 

 ing its canal, which contractile property it is that enables 

 it to press the alimentary matters onward from the 

 stomach, until they arrive at their ultimate outlet. This 

 muscular tunic, in common with other muscles, is liable to 

 be affected with spasm or cramp ; when this takes place, 

 the intestinal canal is locally contracted to that degree 

 that the aliment is arrested in its course, and the pain, 

 while the cramp or gripe continues, becomes poignant in 

 the extreme. 



The symptoms of colic are the same as, with two or 

 three notable exceptions, denote painful bowel-affections in 

 general. The attack is sudden. The horse appears to be 

 all in a moment seized with acute pain in his belly. He 

 commences violently pawing and stamping, and striking 

 his belly with his feet. After a few times bending his 

 knees and crouching his body, and advancing his hind feet 

 under hiui in attempts to lie down, he at last drops rather 

 than lies down, issuing a sort of grunt from the fall, and 

 immediately commences rolling upon his back, endeavour- 

 ing every time he turns to balance himself in the supine 

 position ; though often he is unable to accomplish this 

 until his legs, in rolling, happen to come against the side of 

 the stall or box. When once he has got upon his back, he 

 will, with his feet drawn downward upon his belly, and his 

 head and neck, perhaps, curved to one side, remain quiet 



