COLIC. 415 



India, and Avas, of course, attended by many cases of colic, with 

 instances of rupture of the stomach, now and then. I am glad 

 to say that such barbarous methods are falling into disuse in 

 that country. Watering after feeding is particularly dangerous 

 when gram is used ; as gram readily ferments on being soaked in 

 water. 



SYMPTOMS. — ^The symptoms resemble those of spasmodic colic, 

 except that they are less violent, though much more continuous, 

 and there is considerable distension of the abdomen, which dis- 

 tension is well marked in " the hollow of the flank," immediately 

 in front of the point of the hip. The breathing is difficult, and 

 there is more or less delirium in bad cases. 



Great distension of the abdomen is often a sign of a fatal 

 termination of different diseases, as in superpurgation, foi" 

 instance. 



Laminitis sometimes ensues after an attack of this form of 

 colic. 



TREATMENT. — Give the drench recommended on p. 413, or an 

 ounce of chlorodyne in a pint of cold water. I like to give the 

 turpentine and linseed oil drench in the first instance, and if it 

 does not appear to have relieved the symptoms in, say, half an 

 hour, to give the chlorodyne, which may be repeated later on. 

 Or eserine (p. 609) may be tried with advantage. It is well to 

 foment the belly, back-rake, and to give an enema of a gallon of 

 water. Hand-rubbing and fomenting the abdomen will afford 

 some relief. 



Medicines in a solid form, though appropriate in spasmodic colic, 

 should not, as a rule, be given in flatulent colic. 



If medicines fail to overcome the attack, the intestines should be 

 punctured in the manner described by Peuch and Toussaint, from 

 whose work on " Veterinary Surgery " I have abridged the de- 

 scription in p. 677 et seq. This operation is a very efficient means 

 for the relief of flatulent colic. 



Flatulent Distension of the Stomach. 



The return of food, or the belching of gas, from the stomach of 

 the horse, is almost completely prevented by the fact that the 

 calibre of the gullet at its opening into the stomach, is particularly 

 small, and that it is completely obstructed by folds of mucous 

 membrane (Chauveau). Usually, the dissolved food and any super- 

 abundant gas obtain ready escape from the stomach into the in- 

 testine ; the unprepared portion of the food being kept back, by 

 closure of the intestinal orifice due to the irritation which such 



