178 VETERINARY HOMCEOPATHY. 



formed, and not infrequently quite a quantity of small ones, of 

 varying sizes, in addition. It is probably hardly necessary to state 

 that unless the calculus passes from the large double colon into 

 the single colon before it becomes too large to occupy the lumen 

 of the latter portion of the intestines there is no other method of 

 relieving the animal of the diflSculty other than by surgical opera- 

 tion, by effecting an opening through the walls of the abdomen; 

 we believe that a few very bold surgical operators have attempted 

 this as a deurier-resort, but we cannot from personal experience 

 speak as to the probable success of what looks like a very venture- 

 some operation; at the same time we are strongly of opinion that the 

 horse will bear surgical interference with the contents of the ab- 

 domen far better than the teaching of the past would induce one 

 to anticipate; be that how it may, however, such an operation could 

 only be undertaken by one trained in the art of surgery and the 

 consideration of the subject does not consequently come within 

 the bounds of this work. The question then arises, to what extent 

 can therapeutics aid in solving the diflSculty, and we regret to add 

 that in the event of a calculus being present which is too large to 

 pass through the single colon only temporary alleviation can be 

 afforded; ultimately the calculus is certain to become fixed in the 

 opening where the double colon merges into the single colon, the 

 constriction in the size of the canal being at this point very marked 

 and sudden; the peristaltic action of the intestines forces the calcu- 

 lus into this position and there it is retained, unless a violent or sud- 

 den reverse peristalisis can be established to cause the muscular 

 walls of the large colon to relax their grip of the stone, and it 

 thence falls back into the bottom of the large colon, but only in due 

 course to go through the same process once again ; at the same 

 time every horse owner would undoubtedly prefer the off chance 

 of a temporary cure to having his animal destroyed on the 

 ipse dixit of the most experienced veterinarian of the day. The 

 remedy we have found capable of effecting the desired object is 

 Niix vomica ix, ihe dose to be repeated every hour until relief is 

 obtained; assistance may be afforded three or four times for the 

 same animal, periodical attacks coming on every two or three 

 months, but in the end it generally happens that the stone be- 

 comes so firmly wedged into the lumen of the colon, at the point 

 already referred to, that it is immovable and results in the death 



