CHAP. I.] MISTAKES IN PRACTICE, RUINOUS. 271 



gathers his legs under him, as if preparing to lie 

 down ; which he at length effects, rolling about in 

 the stall, and getting up again repeatedly. It may 

 here be remarked, that this rolling on the back is 

 well calculated for affording temporary ease to the 

 great gut ; but should inflammation have already at- 

 tacked these, or at the kidneys, this rolling on his 

 back would but increase the pain of the animal ; 

 and his jumping up instantly upon his legs, as if 

 the spur or whip had been applied, goes to prove 

 the existence of inflammation at one or the other 

 viscus, as those symptons vary. 



Cure. — Too much care cannot be exercised in 

 ascertaining the precise nature and amount of the 

 disease ; for, in error in this respect resides extreme 

 danger of life, which is too often sacrificed to preci- 

 pitancy, to ignorance, and presumption. As soon as 

 a horse is pronounced " ill of the colic," the at- 

 tendants, without investigation, proceed to give 

 " something to do him good ;" which is ever 

 some of the stimulating class of domestic remedies. 

 Warm ale, with ginger, peppermint water, gin and 

 water, and Daffey's Elixir, are the common popular 

 remedies usually applied in this case ; and, pro- 

 vided the disorder be really flatulent colic, relief 

 from the pain must follow the exhibition of either 

 one or the other. Frequently, however, it hap- 

 pens, that the doing good is carried too far, and 

 inflammation is thus superinduced, if it do not 

 already prevail. By such persons, every internal 

 pain is pronounced " the colic ;" and they all 



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