272 TREATMENT OF COLIC. [BOOK II. 



conclude that what has removed it once will re- 

 move it again, without being certain that it is the 

 same disorder — as they do, that whatever is good 

 in small quantities must needs be more so in larger 

 ones. But we have already observed, that the re- 

 moval of umbilical affections, whether flatulent or 

 inflammatory, by rough, harsh, or protracted means, 

 scarcely ever fails to produce the other concomitant 

 disease, and the inflammatory symptoms no sooner 

 subside, than the jaded vessels contract spasmodic 

 affections, as do also the continuance of flatulency, 

 and some of the means of curing it, superinduce in- 

 flammatory symptoms. 



In whatever shape the horse is attacked with 

 these disorders, the first and most obvious duty is 

 the employment of clysters, to be repeated at short 

 intervals, with this single variation ; viz. in cases of 

 relaxation, where the animal is already purged, the 

 clyster to consist of simple water-gruel only ; but 

 when the patient's bowels are overloaded with 

 hardened dung, the addition of salts, as prescribed 

 at page 258, will be found most effectual. In the 

 absence of Epsom salts (for no time must be lost), 

 a handful of common culinary salt may be employed, 

 in the quantity of four or five ounces. Back-raking, 

 too, should be assiduously applied, when the body 

 is in this state, as recommended in the case of in- 

 flammation, at p. 257, with the laxative drench 

 prescribed at the same page, or the simple salad oil, 

 or castor oil in default thereof. 



In ordinary cases, when the attack is not of the 



