INDIGESTION OF THE FOOD. 227 



they demand, I need not describe here. The horse may 

 either be cured, or a veterinarian obtained, before inflammation 

 or other consequences of the distension can take place. 



Treatment of Colic, — The treatment consists in arresting 

 the fermentation, and in re-establishing the digestive powers. 

 There are many things that will do both. In mild cases a 

 good domestic remedy in common use among oldfashioned 

 people who have never heard of inflamed, spasmed, or stran- 

 gulated bowels, is whiskey and pepper, or gin and pepper. 

 About half a tumbler of spirits with a teaspoonful of pepper, 

 given in a quart bottle of milk or warm water, will often 

 afford immediate relief. If the pain do not abate in twenty 

 or thirty minutes, the dose may be repeated, and even a third 

 dose is in some cases necessary. Four ounces of spirits of 

 turpentine, with twice as much sweet oil, is much stronger, 

 but if the horse is much averse to the medicine, turpentine is 

 not always quite safe. 



There is, however, a better remedy, which should always 

 be in readiness wherever several draught-horses are kept. 

 Take a quart of brandy, add to it four ounces of sweet spirit 

 of nitre, three ounces of whole ginger, and three ounces of 

 cloves. In eight days this mixture or tincture is ready for 

 use ; the cloves and ginger may still remain in the bottle, but 

 they are not to be given. Set the bottle away, and put a la- 

 ble upon it ; call it the " Colic Mixture." The dose is six 

 ounces, to be given in a quart of milk or warm water every 

 fifteen or twenty minutes till the horse be cured. Keep his 

 head straight, and not too high when it is given. Do not pull 

 out his tongue, as some stupid people do, when giving a drink. 

 If the horse be very violent, get him into a wide open place, 

 where you will have room to go about him. If he will not 

 stand till the drink be given, watch him when down, and give 

 it, though he be lying, whenever you can get him to take a 

 mouthful. But give the dose as quickly as possible. After 

 that, rub the belly with a soft wisp, walk the horse about 

 very slowly, or give him a good bed, and room to roll. In 

 eighty cases out of ninety this treatment will succeed, pro- 

 vided the medicine be got down the horse's throat before his 

 bowels become inflamed, or strangulated, or burst. The de- 

 lay of half an hour may be fatal. 



When the second dose does not produce relief, the third 

 may be of double or treble strength. I have given a full 

 quart in about an hour, but the horse was very ill. 



