CHAPTER XVII 



SUPERPURGATION 



Definition. — That form of colic induced by the in- 

 ordinate action of a purgative. 



Referring to Chapter I., and consulting Professor 

 Friedberger's table, we find that this particular form of 

 colic would come under the heading ' symptomatic,' and 

 that further classification would lead us to the fact that 

 it is colic resulting from the administration of a 

 poison. . . . We must either dub aloes ' a poison,' or 

 inform Professor Friedberger that his table is incomplete, 

 and that he has made no mention of a form of colic 

 resulting from the administration of a harmless drug. 

 For my own part, so far as the horse is concerned, I 

 regard aloes as a poison. The astounding fact to me is 

 that it has not been so called before. 



Williams, in his ' Principles and Practice of Veterinary 

 Medicine,' devotes a chapter to the consideration of this 

 condition, admitting that it is of frequent occurrence, and 

 yet not advising the more restrained use of aloes. 



Surely it is an astonishing thing that a drug which will 

 commonly give rise to such dangerous symptoms as to 

 call for a separate chapter concerning its antidotes 

 should not be regarded as highly dangerous. Why is it 

 that other drugs have not elevated other conditions to a 



