COLIc. 103 
As for the point in the abdomen at which to introduce the needle, the phy- 
sician can easily determine that by percussion. Very generally it will be neces- 
sary for him to enter a little below the ribs on the left, but not far from the 
median line. He should then strike the stomach, where the greatest danger 
from the distention is usually located. Were the gas largely confined to the 
intestines, near the middle of the abdomen and to the left would generally prove 
the right location. But did he fail to reach the gas on the first trial, he should 
try again, and still again if necessary. 
A word as to the action of opiates in colic. One-half a teaspoonful of lauda- 
num has been advised for the largest breeds because a smaller dose would likely 
prove inert. This would be between sixty and seventy drops, or nearly equal 
to three grains of opium and three-eighths of a grain of morphia, yet it is custom- 
ary with writers on canine diseases to advise in those cases doses only one-third 
as large. But such are simply delusive. Very generally with one-half a tea- 
spoonful of laudanum nothing is accomplished ; and, indeed, in no small pro- 
portion of cases of colic, very much larger doses of opium apparently have no 
more effect than water. Hence the reason for urging that they be tried but not 
relied on ; and if the first large dosé fails, that the gas be at once evacuated by 
puncturing the abdominal walls. 
The pain relieved, the patient should be kept as quiet as possible for a day; 
and if allowed food, it should be milk, or milk and lime-water only. 
Occurring in mature dogs or quite old pups, and treated judiciously and 
promptly, colic is not likely to prove fatal except in a small proportion of cases. 
If, however, it is neglected, inflammation of the bowels with all its attendant 
evils may result. 
The only disease with which colic is liable to be confounded, aside from 
intestinal obstruction, just considered, is peritonitis; but that is an inflammatory 
disease, and there is fever, besides other signs of great constitutional disturb- 
ance, as very rapid and small pulse, and he who familiarizes himself with the 
symptoms of both affections could scarcely be mistaken. 
When colic attacks very young puppies it generally ends fatally, and about 
all that can be done with a fair prospect of affording them relief is to give 
laudanum every hour until their moaning has ceased. The dose should be 
adjusted to the age; and for the largest and medium size breeds, one drop of 
laudanum for every week of life would be right. For fox-terriers and the like, 
this might not be any too large a dose, but it would be safer to reduce it nearly 
one-half, and give one-half a drop for every week; while from one-fourth to one- 
third of a drop would be suitable for toys. 
That is, assuming the pup to be of medium or large size breed and eight 
weeks old, he should be given eight drops of laudanum every hour until re- 
lieved ; while if a toy and of the same age, the correct dose would be about two 
drops. 
