THE HORSE. 71 



CLASSIFICATION OF THE CAUSES THAT PRODUCE 

 THE VARIOUS KINDS OF COLIC. 



Whenever a Lorse presents symptoms of abdominal pain (pawing, 

 lying down, rolling, etc.) it has been the custom from time immemorial 

 to call it colic. As a great number of different diseased conditions in 

 the abdominal cavity cause such symptoms the treatment should there- 

 fore be varied. 



Many of these diseases of course cannot be clearly differentiated 

 during life, although we are able to notice characteristics which are in a 

 measure peculiar to certain diseased conditions which enable us to make 

 a positive diagnosis. 



The statistics show that ten to twenty per cent, of horses affected 

 with colic die, and that forty per cent, of the deaths of horses are due to 

 this trouble. 



Certain medical compounds have been put upon the market as specifics 

 for colic. This is what makes the treatment of colic unsatisfactory and 

 increases the mortality. The classification of the causes of colic is as 

 follows: 



ist. Food colic. 



(a) Over feeding colic. 



(b) Colic due to damaged or improperly prepared food. 



(c) Starvation colic. 



2d. Colic caused by obstruction to the gut. 



(a) Colic due to impaction of dried, woody food in the large in- 

 testine of adult horses. The retained uncomium or the in- 

 gested straw and hay of the foal. 



(b) Mechanical obstructions, such as twisted gut, intussusception 

 rupture, and tumours. 



3d. Colic due to paralysis of the intestine. 



4th. Colic due to plugging of the blood vessels of the intestines. 

 (Throinbosis and embolism). 



5th. Nervous colic, due to exposure, fatigue and other causes. (Spas- 

 modic colic). 



6th. Colic due to worms. 



7th. Colic due to foreign bodies in the intestines, such as stones 

 (calculi) , sand or dirt. 



The chief danger is the accumulation of gas from which relief should 



