Colic, Enteralgia, Intestinal Spasm. 313 



The attack is usually transient and ends in recovery. 



Treatment. Solipeds. For nervous colic the hypodermic in- 

 jection of sulphate of morphia (2 grs.) is very effective. This 

 will commonly bring relief in less than five minutes. Should 

 there be no effect at the end of this time it may be repeated with 

 advantage, but should a second dose fail, it is well to resort to 

 other measures. Eserin and barium chloride are contraindicated 

 as being liable to increase the spasm, and if there is no irritant to 

 expel there is no object in their exhibition. The old prescrip- 

 tions of laudanum and turpentine ; laudanum and ether ; sweet 

 spirits of nitre with belladonna, or hyoscyamus, and other stimu- 

 lants and narcotics are of little avail as they are not absorbed from 

 the horse's stomach and cannot operate until they have reached 

 the duodenum. If given at all, their action may often be hastened 

 by injecting them into the rectum. 



When the morphia fails it is the safest treatment to give a 

 modeiate dose of aloes or other laxative, iu combination with 

 extract of hj'oscyamus or chloral hydrate. This takes time to 

 pass into the duodenum, and be absorbed and secreted anew in 

 ■order to have its full effect, and therefore it may be necessary to 

 keep np a moderate action of the morphia as a palliative. In four 

 hours, however, at the latest, the aloes can be counted on to bring 

 permanent relief. This appears to come as soon as tlie active 

 principles have been absorbed, the nauseating effect operating at 

 ■once on the over-excited nerve centres. The action is more per- 

 fect still when a free secretion has been started from the intestinal 

 mucosa, and the circulation and inervation in the intestinal 

 walls are essentially changed. This measure which was long 

 successfully practiced and advocated by the late Joseph Gamgee, 

 is even more perfectly adapted to the colics of indigestion and 

 irritation, of impaction and fermentation. There are of cour.se 

 ■cases of complete obstruction in which it must fail, but it is proba- 

 bly the most successful method for colicy affections in general. 



In addition to the above, other methods of correcting the dis- 

 ordered inervation are available. Active friction of the abdomen 

 with straw wisps is often effective, also fomenting the abdomen 

 ■with hot water. Simply leading the animal around acts as a 

 -nervous derivative, and may be employed to prevent his dashing 

 liim.self down so suddenly as to injure himself. Then copious 



