SO-CALLED COLICS OF THE HORSE 111 



does rupture precede or follow the act. Rupture of the 

 stomach not infrequently is the result of dilatation and is 

 often not attended by vomiting. A very valuable aid to 

 diagnosis is the use of the stomach-tube, through which, 

 when introduced, is discharged a large quantity (2 to 5 gal.) 

 of fluid, gaseous, acid, partially digested food. Unless the 

 gastric dilatation is complicated with intestinal disorder a 

 rapid disappearance of the symptoms of colic follow the use 

 of the tube. According to some authorities, displacement of 

 the spleen is a tangible symptom of gastric dilatation. 

 This organ may be felt through the rectum, where it has 

 become displaced posteriorly lying in the region of the 

 left flank. Inasmuch as such a displacement has been_ 

 noted in apparently healthy and even fasting horses this 

 symptom is not pathognomonic. While the spleen may be 

 reached per rectvim, it is sometimes diflicult to feel it through 

 the wall of the bowel overlying the hand. 



Course. — In mild cases the symptoms may subside in a 

 few hours, but very frequently a catarrh of the stomach 

 remains behind which persists for two or three days. In 

 some instances gastritis sets in, leading to death. Foreign- 

 body pneumonia is an occasional complication due to aspira- 

 tion after belching or vomiting. Some patients die of 

 suffocation, but more commonly the condition leads to rup- 

 ture of the stomach. 



Treatment. — ^The only safe method of treating this disorder 

 is to use the stomach-tube, which permits the imprisoned 

 gas to escape bringing with it large quantities of the gastric 

 contents. The stomach may be then washed out (lavage) 

 by repeated injections of lukewarm water to which creolin 

 has been added, siphoning out as much as possible after each 

 injection. If applied early this method will yield to healing 

 in nearly 100 per cent, in cases of primary dilatation and 50 

 to 75 per cent, of secondary dilatation. The use of mild 

 laxatives such as salts, aloes, etc., are rarely indicated and 

 are effective only in mild cases. Barium chlorid, arecalin 

 and eserin are dangerous in that they may cause rupture of 

 the stomach. 



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