62 THE COMMON COLICS OF THE HORSE 



under suitable treatment, will begin to mend, or the fatal 

 and unequivocal signs of twist be in evidence. 



Again, it is always policy, when dealing with a case of 

 this description, to point out the probability of rupture 

 occurring. The veterinarian may, with all justice, inform 

 his client that vomiting is not necessarily a sign that such 

 has already taken place. It is impossible to diagnose 

 this lesion until its fatal signs are present (see 

 Chapter VIII.), and the veterinary surgeon may con- 

 fidently proceed to treat his case, promising to advise 

 his client immediately symptoms of an alarming nature 

 present themselves. 



Treatment. — This offers to the veterinarian one or 

 two interesting little problems. Primarily, the lines 

 upon which he may start and upon which his treatment 

 must be based are simple indeed. They may be suc- 

 cinctly summed up in these two immediate instructions : 

 (i) Rid the stomach of gas already present. (2) Prevent 

 the formation of any more. 



Before attempting to dispose of the gases, it is 

 necessary to know their composition. Recent experi- 

 ments have shown that those which bulk most largely 

 in the distended stomach are carbonic acid, carburetted 

 hydrogen, sulphuretted hydrogen, and nitrogen, the 

 nitrogen forming only a small proportion. As carburetted 

 hydrogen cannot conveniently be absorbed by any 

 vehicle which may be administered per orem, our 

 remedial agents must be mainly directed against carbonic 

 acid and sulphuretted hydrogen. We are again com- 

 pelled to fall back upon what may be regarded as the 

 veterinary surgeon's sheet-anchor in the treatment of the 

 equine colics — ^ammonia. In this case, however, the 

 success of the treatment will entirely depend upon what 

 form of ammonia is used. 



