148 THE COMMON COLICS OF THE HORSE 



than 4 or 5 feet into the rectum, so that for obstruction 

 in the colon it is useless. My long tube throws an 

 enema with ease into the single colon, and probably into 

 the double one. If while the enema is being given the 

 ear be applied to the left flank, the water may be heard 

 rushing along the intestine. The tube only requires to 

 be used in a case of obstinate obstruction from gravel, 

 faeces, etc., to prove its great value. Before I was 

 supplied with the instrument I now possess, I used as a 

 substitute the tubing that is found on Read's enema 

 syringe, removing, of course, the wooden nozzle.' 



Thus runs Colonel Smith's report of his case. Two 

 facts in it I wish to point out to the reader : First, the 

 apparent uselessness of large doses of sedatives to 

 thoroughly allay pain in a serious case of obstruction, 

 and the evident increase in alarming symptoms they give 

 rise to. Secondly, the almost immediate effect of the 

 cold water irrigation in reducing the temperature. 



I was led myself to adopt this treatment as a result of 

 the experience of a fatal case of obstruction of the single 

 colon that occurred in my own practice. In brief, the 

 case was this : 



June lo, 6 p.m. — I was called to attend a six-years-old 

 gray cart-mare suffering from colic. I found her showing 

 all the usual symptoms of impacted colon, and was con- 

 firmed in my opinion by finding a distinct impaction in 

 the pelvis. As is my usual practice, I gave four balls 

 containing ammonium carbonate and nux vomica, and 

 administered a draught of ol. lini. Oi., ol. tereb. and spt. 

 ammon. ar., of each jii. Beyond the fact of finding the 

 impacted coil of intestine in the pelvis, I was unable to 

 detect any alarming symptoms. The pulse was good 

 and the pains not excessively violent. After watching 

 her for some time, I injected hypodermically i grain of 

 eserine sulphate, and left her for a few hours. 



10.30 p.m. — The symptoms showed no abatement. 



