I20 THE COMMON COLICS OF THE HORSE 



nostrils dilated, an anxious expression — in fact, apparently 

 dying. 



' I should like here to quote a paragraph from Mr. Reeks' 

 article. He says : " I cannot lay too great a stress on the 

 value of taking the indications of the pulse, temperature, 

 and respirations collectively, in order to avoid error in 

 prognosis. I never look upon a case as approaching 

 dangerous unless I get a full warning from all three." 

 Then he refers to a case in which the animal had been 

 rolling in violent pain before his arrival, but was then 

 standing perfectly quiet with a pulse hammering away at 

 io8. But the temperature was only loi, and respira- 

 tions 12. The animal recovered. 



' Treatment. — In my younger days this consisted of 

 aloes and opium or belladonna, with warm water enemas. 

 This was successful to a certain degree, but there was 

 frequently two days' purging. About twelve or fourteen 

 years ago eserine was introduced, and I have used it ever 

 since, and, with Mr. Reeks, I have nothing to say of it 

 which is not in its favour. But it is his nervous stimulant 

 treatment to which I wish to draw your attention.^ I must 

 quote from him again. He says : " The bowels, distended 

 beyond a certain point, are retained in a state of tonic 

 cramp in their ineffectual attempts to deal with the 

 enormous masses they contain, and then we have a torpid 

 and stationary condition of the bowels to treat." 



' The treatment he advocates is a large dose of a cerebro- 

 spinal stimulant, and he chooses carbonate of ammonia 

 and nux vomica. I must admit to being astonished at his 

 dose, viz., 2 ounces ammon. carb. and i ounce nux vom., 

 made into four balls and given at once — that is, to a big 

 agricultural horse, with well-marked symptoms. This is 

 followed by a draught consisting of 2 ounces of spts. 



' The italics are mine. — H. C. R. 



