SAND COLIC. 421 



the sjrmptoms are similar tx) those of twist of the colon, except as 

 regards the condition of the bowel, which, in twist of the colon 

 can be felt by passing the hand into the rectum. 



Inflammation from Eating Sand {Sand Colic). 



When horses are bedded down with sea sand, or with river sand 

 which contains saline matters, they are very apt to eat large 

 quantities of it, and consequently to suffer from a very dangerous 

 form of inflammation of the intestines. Many instances are on 

 record of troop horses having become thus affected after having 

 been picketed on sand. Inflammation may also be brought on by 

 the presence of irritating materials in the food. In the death- 

 reports it is constantly remarked what large amounts of gi'avel and 

 indigestible rootlets are found in the intestines, which have been 

 introduced with the grain and grass. 



Vederniikoff describes this complaint under the name of 

 " Kumgata disease " (sand disease), and states that it occurs 

 among the horses of the Kirgis steppes. 



In some cases, morbid appetite may accoimt for the propensity. 

 A certain proportion of healthy horses will always — particularly 

 if they have not had a free supply of salt — eat sea sand when 

 bedded down with it. The precautions to be observed are obvious. 



Horses have been known to eat, with, naturally, fatal results, 

 quantities of 80, lbs. and upwards of sand. 



The SYMPTOMS are intense colicky pains, and the passage of 

 sand, etc., with the dung. 



The usual TREATMENT consists in keeping the animal on 

 mashes and boiled food, through which about four ounces of 

 linseed oil should be mixed at each feed; and the pain should be 

 allayed by ^ oz. of chloral hydrate in a pint of water. No attempt 

 to get rid of the sand by purgatives should be made; if this be 

 done, the gritty particles, on becoming forcibly impelled through 

 the bowels, would wound them,, and consequently set up inflamma- 

 tion to an almost certainly fatal degree. A few copious enemas 

 may be tried with advantage. 



Very successful results were obtained in South Africa with many 

 cases of sand colic by starving the animal for three or four days, 

 giving him a pint of linseed oil containing a few drops of carbolic 

 axjid, morning and evening, and allowing him only a small quantity 

 of water to drink. Reduce the amount of oil, if it purges the 

 horse too much. 



In Australia they cast the horse in a furrow, an,d let him move 

 the sand by rolling. 



