DISEASES OF THE HORSE 173 



stops suddenly, looks towards the flanks, stretches, and strains 

 as if trying to pass urine, paws the ground, kicks at his belly, 

 throws himself down, and rolls. He sweats, and the respiration 

 and pulse are increased in rapidity. After a time the pain 

 ceases, only to be renewed by another attack in a few minutes. 

 The treatment is to get the horse into a comfortable place 

 where he can roll without injury. Inject into the rectum eight 

 quarts of warm water, containing half a teacupful of glycerine. 

 This should be injected slowly so as to allow the animal to retain 

 it as long as possible. Drench with two-ounce doses of Jamaica 

 ginger as in indigestion. Sweet spirits of niter in ounce doses is 

 also good, as is a tablespoonful of common baking soda dis- 

 solved in warm water. To relieve the pain, give one ounce of 

 laudanum and half an ounce of spirits of camphor mixed in half 

 a pint of water. Rubbing the belly vigorously also relieves 

 the pain, as do blankets rimg out of hot water and applied to 

 the belly. 



In flatulent or "wind" colic the pain comes on more gradu- 

 ally and is continuous. The pain is due to the accumulation of 

 gas in the stomach and intestines, resulting from the fermenting 

 of food. Sometimes the pain is severe, other times it is not. 

 The large intestines are often extended with gas; in fact the 

 bloating may be severe enough to interfere with the horse's 

 breathing. The animal acts much the same as in spasmodic 

 colic. He often attempts to lie on the back as this seems to 

 favor passing of the gas. The treatment is much the same as 

 in spasmodic or cramp colic. 



Diarrhea or scouring. — This is an effort of nature to remove 

 some irritant from the bowels. The discharges are frequent, 

 the matter thin and watery, and often characterized by a very 

 foul-smelhng odor. Often there is severe straining. Diarrhea 

 may be caused by overfeeding, by bad food, by sudden changes 

 in the food, by eating too rapidly, by drinking bad water, and 

 by driving immediately after feeding. Again, some horses are 



