38 COLICS AND THEIR TREATMENT 



The owner immediately started for the hospital with him, 

 and a call was sent in for me to meet him there, as he 

 was bringing me a very sick horse. 



Symptoms. — On my arrival at the hospital I noted 

 the following symptoms: a very anxious look from 

 the eyes, breathing very labored, each inspiration accom- 

 panied by a jerk, and the abdomen bloated to about twice 

 its normal size. As soon as he was permitted to stop he 

 would lie down and roll; an act difficult to accomplish 

 on account of the badly distended abdomen. He could 

 not remain down long, but would get to his feet again 

 and then lower his head close to the ground with his legs 

 drawn under him, and in this position would turn in a 

 small ring, a time or two, and then drop to the ground. 

 This performance was kept up until I had my stomach 

 tube prepared for use and was ready to take care of the 

 case. 



Course and Treatment. — First the horse was put 

 into a chute, securely tied, and the stomach tube passed, 

 not without some trouble because of the great uneasiness 

 of the animal. By the use of plenty of water I succeeded 

 in washing out of the stomach about two gallons of solid 

 feed. This required about fifteen minutes. The tube 

 was removed and the horse put into a box stall. 



Distention of the colon being very bad, I gave a hypo- 

 dermic injection of eserine, one-half grain, pilocarpine, 

 one and one-half grains. Following there was great un- 

 easiness, violent rolling, but rarely turning over; the head 

 was frequently turned to the right side. Very little per- 

 istalsis could be detected. Following the injection of 



