42 COLICS AND THEIR TREATMENT 



to lie down by getting down on his knees, then getting up 

 again. These symptoms usually last about an hour in 

 such cases. 



When, as the trouble advances, the symptoms in- 

 crease in severity, the horse will not only lie down but let 

 himself fall with a thud. And thus the case becomes very 

 critical. At this time, by carefully listening along the 

 course of the esophagus, one may hear distinctly the fluid- 

 like rumble of regurgitation from the stomach. 



Usually considerable gas is expelled per anum and 

 to this alone is due the fact that the animal does not be- 

 come badly bloated. Should the flatus fail to escape, 

 then, of course, there is distention of the colon, which 

 adds to the other trouble. 



Treatment. — In these cases the treatment indicated 

 is similar to the treatment for the indigestion from over- 

 loading. Confine the horse securely and pass the stom- 

 ach tube. 



The results are so striking in this class of cases that 

 one must stop and wonder how it is accomplished. The 

 bloody looking fluid, that comes away from one of them 

 and the relief that is given almost at once, surprises one 

 who has not previously seen it. The amount washed from 

 the stomach varies greatly, from an ordinary pailful in 

 some of them, to three or four times as much in others. 



It is very seldom that any solids to speak of can be 

 washed from the stomach in these cases, but the fluid 

 that comes out of it is very offensive and dark colored, 

 often almost like blood. 



If, when washing out this stomach, one will keep at 

 it until the water comes away almost clear, he will have 



