32 COLICS AND THEIR TREATMENT 



colic, are possibly best characterized as being quite gen- 

 erally protracted with unaccountable intermittent evi- 

 dences of severe pain, unthriftiness and susceptible to 

 fatal strangulatory complications. 



Gaseous Colic 



Referring now to that group which we have advis- 

 edly styled "gaseous colics," a knowledge of anatomy 

 will readily afford opportunity to realize the possibility of 

 no less than five varieties and each subject to sequelae 

 of the gravest consequence, particularly rupture and suf- 

 focation. Three forms I wish especially to call to your 

 attention are : 



1. True gastric tympany. 



2. False gastric tympany. 



3. True flatulent colic. 



1. — True Gastric Tympany. — Gaseous distension 

 of the stomach, if not the most serious, may rightly 

 be classified among the disturbances of grave character, 

 owing to its frequency and liability to terminate fatally 

 in a short time. Here the practitioner is called upon to 

 demonstrate his capabilities and in a vast majority of 

 communities his reputation will be in direct ratio to his 

 success in dealing with acute indigestion. Primarily this 

 colic comes on suddenly, is associated with a history of 

 a rapidly-eaten meal upon either an empty stomach or 

 by a tired animal. Within the stomach there is a mix- 

 ture of undigested food and more or less rapidly ac- 

 cumulating gas. 



Unless dulled by the indiscreet administration of 

 anodynes, the patient exhibits a rather uniform line of 

 symptoms, viz. : sudden onset, tremors of flank and 



