32 THE COMMON COLICS OF THE HORSE 



It requires but a few moments' consideration to dis- 

 cover what a great bearing this has upon the frequency 

 of his attacks of colic. I have repeatedly seen cases 

 where, without actual or complete stasis, the horse's 

 bowels have performed only one evacuation daily. In 

 every case so observed dull colic pains have supervened 

 before the expiration of twenty-four hours. 



Compare this with the human subject in health. The 

 average man is able to comfortably rid himself of his 

 twenty-four hours' excreta by the passage of one stool 

 daily. This means that the horse's bowels perform in 

 one day what those of a man perform in seven or eight, 

 and that cessation of the act of defaecation for twenty- 

 four hours in the horse is practically equivalent to a 

 cessation of seven days in man. That is putting it at its 

 lowest computation. 



In view of that, it is easily understood why it is that 

 pain follows so rapidly on apparently slight stasis of the 

 bowels in the horse. We may now see how it is that 

 cessation of the normal act of defaecation for twelve 

 hours, or even less, is quite sufficient to bring on symp- 

 toms of pain, except under extraordinary circumstances. 

 It is this that renders equine colics of such serious 

 importance to the veterinarian. It explains in great 

 measure the rapid and oftentimes fatal course they run, 

 and impressively points out the urgent necessity for 

 prompt and precise remedial measures. This, more than 

 anything else, should induce the veterinary surgeon to 

 carefully weigh his data before jumping at a diagnosis. 

 Above all, it should cause him to deliberately ponder, and 

 perhaps stay his hand, before administering those agents which, 

 tend to kill pain, but at the same time tightly lock the bowels. 

 He may exhibit opiates or sedatives with the most 

 humane of all objects — that of alleviating agonizing 



Digitized by Microsoft® 



