64 THE COMMON COLICS OF THE HORSE 



of twisted colon, and should take care that his examination 

 of the sufferer is a long and searching one. 



The only signs that will serve to distinguish the. two 

 complaints are the following : The palpable stomach 

 symptoms must be laid aside for the minute, and a great 

 deal of reliance placed upon the one symptom of the 

 animal's desire to lie about for lengthy periods. In a 

 typical case of tympanitic stomach that does not occur. 

 The respirations, in addition to being catchy and see-saw 

 in their character, are added to by a plain and unmis- 

 takable sob — not a gasp for breath owing to pressure on 

 the lungs, but a sob of pain. Finally, the gradual in- 

 crease of the conjunctival mucous membranes in redness 

 and the fatal indications afforded by the quickened and 

 fastly weakening pulse will lead one, a few hours after the 

 commencement of the attack, to a knowledge of its true 

 nature. 



Prognosis. — It may be said that all cases of tym- 

 panitic stomach, especially when the tympany is of such 

 an extent as to be easily diagnosed, offer a grave element 

 of danger. Anatomical reasons, already discussed in 

 Chapter II., warrant one in that statement. When the 

 tympany of the stomach is accompanied with impacted 

 or tympanitic intestines, it is always wise to warn the 

 owner that the case may have a fatal termination. When 

 the tympany is confined to the stomach, the abdomen 

 fairly flaccid, and the bowels acting, a more favourable 

 issue may with safety be prophesied, always reserving 

 the promise by indicating the likely finish, should tympany 

 of the intestines supervene. A further reservation will 

 also have to be made in the very early stages of the case 

 when allowing for the condition of twisted colon. The 

 owner may safely be advised that a few hours will .settle 

 the question. Either his case of stomach tympany, 



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