130 THE COMMON COLICS OF THE HORSE 



the fact that occasionally the head is lifted, while the 

 animal stares with what might best be termed a 

 ' puzzled ' expression into his flank, the ordinary looker- 

 on would see nothing very untoward. 



The pulse, taken at these times, is always reassuring 

 to the veterinary attendant. In so far as the number of 

 its beats is concerned, it is little, if any, disturbed from 

 the normal. It is firm and full to the fingers, and in no 

 way at all offers suggestion of anything grave. 



Called in at such a moment as this, the veterinary 

 surgeon, unless he methodically makes a rectal examina- 

 tion in every case of colic he attends, may dismiss the 

 case rather lightly. He will simply administer the usual 

 dose of aperient medicine and such other remedies as he 

 deems the case necessitates, probably concluding by 

 suggesting to the owner that a further visit will be 

 unnecessary — that a few hours hence will see the end of 

 the trouble. 



In such a case as I am describing, however, he will 

 most certainly be called in again. This time he may be 

 fortunate enough to find his patient in one of the periods 

 of unrest. The pulse is then plainly disturbed. Flutter- 

 ing and irregular, and accelerated in number of beats, it 

 is plainly indicating that some more serious condition 

 than at first the surgeon suspected is in existence. Patchy 

 perspirations bedew the body, and the respirations become 

 quickened in number. 



At this point the veterinary surgeon may be informed 

 that since his last visit the patient has passed several 

 different lots of faeces. In no great quantity at one time, 

 he is told, but in quite little lots. Led to it by further 

 questioning, the owner also informs him that even prior 

 to the time of his first visit this has been going on. The 

 veterinary surgeon is thus brought up against the fact 



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