232 THE COMMON COLICS OF THE HORSE 



At such times as the animal is on his feet there are 

 slight pawing movements with the fore-feet, but no 

 marked inclination to walk round the box. When down, 

 and the animal is down for the greater part of the time, 

 there is no wish to roll. Simply an easy, stretched-out 

 position is maintained, with occasional lifts of the head 

 into the flank. 



Assuming the case has now lasted a couple of days, 

 we may take it that the veterinary attendant has ex- 

 hibited a dose of aloes or other purgative. To treat- 

 ment we have said the case does not respond. A point 

 of importance, however, is that a response of a sort is 

 obtained. To the aloes we get a reaction of the bowels. 

 Not to the extent, certainly, that is seen in the average 

 case of obstruction, but still a reaction. 



When more of these cases come to be reported, this 

 again may prove another aid to diagnosis. As matters 

 at present stand, however, it simply gives another portion 

 of a puzzle to fit into place. The veterinary surgeon 

 knows that aloes is at times uncertain in its action, that 

 in some few instances in fact it does not act on the bowel 

 at all, but is excreted wholly by the kidneys. He sees the 

 partial purge, deems it at any rate sufficient to put his 

 patient on the right road, and, in his mind, sees his case 

 well on the way to recovery. 



Again, to his astonishment, the pains continue. 



If he has not already done so, he now explores the 

 rectum. This, so far as I am able to relate of my own 

 experience, gives no material aid. In the one case of 

 caecal impaction I have encountered (I hope now that I 

 am able to recognize it to meet with others) there was 

 an amount of straining or paining, which I knew quite 

 well would effectually prevent any reliable information 

 being obtained. There was in the rectum a moderate 



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