3o6 THE COMMON COLICS OF THE HORSE 



Case I.— Subject, a three-years'-old cart gelding. 



History — July 27. — On this day the animal was at 

 work carting manure from a crew-yard out into the fields. 

 The 'pull-out' from the yard was moderately stiff, and was 

 greasy with the wet portions of the dropped manure. In the 

 evening the horse was quite well, and ate his usual 

 feeds. 



July 28. — In the early morning of this day the gelding 

 was to all appearances quite well, and partook of a 

 moderate feed of green lucerne. 



At 7 a.m. he was taken with sharp colic pains. To 

 these the owner at first paid little heed, deeming them 

 due to an ordinary attack of spasmodic colic, thinking 

 that natural relief would perhaps soon follow. 



At 9 a.m. the owner saw that such was not likely to 

 happen, and himself came to request my attendance. 



At 10 a.m. I reached the farm and found the animal in 

 the field, at the end of a long halter, walking round and 

 round the attendant in charge. Even before actually 

 reaching the animal I saw that the case was a serious 

 one. The pains were continuous and violent, and the 

 exhibition of the peculiar ' crouching ' movement referred 

 to on p. 270 was most marked. Patchy sweats bedewed 

 the body, and the haggard expression of countenance so 

 common in our fatal cases of colic was well in evidence. 



That the case was hopeless I was convinced just on a 

 cursory examination, but proceeded to handle the animal 

 and make a more careful investigation before giving an 

 opinion. 



The pulse was full but quick ; and the visible mucous 

 membranes injected, though not greatly. Respirations 

 were hurried and sobbing, and the temperature 103° F. 



Rectal examination gave confirmatory evidence of the 

 grave nature of the case. The bowel clung round the 



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