306 PRINCIPLES OF VETERINARY SCIENCE 



intestines. Among the frequent exciting causes of both forms of 

 true colic are errors in feeding, watering, and working the ani- 

 mal. As these factors are largely under the control of the horse- 

 man, he usually has no one but himself to blame if his charge 

 develops colic. The disease occurs when the feed is indigestible 

 (straw), swells rapidly (dry corn), cohesive (middlings), ferments 

 easily (green clover), damaged (moldy fodder). A large drink of 

 very cold water when very warm is often the cause. Another 

 common cause is giving a large feed to the animal and then put- 

 ting him at once to severe exertion. 



Symptoms. — There are always two symptoms present in true 

 colic, namely, abdominal pain or "belly ache," and suppressed 

 or altered peristalsis. When these are found there is no doubt 

 about the nature of the disease. 



Treatment. — As the course of colic is quite rapid, and as serious 

 complications may result, it is advisable to render aid at the very 

 earliest opportunity. This statement has more weight when it 

 is realized that 10 per cent, of all cases end fatally. The treatment 

 for the two forms differs as stated in the following sections. 



Spasmodic Colic. — This is the form usually seen in animals of a 

 nervous temperament that are kept under good stable conditions. 

 The pain is due to a sudden and violent contraction of the mus- 

 cular coat of the bowels. 



Cannes. — Such things as undue exposure to cold drafts or rain, 

 and a sudden change in the feed, for example substituting new 

 oats and new hay for old, are responsible for spasmodic colic. 

 Some horses, from natural weakness of the digestive organs, are 

 susceptible to colic, so must be managed with care. 



Symptoms. — As usually seen, the symptoms are a sudden at- 

 tack of pain, lasting from five to fifteen minutes, with a tendency 

 to recur; turning of the head toward the flank; chills due to im- 

 proper distribution of the blood; pawing and stamping with the 

 feet; profuse sweating; attempts to lie down and roll; in severe 

 pain the horse may even violently throw himself; rapid breath- 

 ing; intensification of the intestinal murmurs; assumption of an 

 attitude like a dog on his haunches. At times the animal may 

 strain as if trying to urinate, but this symptom must not be mis- 

 taken for a sign of "kidney trouble," which rarely occurs. 



Treatment. — First-aid treatment consists in making the patient 

 comfortable. All covering and harness must be removed im- 



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