DISEASES OF THE DIGESTIVE ORGANS 307 



mediately and the animal placed in a well-bedded box-stall, 

 where he has plenty of room to roll without danger. Instead of 

 administering drugs containing opiates, which was the practice 

 until a few years ago, modern veterinarians, except in rare in- 

 stances, favor stimulants as opiates have no curative effect; in 

 fact they pave the way to impaction of the bowels, or graver 

 conditions. First give a rectal injection of 6 or 8 quarts of 

 warm, soapy water to empty the rectum and induce the expulsion 

 of gas. A stimulating colic mixture is made by mixing 2 parts 

 oil of peppermint, 15 parts oil of turpentine, 15 parts tincture of 

 ginger, 15 parts ether, and 32 parts raw linseed oil. One pint 

 may be given at a dose. If necessary repeat this dose in an 

 hour. 



Flatulent Colic. — This form is also known as wind, gaseous, and 

 bloat colic. It is characterized by the accumulation of excessive 

 amounts of gas in the stomach and bowels. 



Causes. — Fermenting foods, new hay or grass, a too rapidly 

 eaten meal, either upon an empty or tired stomach, overeating 

 on sound grain, or eating spoiled grain are usual causes. 



Symptoms. — These resemble the symptoms of spasmodic colic 

 with the following exceptions — the abdominal pain is not so 

 severe, but is more constant; there is less violence shown by the 

 patient in his attempts to get relief ; a pronounced bloating occurs 

 and the right flank often becomes very tense from distention 

 with gas, in fact it may be so great as to interfere with the move- 

 ments of the diaphragm, and the animal suffocates or the 

 stomach ruptures; tinkling sounds may be heard when the ear is 

 placed over the flank, but peristalsis has ceased. As in spasmodic 

 colic, both feed and water are refused. 



Treatment. — This should be stimulative rather than sedative. 

 Administer agents to tone up the system and hasten elimination 

 of the irritating materials and gases from the stomach and intes- 

 tines. The stomach-tube may be used to permit such gas as has 

 collected in the stomach to escape and to remove the stomach 

 contents. When the cecum is much distended with gas and the 

 patient is distressed, a mechanical opening must be provided for 

 escape of the gas by plunging a small trocar through the wall of 

 the right flank. Hypodermic injections of arecolin or physos- 

 tigmin in moderate doses until relief is apparent are employed 

 with much success. A good remedy is made by mixing 8 ounces 



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