SO-CALLED COLICS OF THE HORSE 103 



principal exciting causes. Indirectly the weather is of im- 

 portance. Very hot or cold, damp weather which no doubt 

 influences metabolism is an etiological factor to be reckoned 

 with. Finally, .overexertion, especially in hot weather and 

 after a heavy feed, or, on the other hand, lack of exercise 

 are causes. In rare instances the vice known as "wind 

 sucking" may induce gastric distention and pain. 



Statistics.— Morbidity:— About 10 per cent, of all the 

 diseases of horses and about 50 per cent, of all of the inter- 

 nal diseases are attended by gastro-intestinal pain. The 

 mortality is about 10 per cent., divided as follows: 



Displacement of colon . 1.5 per cent. 



Volvulus of small intestine . . i.5 " 



Rupture of stomach 1.5 " 



Simple obstipation . 1.5 " 



Rupture of cecum . . . . 1.0 , " 



Rupture of colon . .... .1.0 " 



Embolism, tumors, enteroliths, hernias, and 



animal parasites 1.0 " 



Forms. — From a practical standpoint so-called colics may 

 be classified as follows: 



(a) Acute dilatation of the stomach. 



(6) Simple impaction of the intestines (small or large 

 intestines) . 



(c) Impaction complicated with displacement of bowel. 



(d) Embolic colic. 



(e) Spasmodic colic. 

 (/) Worm colic. 



Acute Dilatation of the Stomach (Gastrectasis) . — Defini- 

 tion. — By acute dilatation of the stomach we understand a 

 sudden gaseous distention of the organ due to an unusual 

 fermentation of its contents. A primary and a secondary 

 dilatation are distinguished. 



Occurrence. — This condition is not uncommon in horses, 

 forming about 10 per cent, of the cases of colic. 



Primary dilatation is due to overfeeding or more commonly 

 to irrational feeding, especially where large quantities of corn, 

 barley, bran or chop are fed. Horses which are fed irregularly, 

 such as cab horses, express-wagon horses, etc., which often 



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