ON tSE DISOEDEES OP THE DIGESTIVE APPABATUS. 113 



Colic is the term applied to those symptoms which in- 

 dicate that an animal is suffering from pain referable to 

 the abdomen unassociated with inflammation. In true 

 simple colic there is actually spasm of the bowels, such as 

 may result from an irritant in the intestinal passage or 

 even (through transference of reflex impressions) in some 

 other part of the body, such as stomach or uterus. In 

 other cases colicky symptoms depend on the presence of 

 obstruction of the bowels as by calculus, impaction, or 

 stricture, or disease of stomach, liver, bladder, or other 

 abdominal organs. It may depend upon poisonous matters 

 in the blood ; thus one of the most prominent symptoms 

 of lead poisoning is colic, and it often supervenes during 

 the progress of an attack of distemper. Colic very fre- 

 quently occurs in puppies, probably from alterations in 

 quality of the mother's milk, and it is often seen in preg- 

 nant bitches, when it is the condition known as false labour- 

 pains or else depends on pressure of the distended female 

 generative organs on the neck of the bladder. Of all the 

 irritants which may give rise to simple colic the most fre- 

 quent are worms, indigestible matters, and sharp bones. 

 Symptoms. — In some cases the invasion is very sudden, 

 the animal exhibiting very marked signs of pain, but 

 usually the first manifestations are those of a sense of dis- 

 comfort, the animal moans in its sleep, awakes suddenly, 

 lies down, curls himself up, and goes to sleep again. 

 This continues until at last the paroxysms are too urgent 

 to allow of repose while they last. The patient utters 

 sharp, shrill, continuous cries ; tries all sorts of positions 

 to give himself ease, and walks about with his back arched. 

 There may be a distended state of the abdomen due to 

 flatulence. Blaine speaks of a form of colic which occurs 

 in cases of rheumatism. Treatment. — Having assured 

 ourselves that no fever is present, and examined the 

 condition of the faeces, if any, and explored the abdominal 

 contents by firm pressure and manipulation of the belly 

 to ascertain whether any tumour or accumulation is the 

 cause of colic, it is as well to at once resort to a warm 

 bath and active friction of the surface. This often affords 



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