184 DISEASES OF THE DIGESTIVE APPARATUS. 



caused by invagination or intestinal strangulation. Volvulus is 

 very rare in oxen. 



According to the nature and degree of intensity of the abdominal 

 pains, the animals are restless, stamp, strike the belly with the hind 

 legs, sway the tail, look at the flank, etc., or they become agitated, 

 roll, and assume the position of dorsal decubitus, indicating their 

 sufferings by plaintive moans. 



Treatment. The treatment consists, as in the horse, in the use 

 of eserine (0.1 gramme) laxatives (sulphate of soda, 500 to 1000 

 grammes; aloes, 45 to 60 grammes; croton oil, 15 to 25 drops), 

 and also injections. It will be of advantage to make dry frictions 

 upon the abdominal cavity. 



COLICS OF THE DOG. 



The dog is quite frequently affected by abdominal pains which 

 are entitled to be called colics. They may be caused by colds ;^ 

 also through the accumulation of hardened alimentary matters in 

 some parts of the intestine, as, for instance, bones, pebbles, or any 

 kind of foreign bodies ; through intestinal worms ; through invag- 

 ination, etc. The Tœnia echinococcus quite frequently provokes 

 colics, and Eoll has observed rabiform symptoms during their 

 course. 



Dogs attacked by colic are agitated, run, lie down, gather them- 

 selves in a ball, complain, etc. These symptoms are often but little 

 marked, and they very rarely continue for any length of time. 



The treatment should vary with the cause of colic. In order to 

 relieve the pains we may use Dover's powder (0.5 to 2 grammes) ; 

 also tincture of opium (20 to 40 drops) in a mucilaginous mixture. 

 We must give injections and apply hydrothérapie compresses on the 

 stomach. If invagination is detected we must make a laparotomy 

 in order to reduce it.^ 



^ In the dog the pains produced by muscular rheumatism are often taken for colic. 



— N. D. A. 



2 Biot has related an interesting observation of an invagination which was treated 

 with success by laparotomy. The subject was a spaniel seven or eight months old. 

 He was affected by colic for eight days, was constantly moving about, lying down and 

 standing up again, without appearing to be at all relieved ; the posture of sternal de- 

 cubitus was the one he preferred ; he would assume it by letting himself fall abruptly 

 upon the sternum and abdomen, the posterior members stretched under the abdomen 

 and the anterior extended in front of him. Symptoms of icterus, with bilious vomit- 

 ing, appeared on the eighth day ; on palpation of the abdomen the author diatiuctly 



