52 
Anatomy, Physiology, and Pathology of the 
stilet, lpavin» the canula in the situation. The canula is to 
remain until the gas has esrapcd, when it is to be removed, and 
the edges of the wound in the skin brought together by a stitch 
of strong silk. The subsequent treatment of the patient must be 
regulated according to the amount of the constitutional disturb- 
ance ; in the majority of cases a strict attention to the quantity 
of the food, and taking also especial care that the quantity is re- 
stricted, will be all that is necessary to restore the animal to 
health. In other instances aperient medicine, followed up by febri- 
fuges, will be required, or a bloodletting may be necessary if the 
symptoms <lenote the existence of inflammation. But such cases 
f)ught to be confided to the care of a veterinary surgeon. 
Having already exceeded the limits of an ordinary lecture, 
and trespassed far too long on your valuable time, I will, in 
conclusion, make a few observations on Spasmodic Colic, a 
<lisease that is ordinarily callec] Gripes; and it is the more 
necessary to do this, for this affection is frequently mistaken 
for some others of a very different character. Spasm in the 
horse is chiefly confined to the small intestines, and it may be 
said to essentially consist of an abnormal or inordinate contraction 
of the muscular coat of these viscera. In the ox and sheep, in 
addition to the liability of the intestinal canal to be affected, the 
muscular fibres of the stomachs, more jiarticularly the first, are 
occasionally the seat of the disease. The annexed sketch will 
illustrate the condition of the bowels when attacked with spasm ; 
and also show a common result of the disorder, namely, intus- 
susception, or the passage of one portion of the bowel within 
another. 
Fig. 16. 
«, Con'r .cted ordueased portions of tlie bowel, b, A portion slit open to sliow, c, tlie part wlilch 
is intussuscepted. 
