440 PURGATIVES AND CLYSTERS IN SPASMODIC COLIC. 
which the functions of the stomach or intestines are inade- 
quate to. 
Grave, indeed, must be the character of the disease when 
constipation exists to the extent of three, four, or even more 
days, as we are sometimes assured ; but I hope for the good 
of our patients, and our own name, we are on the right scent, 
and will at length bring down our pet, with all its honours, 
to the place most properly assigned for all such causes of 
blighted hopes and cheerless prospects. 
Having for some time followed the treatment of colic with 
purgatives, according to the plan laid down by Mr. Gamgee, 
I was not a little pleased to find I was not the only one who 
held this singular opinion ; but after all the cold water with 
which my arguments have been met, it has afforded the hap- 
piest results ; and were it only for the saving of time to the 
veterinary attendant, and of course obviating the necessity of 
watching through the night (which one enthusiastic and 
anxious in his profession will do), he must be amply repaid, 
to say nought of the valuable echo which resounds from the 
satisfaction of an agreeably surprised client. 
I have an occasional awkward case of colic, in which a 
great amount of ambiguity exists, dependent upon more or 
less pulmonary derangement, and a consequent loss of 
nervous power. Such cases, on mature consideration, 
generally afford ample justification in abandoning a line of 
treatment which has an apparent tendency to an aggravation 
of symptoms, the low character of which are most likely to 
carry off the animal. 
In such cases it is well to give only a medium dose of aloes, 
use injections more frequently, and rouse up the vital forces 
by a moderate dose of the Spir. Ammon. Aromat. ; for 1 
find that in these cases the suspension does not arise from a 
great quantity of food so generally as it does upon that of a 
kind either inferior or of a richer character to that commonly 
used, there being great prostration of strength, and a low 
typhoid fever present. 
I have not yet alluded to clysters, of which we have as 
many sufficiently to be condemned as the varieties, of medi- 
cine to which they are intended as an adjunct. Sufficient for 
the present, that I believe they are far from being used as 
properly, or as frequently, as their properties entitle them to 
our consideration; but after what Mr. Gamgee has said 
(page 8, No. 337, January, 1836), it would ill become me to 
add further to it. 
Reverting to the subject of aloes, and the decided results 
attendant upon their use in colic, I could add largely in con- 
