626 
OBSERVATIONS ON COLIC. 
lioration in the symptoms, they, nevertheless, may have acted as 
a check on the disease, which, without them, might have been far 
worse. But as to the mode of exhibiting the medicines, I dilute 
the ether always with cold water, because, as is known, ether is 
extremely volatile, and boils at 98°. On account of its volatility 
I repeat the doses rapidly, often giving a second when twenty 
minutes have elapsed, and never delaying longer than an hour, 
although the improvement may be marked. If at the end of an 
hour the horse shews any, even the slightest, symptom of colic, I 
at once resort to the drenching-horn ; and the second or third dose 
generally puts an end to that which the first sometimes only miti- 
gates. When intervals of two, four, and thirteen hours take place, 
I cannot regard the treatment as continuous, so far as the ether or 
chloroform may be concerned, but must look upon each successive 
drink as a distinct beginning and independent measure. Four se- 
parate trials, in my view, were made, and some of them were deci- 
dedly beneficial. Had they been followed up, probably the result 
might have been more satisfactory, although I cannot assert such 
would have been the case : for your description of the symptoms, 
the full pulse and light yellow dung-balls, denote the liver to have 
been the seat of the affection. Could there have been spasm of 
the duct, or of its orifice ? — or could a gall-stone, from which the 
horse is not exempt, have been passing through the tubes 1 
To these questions I, of course, can give no reply ; but the dis- 
ease was evidently severe, and even at the commencement assumed 
an alarming aspect. When a horse rolls and even kicks his 
heels into the air, the violence is less inauspicious than when the 
animal, with a pulse above the natural standard, the moment he is 
free, begins not simply tumbling about, but walking round his box, 
and, with a countenance expressive of sharp pain, keeps looking 
back at his belly. Here there is not colic, but, as you justly state, 
“ colicky pains.” There are periods of aggravation, but there are no 
moments of tranquillity. Yet for three days the horse continued 
to suffer, and, although the medicines given failed to cure, never- 
theless it is hard to imagine they did not arrest a disorder that began 
with a symptom so opposed to a favourable diagnosis. Even then, 
in this instance, some good may have been done, and there is no 
reason to conjecture any evil was induced. The certainty of this 
last conclusion being warranted, makes me the more confirmed in 
the opinions I have published ; and I therefore the more urgently 
would direct the attention of my professional brethren to the action 
of these agents. 
I thank you sincerely for the candid manner in which you have 
tried the value of my assertions* and rejoice that I have gained 
your corroboration as to the safety of those doses which I know 
