MALFORMATION OF THE INTESTINES IN A COLT. 33 
to face the broad glare of day, and shew to the world that all is 
candid, straightforward, and honest with you; that there is no 
secret to be kept to suit narrow-minded ends, and to prop up, with 
deceit and mis-statements, that which must soon become, if it is 
not at present, a tottering practice. 
Yet suppose, and now and then these things will occur, that 
the person who has consulted you is dissatisfied, and seeks advice 
from a neighbouring practitioner, whereby you sustain some pecu- 
niary loss; what will be the result] Why, at best he has gained 
nothing. Possibly he is gone to some well-informed veterinarian in 
the neighbourhood, who, be it remembered, is equally liable with 
yourself to make occasional mistakes. And should such occur, 
either real or fancied, he will be treated just as you previously had 
been, and he will either apply again to you, or, if not, he will send 
for some one of the numerous body of farriers, and thus subject 
himself to great and perpetual losses, not merely in the amount 
of the bill, but in the length of time, should the animal ulti- 
mately recover, that the case is under treatment, and he is thereby 
deprived of the animal’s services. 
A bay brood mare, of great value, the property of J. Lloyd, Esq. 
Gothic Cottage, Twickenham, produced a fine horse colt early in 
the morning of the 28th of May last. The birth was effected without 
any unusual difficulty ; and shortly afterwards the foal was on its 
legs, instinct guiding him to seek nature’s prepared food, his 
mother’s milk. Presently, however, he began to exhibit symptoms 
of acute abdominal pain, such as pawing with the fore feet — strik- 
ing at the belly with the hind ones — turning his head to his side — 
curling his tail — dropping upon his body and rolling over — quickly 
rising again, going to the dam, and making attempts to suck. 
The extremities were warm, as well as the surface of his body. 
I could gather little as to the excitement or irritation going on 
in the system from the pulse of so young an animal. Believing 
that the above-described symptoms were produced simply from 
retention of the meconium — in order to effect its removal, and con- 
sequently an alleviation of the pain, some of its mother’s milk was 
given, which, in my humble opinion, far excels in medicinal as 
well as nutritive quality any preparation of art. Repeated enemas 
of tepid water were likewise had recourse to, and which, I re- 
marked, were almost immediately returned quite colourless. 
These means failing to give relief, hot cloths were applied to the 
abdomen, and, towards noon, a little oil, with a few drops of the 
tincture of opium, was given, which appeared to produce, for a 
short time, some slight cessation of suffering. The enemas, and 
fomentation, &c. to the belly, were repeated during the afternoon, 
VOL. XII. ' E 
