ON HOOVE AND CHOLIC. 
341 
eighteen ounces given to the same animal produced violent colic 
and super purgation. 
The chloruret of potash contains two bodies possessed of 
most active powers. Is it to the chlorine or the potash that its 
effect is to be attributed ? This is a question to which my ex¬ 
perience does not permit me to give a decided answer, but it 
shall be the subject of future inquiry. 
I consider the results obtained on the horse as even more 
important than those observed in ruminants. We possess many 
means, and not always without efficacy, for the relief of the 
ruminant; but for the horse we do not hitherto possess one 
remedial measure that can inspire confidence. I am assured, 
from the examination of many horses that have died from 
flatulent colic, or distention of the intestines with gas, that there 
are few or no lesions of the intestines themselves, but those 
only which are the result of apoplexy or suffocation. All au¬ 
thors of repute consider horses violently meteorised as lost, for 
the puncture which is so often practised with success on ru¬ 
minants. must be here a last and desperate resort. 
I think that the chloruret of potash, which is so well know n 
in commerce, is preferable to any of the others; but its purity 
should be ascertained before it is used. The sulphate of indigo 
will afford a good test; one part of the liquid chloruret ought to 
take aw ay the colour of fifteen parts of the solution of indigo 
in sulphuric acid. 
I think I may make the following conclusions from w hat has 
been stated:— 
1. That the chlorurets are preferable to the alkalis for neu¬ 
tralizing the gases which are developed and accumulate in the 
paunch of the ruminant and the intestines of the horse. 
2. That, although the chlorurets do not attack directly the 
cause of the evil, and only destroy one of its effects, it is never¬ 
theless of great advantage to decompose and neutralize and 
condense those gases, which not onlv irritate the organ which 
contains them, but, by the distention which they produce of the 
abdominal viscera, diminish the capacity of the chest, and em¬ 
barrass the action of the lungs, and even cause suffocation. 
3. That the method of neutralization is always preferable to 
those of evacuation, hitherto known in ruminants, especially 
w hen a mechanical distention, by the pressure of solid food, is not 
suspected. 
4. That the chloruret of potash is preferable to other combi¬ 
nations of chlorine, from its cheapness, and the ease with which 
it can be procured. 
Vol. iv. 3 A 
