TREATMENT OE COLIC, 
465 
had long ceased to perform its special secreting func¬ 
tion. The bladder, however, was healthy, as was the other 
kidney.] 
TREATMENT OE COLIC. 
By J. Relph, Nook, near Carlisle. 
A PERUSAL of the ably written article on The Treatment 
of Colic,” &c., in your number for March, has recalled to my 
mind the case of an aged mare that came under my care for 
subacute enteritis and impaction of the bow'els about five 
years ago. The resistance offered to the action of laxatives 
induced me to make an anal examination, when a firm mass 
of faecal matter was very easily felt through the coats of the 
intestines; but I could not grasp it so as to break it down. 
Laxatives with copious injections were continued twice a day 
without any visible benefit till about the seventh day, when a 
dung-ball, held together and coated with mucus, was dis¬ 
charged. It was of an ovate form, its diameter about nine 
inches by five inches. As an injection I employed decoction 
of linseed wdth soft soap; solution of aloes and tobacco were 
also used, and, indeed, the pump was resorted to until very 
strong efforts w’ere made by the mare to eject the fluid. 
Superpurgation now set in, under which she sank. The 
liver, I remember, w'as found diseased; but not having made 
any notes of the case at the time, this is a rough sketch 
of it only. 
Unless tympanitis or some other circumstances forbid the 
use of a large injection, I most commonly throw up about a 
pailful, either for a horse or cow; and I offer this as one 
instance of the successful employment of the floating process 
for the removal of an agglutinated faecal mass. 
Adverting to the subject of colic, I would mention that for 
thirty years I have used assafoetida as an antispasmodic. As 
an ingredient of the colic mixture I prefer it in the following 
form :—Take of assafoetida and soft sugar, of each ^iij ; beat 
them into a mass with Spts. Vini, ^ij ; then add soft soap, 
5j; and when w ell incorporated take* them from the mortar, 
and place the mass in a temperature of about 90° for a few 
hours ; afterwards dissolve in Liq. Ammon. Sesquicarb,, Oiss. 
Dose, Bj to Biij. 
Why is the Acid. Aceticum Fort, not used in making the 
Liq. Ammon. Acet. ? It reduces the bulk of the dose by 
one seventh ; and I find it much handier than the prescribed 
form of the pharmacopoeia. 
