THE THERAPEUTICS OF COLIC. 
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6. Colic due to external mechanical pressure, or to abnormal 
position of the body. 
7. Worm colic. 
8. Colic due to foreign bodies in the intestinal canal, a Cal¬ 
culi. b Sand or dirt. 
The application of rational therapeutics to this group of 
pathological conditions renders it necessary that our first law 
shall be to rigidly avoid the use of any medical agency which 
would tend to aggravate any pathological condition present, 
whether recognizable or not; or to pursue, as far as possible, 
an expectant line of treatment. 
In the colic of overfeeding, with its history we have no 
cause to suspect any obstruction, but have to deal with an 
overloaded gastro-intestinal canal, the contents being moist, 
soft, and tending to rapid decomposition with the formation 
of large quantities of gases, with the consequent dangers 
of gastro-intestinal ruptures, suffocation, intestinal paralysis, 
gaseous poisoning, and other untoward results. 
The chief and most urgent element of danger is the gaseous 
accumulations, from which relief should be given as promptly 
as practicable for many reasons : 
1st. To avoid rupture of the stomach, intestines or dia¬ 
phragm. 2d. To prevent suffocation. 3d. To prevent toxic 
effects from the absorption of gases. 4th. To permit normal 
peristalsis and avoid gastro-intestinal paralysis. 5th. To re¬ 
lieve pain. . 6th. To prevent intestinal displacement. 
The use of the trocar for relieving gaseous distention is so 
prompt, efficacious and safe, that no apology is necessary for 
mentioning this method almost alone. In order to fully ac¬ 
complish all the purposes indicated above, the use of the tro¬ 
car is demanded as early as any appreciable degree of tympany 
is present, and its repetition as often as like conditions return. 
The gaseous accumulations are generally most pronounced 
in the large colon, and cascum, and we usually aim to enter 
these with the trocar. The point usually selected for the 
operation is the highest part of the right flank, in which posi¬ 
tion, if the animal be standing, the gas is most free from ad¬ 
mixture with food and consequently flows most freely through 
