466 
W. L. WILLIAMS. 
direct danger in the use of eserine in the earlier stages of this 
affection, if the gaseous distension be first relieved by the use 
of the trocar. I think it better to give small, repeated doses 
of one-half to one grain rather than one large dose. More 
recently still our attention has been called by Prof. Diecker- 
hoff to the use of barium chloride as a purgative for the 
horse, and much is claimed for its promptness, efficacy and 
safety, although its advantage over eserine except in cost is 
not very clear. It must be constantly borne in mind that 
purgatives are unnecessary in this affection, and that unless 
their use be very judicious they do more harm than good. 
I long since abandoned almost wholly the use of purgatives 
in colic from overfeeding and can say that my success has 
been far better than under the usual regime. With the 
abandonment of purgatives, opium and morphine have, as 
already implied, also been discarded. If morphine is used, 
purgatives may be necessary to overcome its effects, but 
they aie not essential in combatting the disease. I would 
then say if purgatives are to be given, use them only in the 
very early stages, in absence of great gaseous distension, and 
select preferably eserine. If purgatives have not been used, 
we frequently find after the crisis of the disease has passed, 
or even during the early stages, a more or less severe 
diarrhoea, which must not be checked but merely watched and 
controlled. Demulcent gruels, stimulants and carminatives 
will almost always suffice, and if the feces are very fetid, salol 
should be added. 
In colic due to the ingestion of musty or otherwise un¬ 
healthy food, leading to its early decomposition within the 
alimentary canal, we generally find a degree of tympany 
which necessitates early and repeated use of the trocar; our 
efforts should next be directed towards staying the putrefac¬ 
tion of the intestinal contents, by the administration of anti¬ 
septics, antiferments, diffusible stimulants and carminatives. 
Salol, and possibly naphthaline, should prove highly useful dur¬ 
ing the disease and convalescence. 
Opium is clearly contraindicated, as it serves only to stop 
the peristaltic action of the bowels and 4he secretion of 
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