COLICS IN HORSES 
m 
diaphragmatic surface. Ventral hernia is easily recognized by 
its external character. Internal intestinal hernia can only be dis¬ 
covered by an autopsy. Valvulus and invaginations must be mat¬ 
ter of conjecture, the proof of their existence being also found 
only at the autopsy. We have seen, however, some animals suf¬ 
fering from this cause, seeking to obtain some relief by laying on 
their backs, in a corner of a box stall, with all their extremities 
brought together and extended upwards. But this symptom has 
no special or positive signification, and is also observable in in¬ 
ternal strangulations and in obstructions. Ruptures of the 
stomach and of the intestines are all, at times, presumable. 
Nausea and vomiting may be, and is, at times, though not in 
every case, followed by rupture of the stomach. Penetrating 
wounds may sometimes be rationally-diagnosticated by the pres¬ 
ence of the external injuries. Intestinal wounds have occurred 
as the result of human brutality and cruelty, by the forcible in¬ 
troduction of sticks in the rectum. Rectal exploration will assist 
in the detection of the solution of continuity in these cases. 
Sixth Group. —The affections embraced in this group are lit¬ 
tle more than complications of those previously noted, and we 
can only say, in addition to what we have already remarked, that 
the prognosis is always serious, and that generally a positive diag¬ 
nosis cannot be made, and all our conclusions must be merely 
conjectured and presumptive. In none of them is it unusual to 
witness paroxysms of fury and delirium of the severest character, 
as the result of the extreme and torturing pain suffered by the 
patient. The rupture of the stomach, or of the large intestines, 
may be recognized by the sudden relief, or even complete disap¬ 
pearance of the colics, while at the same time the general sickly 
condition of the animal either remains unaltered or manifests a 
tendency to. increase. This increase will be marked by the weak¬ 
ening of the pulse; the gradual cooling of the body, and the ex- 
plorable internal cavities a general, profuse, cold perspiration. 
Seventh Group. —The diseases of this last group have, prop¬ 
erly speaking, but a single point of resemblance, viz.: the colic, 
which is common to all. Their diagnosis properly belongs to the 
special pathology of the organs severally affected. To recapitu- 
