COLIC. An irritation of the stomach or intes tines produced by various causes, inducing pain and griping ; mild cases are readily alleviated by laudanum in the human subject. There are two forms of colic, spasmodic and flatulent. In horses, spasmodic colic sometimes runs into inflamma tion. Sometimes one is mistaken for the other. In colic the horse is attacked suddenly; there are intervals of rest; the pulse not much altered in the early stage of the disease ; rubbing the belly gives relief ; the ears and legs are of natural tempera ture ; motion gives relief and the strength is .scarcely affected. In intlammation of the bowels, symptoms come on gradually; there is constant pain ; the pulse small and much quickened and scarcely to be felt many times; the belly is quite tender and sore to the touch; the ears and legs are .cold ; motion increases the pain and the strength rapidly fails. The treatment of colie is to relieve pain by giving one ounce of sulphuric ether, two ounces of laudanum and a pint of raw linseed oil .and, if not relieved in an hour, repeat the dose. Occasionally walk the horse about to excite the bowels to action. The following is a good colic draft to have on hand : Take aromatic spirits of ammonia, one pint, sulphuric ether, one pint, sweet spirits of nitre, one and a half pints, gum opium (made fine), four ounces, camphor gum, -four ounces, assafoetida, four ounces. Mix all
together and shake frequently for twelve or fifteen days, then filter or strain through flannel and it will be ready for use. Dose: one tablespoonful, in a little water, repeated in thirty minutes. A larger dose may be given sometimes in very severe cases. In flatulent colic, windy colic, etc., the horse is uneasy, hangs the head, and exhibits a few of the general symptoms of spasmodic colic, before there is any enlArgement of the belly, but more particularly after, for as soon as the belly .swells the pawing commen ces, although it is not so violent as in spasmodic colic. There is but little rolling or kicking at the belly as in spasmodic colic and the horse is not inclined to move about much. After from one to four days the belly becomes much increased in size (if the disease is not checked) and the animal becomes restless. Try injections first, and if gas or wind come away with it the patient will most likely recover soon ; but if no benefit is derived from the injection give the remedies as recommended for spasmodic colic. Let the 'horse be led around quietly until the medicine has time to take effect, so as to prevent his falling or rolling as it might cause rupture of the diaphragm.