The Farmer's Veterinarian: A Practical Treatise on the Diseases of Farm Stock

by Charles William Burkett

COLIC.

—Colic is an inflammation of the bowels characterized by a spasmodic contraction of the intestinal walls. It is a very common disease in horses, and occasionally cattle and lambs are affected with it. Both the small and large intestines may be afflicted or only one of them. There are many causes, but feed and water are the controlling factors. An animal just stopped from hard work and given a large quantity of cold water, especially after eating, may be quickly troubled. And the animal hot from work, on drinking very cold water, often gets colic. Then, too, a change of food, or a change from dry feed to green food or eating some root crop when the animal is not used to it, may bring on the disease.

Then, again, some horses and cattle are more given to colic than others. Some individuals are never troubled, and others are almost constantly under its influence. If much inflammation sets in, a very serious case is on your hands. Two kinds of colic are known—the spasmodic, a contraction, commonly known as cramps of the bowels; and wind or flatulent colic or bloating. Some authorities add a third, and call it worm colic.

Spasmodic Colic.

—This kind of colic is first noticed when the horse begins to paw with his forefeet, cringes, bends his head around as if looking at his side, lays on the ground and rolls as if in pain; then he stands quietly for a while and repeats these performances again. During the time between the spasms the animal is more at ease and frequently eats a little. When the spasms come on again the shifting about and the rolling are repeated. If the cramps are severe the animal breaks out with sweat. The pulse is accelerated when the spasms are on, ranging from 60 to 65 beats a minute. If inflammation has set in, the pulse instead of rising and falling remains more constant and is high all the time.

COLIC PAINS

A common attitude with colic. When seized with pains the horse paws, scrapes the ground with his front feet, stamps and strikes the belly with the hind ones, lays back his ears and looks around to his flank.

When the spasms are on, pressing the bowels seems to relieve the pain and please the animal, but if inflammation is present the pressure seems to increase the pain. The best treatment is to relieve the pain with an opiate, and next to obtain a free action of the bowels by a purge. Many prescriptions have been suggested, among which is the following: 4 tablespoonfuls of sweet spirits of niter, 4 tablespoonfuls of laudanum, 1 tablespoonful of ginger and 1 tablespoonful of common soda. These are added to a pint of warm water and given as a drench.

Flatulent Colic.

—This form of colic, though not so acute, is much more constant than the preceding form. The body is swollen in the region of the bowels, the gas extending quite generally through the region. There is also a tendency to inflammation. The pulse will be noticed as more rapid, and at the same time more feeble, the breathing will be more pronounced, and the animal less steady on its feet. In treating the patient it is advisable to unload the rectum with greased hand and arm, and the admission of warm water with soap in it, is also likely to be beneficial. A little turpentine mixed with the soap and water is good. The intestine is to be cleaned out as far as the arm will reach, but a violent purge is unwise, as that only intensifies the inflammation. Naturally the first thing is to mildly open the bowels. For this give 15 or 20 tablespoonfuls of linseed oil and 5 or 10 tablespoonfuls of spirit of turpentine. If the case continues, it is advisable to call a veterinarian, and it may be necessary to use the trocar and canula. If the instrument is sterilized, no great risk attaches to the operation, while immediate relief is secured as the gas passes out through the tube, and the distention is visibly reduced. An excellent mixture for this kind of colic consists of 6 tablespoonfuls of chloral hydrate, 6 tablespoonfuls of laudanum, 3 tablespoonfuls of sulphuric ether, 2 tablespoonfuls of turpentine, and 10 tablespoonfuls of ginger. Of this give 2 or 3 tablespoonfuls in a half pint of warm water and repeat every half hour for 3 or 4 doses and then place the doses an hour apart until all danger has passed.

When there is a good deal of gas with considerable swelling an excellent drench is made of 2 tablespoonfuls of powdered aloes, 4 tablespoonfuls of spirits of ammonia and 4 tablespoonfuls of sulphuric ether. This should be mixed with a pint of water and given promptly. In case of considerable pain use this: 4 to 6 tablespoonfuls of hydrate of chloral and eight tablespoonfuls of sugar mixed in a pint of water and give as a drench.