_Flatulent colic, gripes, &c._—This is a disorder of considerable
importance, and often terminates in inflammation of the bowels, entirely
from the circumstance of not being sufficiently understood. The symptoms
are well known. The horse is very uneasy, paws his litter, looks round
to his flanks, sometimes endeavours to kick his belly, gathers up his
hind legs, and falls down rather suddenly, rolls upon his back, suddenly
gets up again, and appears in extreme pain. The pulse is in its natural
state, and the inner surface of the eyelids is not unusually red. The
disorder comes on suddenly, the animal being previously in good health.
The horse is sometimes costive, but not often, and in some cases the
dung is rather loose. Bleeding can scarcely be considered an essential
remedy in this complaint, because it is often cured without it. But it
is a safe practice, as the distension of the bowels by the confined air
may otherwise produce inflammation before relief is afforded. It should
never therefore be omitted. The next thing to be done is to give some
carminative medicine; and about a pint of brandy or gin and water is as
good a carminative as can be given: on all common occasions it may be
considered the best, because it is the most innocent as well as
effectual. There are cases, however, where the stomach has been so
injured by ill treatment, that a more powerful medicine is required. The
following tincture should then be given in the dose I shall soon name.
Brandy and water, however, that is, from four to six ounces of brandy to
twelve ounces of water, should always be preferred, because it is
sufficiently strong, in almost all cases, to answer the purpose. For it
should be known that the strong medicines usually employed in this
disorder, especially oil of turpentine and peppermint, pepper, large
doses of ginger and grains of paradise and opium, though they generally
afford relief, are sure to increase the disposition to the disorder by
weakening the stomach. The weakest stimulant, therefore, that will
afford relief with certainty should be preferred, and its repetition
avoided for the future, by avoiding the causes which produced the
disorder, and these will soon be pointed out.
It sometimes happens, and not unfrequently, that there is an
accumulation of excrement in the cœcum, by which the valvular orifice is
so completely obstructed, that it cannot be overcome by any efforts of
the stomach, though excited by opium and the most powerful carminatives.
Clysters in this case will always afford relief, if properly
administered; that is, by means of a large ox’s bladder and a long
pewter pipe, not less than fourteen or fifteen inches in length. The
only clyster required is from half a pound to a pound of salt, and five
or six quarts of warm water. This will excite the whole of the large
bowels to action, and dislodge the fæces from the cœcum. By this means
the animals may always be relieved, and without it he will in such cases
certainly die.
There are cases of flatulent colic, however, which are in their nature
incurable, that is, first, when there is such a quantity of food taken
into the stomach, and the digestive power of the organ has been so
depressed by previous disorder, that no effort it can make, however
powerfully it may be excited, can enable it to get rid of its contents.
Secondly, when the horse is put to work, and into quick exercise in that
state: such cases are by no means uncommon in post and coach horses, and
rupture of the stomach is sometimes the consequence. When this happens,
the horse breaks out into a profuse, but very cold perspiration, is
extremely depressed, breathes quickly; the pulse can scarcely be felt,
but is very quick. It is soon followed by death. The distension of the
small intestines sometimes forces a portion of them through the
mesentery, in such a manner that one coil of it becomes so completely
tied that the included air cannot escape.
ANODYNE CARMINATIVE TINCTURES, RECOMMENDED
FOR RELIEVING COLIC.
Turkey opium 1 oz.
Cloves, bruised 2 oz.
Ginger, ditto 3 oz.
Brandy, rum, or gin 1 quart.
Or,
Turkey opium, cloves, and ginger, of each 1 oz.
The best old brandy, rum, or gin 1 quart.
Let them be digested together in a well-corked bottle, and shaken
several times a day for three or four weeks. It is then to be strained
through blotting paper, and is fit for use. The medium dose is two
ounces, which may be given in a little mild ale, or an infusion of some
aromatic herb, such as peppermint, pennyroyal, camomile, &c. Mr. Bracey
Clarke recommends a tincture made with allspice, bruised, half a pound;
brandy, gin, or rum, two quarts. The following mixture has been found
effectual.
Camphor ½ oz.
Oil of turpentine 6 oz. Mix.
One half of this is a dose, and if the first dose does not afford
relief, the second, it is said, has always been found effectual.
I am inclined to believe that flatulent colic is sometimes brought on by
drinking largely of cold pump water, or hard water, in hot weather.
_Stomach staggers, or sleepy staggers—Paralysis of the stomach._—The
symptoms of this disorder are great heaviness and drowsiness, resting
the nose in the manger, or inclining the head, and resting the cheek, or
bearing against the wall. The head is forced against the manger, or
rack, or the nose between the rack staves. In this way the eyes and face
are often much bruised and swollen. The horse stands with his fore leg
much under him, appearing to give way every now and then, as if he would
fall. There is an appearance of convulsive twitching of the muscles of
the neck and chest. There is, too, a great degree of yellowness,
approaching to orange-colour, of the membranes of the eyes, and often a
yellowness of the mouth also. Urine scarcely any, and high-coloured;
sometimes none is voided, and sometimes it is discharged by a convulsive
effort. Sometimes the disorder is attended with locked jaw, ending in
paralysis and death. In the early stage of the disorder the horse is
sometimes suddenly roused by opening the stable door, he lifts up his
head, and sometimes neighs; but this is only a momentary effort. When
the disease happens at grass, the animal is generally found forcing his
head against the hedge, or a gate, or moving about in a state of stupor
and apparent insensibility. Sometimes he is found struggling in a ditch,
and in that situation he often dies.
As soon as stomach staggers are observed, the horse should be bled, in
order to relieve the head in some degree; but the principal object is to
enable the stomach to get rid of the load which oppresses it. Various
remedies have been proposed for this purpose. The best I believe are
purgatives joined with cordials and stimulants, and small quantities of
warm water frequently, in order to soften the contents of the stomach.
Clysters of salt and water are useful also, and should be thrown up
several times a day. The disease is often incurable, probably from a
want of early attention.
When medicine cannot be readily procured, two or three tablespoonfuls of
flower of mustard, and three or four ounces of common salt may be tried.