Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1881-06-23
FARM AND GARDEN.

CASES OF HORSE CoIIC. The horses
stomach is too small to contain good
feed and the gas extricated from such
materials tchen digestion is preCented By
Immediate serere aoork after eating, or
otherwise, aud where fermentation
has set In. Even COW will die in
half an hour from q sudden eXtrica-
ton Of gases in the paunch, which is
capable of holding about 200 quarts.
How much more. then, may the horse,
whose stomach will hold but from IL
TO 20 quarts. The COW can sometimes
relieve herself by eructation or vomit-
ing, or may be promptly cured by
punCturing the left flank and letting
out the gas. But the average healthy
horse can neither belch gas nor vomit,
and to puncture his stomach you must
first transtiX the larger intestines,
above and beyond which 1t lies.
Again, medicines given to the horse
in such circumstances are exceedingly
uncertain. Even the healthy stomach
of the horse does rot absorb, much
less that which is diStended beyond
measure with gas. anything, there
fore, which is int uced into the
stomach, must be passed through into
the intestines before in can enter the
circulation. But here, again Is the
obstacle of an over tretched and in
active stomach, unable TO contract on
its contents, or force them on into the
bowels. Again, the introduction OF
agents into the stomach still further
distends it and at first aggravates the
symptoms. Such a case If acute in
digestion and tympany of the stomach, :,
as might be expected, is one of the
hopeless and fatal disorders of the
horse. Yet as delay is usually equal 10
death, early ventures at treatment
give the only hope. Give by the
mouth l ounce tincture of ginger, 80
drops oil of peppermint, one-halI
ounce aqua ammonia, and one scruple
tincture of nuX vomica in pint OF
cold water. The same may be given
as an injection into the rectum, the
water being increased to two quarts.
In the absence OF these, give whatever
stimulaLt comes TO hand-a pint OF
whiskey, gin or brandy, or one-halt
ounce pepper, with IinG of lime wa
ter, or even d ieaspOonful of baking
soda and another OF carbolic acid.
Gentle walking exercise may be given.
with active rubbing of the abdomen
with straw wisps, and half an hour
after the medicated injection, mice
tiOns of soapsuds 10 Lne amount OF
four quarts IN each. Six draChms o.
aloes may also be given by the mouth.
If recovery ensues, the food should be
limited in quantity, and or a quality
easily digested, IoI week, and tel
grains Of nux vom;Ca and one-nall
ounce ground gentlan may be given
daily Tor the same length or time. III
case of collie arising from JuU driL A.
OJ cold tcGteU tvllOlced By an actiue run,
the prospects are tar better. Here The
suffering Will usually be at once re-
Heved by slimulAnt and anodyne,
and as the disturbance. is mainly In
the intestlnes, this may be introduced
into The stomach with hope OF its
speedily passing through and being
absOI bed /; ent-half ou- c5 til cure oil
ginger and one ounce laudanum will
usually 81 fife. Should there be no
relief IN haIf an hour it may be re-
peated as an IL lection, and at the same
lime dose OF laxative mediciLe may
De given Dy the mouth. Five drachms
aloes and one drachm powdered gen.
tian made into bail with syrup, will
usually suffice, and relie1 may be
calculated on in three hours at the
utmost. Salt and water, about which
one correspondent asks, Is a very un-
satisfactory dose, being irritating TO
the mucous mem Drare when too con-
cenLraIed, and not at all calculated To
carry OF Irritating materials from The
stomach and bowels. Its main value
is in retarding fermentation in the
contents, but this is better effected bJ
saIaratus, ammonia, hyposulphite Oh
soda, or carbOlic acid.