The Farmer's Own Book: A treatise on the numerous diseases of the horse with an explanation of their symptoms, and the course of treatment to be pursued; Also a Treatise on the Diseases of Horned Cattle

The foregoing remedies are very plain and simple, and cannot fail if properly applied. In washing the ulcers, use none other than castile soap, which is far superior to any other for cleansing and healing wounds and eruptions of any kind, and can be had from any of the drug stores at 25 cents per pound. It is also an excellent article for domestic purposes, such as shaving, &c. and will be found cheaper than any other fine or toilet soaps.

FLATULENT OR WIND COLIC.

This is an entirely different disease from the Spasmodic Colic. It often originates with something that the horse has eaten and then drinking large quantities of water, by which the food becomes fermented and creates a gastric gas, which enlarges to a greater or less extent, sometimes to twenty or thirty times the bulk of the food. It generally takes place in the stomach, but at times in the small or large intestines.

SYMPTOMS.

The horse suddenly slacks his pace, perhaps lays or falls down as if he were shot. In the stable he paws the floor with his fore feet, lays down and rolls, starts up instantly and throws himself down again with greater violence, looks wistfully at his flanks, and makes many fruitless efforts to void his urine. Here the symptoms are similar to other colics, but the true character of the disease soon develops itself.--It is in one of the large intestines, and the belly swells all round, but mostly on the right flanks and as the disease progresses the pain becomes more intense, and the horse more violent. The treatment is quite different from other colics.

REMEDY NO. 1.

Take 1 ounce of the chlorate of lime and ½ pint of warm water, put it into a bottle and shake well, so as to dissolve, then give it as a drench which will devour the gas, and cause the swelling to subside. If in fifteen minutes after this has been given, the pain does not seem to have been alleviated, take 4 ounces of spirits of Pimento, and 1 ounce of Laudanum, mix it with ½ pint of warm water and give it also as a drench. If you have no pimento and it is not convenient to get it, take 2½ ounces of peppermint, and 1 ounce of laudanum, and should you not have laudanum, take a larger quantity of peppermint with ½ pint of warm water, and give it as a drench. In this disease no time should be lost, as it very often runs its course in from 1 to 2 hours. If the first should not give relief in 15 or 20 minutes, repeat it until it does. Rubbing the belly with a smooth rail or pole will greatly facilitate the action of the medicine. Should you not have any of the above remedies on hand or convenient, use from 1 to 2 ounces of golden tincture as the case may require.

REMEDY NO. 2.

In the first place take 2 ounces of the essence of peppermint, mixed with ½ pint of warm water and give it to him as a drench, then take a bat of common raw cotton and set fire to it, holding it close to the nostrils of the horse, so that he can freely inhale the smoke arising therefrom; continue this until you see that the horse is relieved. The quantity of cotton used is from 4 to 5 bats, as the necessity of the case may require.

This is a simple and safe remedy, and numbers who have tried it say that they have never known it to fail. I saw a horse that had suffered from the colic for nearly three hours, being puffed up almost to bursting, and in half an hour after this operation had been performed on him, he was completely cured.

SPASMODIC COLIC.

This is a disease to which horses generally are subject, and in consequence of improper treatment, it often proves fatal. It is produced by improper riding, feeding, watering, and may arise from a want of proper action in the bowels, which occasions constriction of the intestines and a confinement of the air.

SYMPTOMS.

The horse begins to shift his position, looks around at his flanks, paws violently, strikes his belly with his feet, and crouches in a peculiar manner, advancing his hind legs under him, he then suddenly lies or rather falls down, and balances himself on his back with his feet resting on his belly. The pain seems to have ceased for a while, and he gets up and shakes himself; he begins to feed, but in a short time the pain returns, and is more violent than before; he heaves at the flanks, breaks out in a profused perspiration, and throws himself more recklessly. The pulse is little affected in the commencement, but as the disease progresses, it becomes full. Legs and ears of a natural temperature. The affection of the strength scarcely perceivable.

REMEDY.

Relief may be obtained from motion in this disease. Take

1 ounce of turpentine, 1 ounce of laudanum, ½ pint of gin or good whiskey, ½ pint of warm water.

Mix and give it as a drench. Bleed, and if not relieved in half an hour, repeat the dose, rubbing the belly with a stout brush or a smooth rail. If not relieved in 15 or 20 minutes, repeat the dose and continue it until relief is obtained. If the horse be walked about or trotted moderately, it will relieve the spasms. A glyster with warm soap suds should be injected, which may be done by burning the peth out of elder, and filling a bladder with the suds, then tie the bladder on the elder tight and force it into the fundament, occasionally throwing the warm suds in until it operates; if a reasonable portion of it remains, it will do no harm if it does not operate, but will help to relieve the spasms. This should be done immediately, as in most cases no time is to be lost. A glyster of tobacco smoke may be thrown in as a last resort. Keep the horse in a warm stable and give bran mash and plenty of warm or thin gruel for two or three days.