Jasper County Democrat, Volume 11, Number 63, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 January 1909 — COLIC IN HORSES. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

COLIC IN HORSES.

Causes, Symptoms and the Comms* I Method of Treatment. It Is more or less common on farms having a considerable number of horses to each year have one or mors cases among them of flatulent colic. More especially is this true where horses are being, fitted for the market, necessitating heavy grain feeding. In a work issued by the United States department of agriculture, entitled “Diseases of the Horse.’’ this subject is discussed in detail, In which are given the causes, symptoms and the common methods of treatment. It is pointed out that among the most frequent causes of this form of colic are to be mentioned sudden changes of food, too long fasting, food given while the animal is exhausted, new hay or grain, large quantities of green food, food that has lain In the manger for some time and become sour, indigestible food. Irregular teeth, crib biting, and, in fact, anything that produces indigestion may cause flatulent colic. The symptoms of wind colic are not so suddenly developed, not so severe as those of cramp colic. At first the horse is noticed to be dull, paws slightly and may or may not He down. The pains from the start ate continuous. The belly enlarges, and by striking It in front of tbe haunches a drumlike sound results. If not soon relieved the above symptoms are aggravated, and in addition there are noticed difficult breathing, bloodshot eyes and red mucuous membranes, loud, tumultuous heart beat, profuse perspiration, trembling of the front legs, sighing respiration, staggering from side to side and finally plunging forward dead. The diagnostic symptoms of flatulent colic are the distension of the bowels with gas, detected by the bloated appearance and resonance on percussion.

The treatment for wind colic differs very materially from that of cramp colic. Absorbents are of some service, and charcoal may be given in any quantity. Relaxants are also beneficial in this form of colic. Chloral hydrate not only possesses this quality, but it is also a pain reliever. It is then particularly well adapted to- the treatment of wind colic and should be given in one ounce doses in a pint of water. Diluted alcohol or whisky may be given or aromatic spirits of ammonia in one ounce doses at short intervals. A physic should always be given In flatulent colic as early as possible, the best being one ounce doses of Barbados aloes. Injections, per reetum, of turpentine, one to two ounces: linseed oil. eight ounces, may be given frequently tp stimulate the peristaltic motion of the bowels and favor the escape of wind. Blankets wrung out of hot water do much to afford relief. They should be renewed every five or ten minutes and covered with a dry woolen blanket. This form of colic is much more fatal than cramp colic and requires prompt and persistent treatment. It is entirely unsafe to predict the result, some apparently mild attacks going on to speedy death, while others that appear at the onset to be very severe yielding rapidly to treatment. Do not cease your efforts until you know the animal is )»ast help.

Wire Fence Corncrib. In the drawing is shown a handy, inexpensive eorncrib which possesses several advantages not possessed by the ordinary slat corncrib. It is made on 4 by 4 posts with pans at their summits to prevent rats from elimbing in. The sills are 4 by 4. scantlings 2 by 4 and two feet apart. The fencing is nailed to these on all sides, and the door frame is similarly covered. The roof is made wide, so as to shed

all possible water. The height, length and width may suit the ftyrmer’s convenience. A convenient width is five feet at the floor, widening to seven feet at the eaves. Owing to the very open nature of thia crip, corn drtea more quickly than in a slat crib, and as there is less chance for water to lodge in. the_ crackß _the crib. will be

GOVEL CORNCRIB.