Text book of veterinary medicine, Volume 2 (of 5)Law, James
Science
Text book of veterinary medicine, Volume 2 (of 5)
Law, James
Veterinary medicine
_Treatment._ =Solipeds.= For nervous colic the hypodermic injection of
sulphate of morphia (2 grs.) is very effective. This will commonly bring
relief in less than five minutes. Should there be no effect at the end
of this time it may be repeated with advantage, but should a second dose
fail, it is well to resort to other measures. Eserine and barium
chloride are contraindicated as being liable to increase the spasm, and
if there is no irritant to expel there is no object in their exhibition.
The old prescriptions of laudanum and turpentine; laudanum and ether;
sweet spirits of nitre with belladonna, or hyoscyamus, and other
stimulants and narcotics are of little avail as they are not absorbed
from the horse’s stomach and cannot operate until they have reached the
duodenum. If given at all, their action may often be hastened by
injecting them into the rectum.
When the morphia fails it is the safest treatment to give a moderate
dose of aloes or other laxative, in combination with extract of
hyoscyamus or chloral hydrate. This takes time to pass into the
duodenum, and be absorbed and secreted anew in order to have its full
effect, and therefore it may be necessary to keep up a moderate action
of the morphia as a palliative. In four hours, however, at the latest,
the aloes can be counted on to bring permanent relief. This appears to
come as soon as the active principles have been absorbed, the nauseating
effect operating at once on the overexcited nerve centres. The action is
more perfect still when a free secretion has been started from the
intestinal mucosa, and the circulation and innervation in the intestinal
walls are essentially changed. This measure which was long successfully
practiced and advocated by the late Joseph Gamgee, is even more
perfectly adapted to the colics of indigestion and irritation, of
impaction and fermentation. There are of course cases of complete
obstruction in which it must fail, but it is probably the most
successful method for colicy affections in general.
In addition to the above, other methods of correcting the disordered
innervation are available. Active friction of the abdomen with straw
wisps is often effective, also fomenting the abdomen with hot water.
Simply leading the animal around acts as a nervous derivative, and may
be employed to prevent his dashing himself down so suddenly as to injure
himself. Then copious injections of warm water soothe the rectum,
solicit its peristalsis and by sympathy affect the other intestines in
the same way. They may often be made more effective by the addition of
antispasmodics (extracts of belladonna or hyoscyamus or chloral
hydrate).
In all cases a soft bed should be provided to secure the animal against
injury in his sudden reckless movements.
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