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Hawke's Bay Times, Volume III, Issue 152, 11 December 1863, Page 1 (Supplement)

Treatment of Colic in Horses. —l had occasion, lately, to keep a horse in harness for five hours (ho distance travelled about eight miles, when, upon reaching home and putting him into his loose box, he refused both food and water. In a very short time, the horse showed evident symptoms of colic, and, in half an hour, became exceedingly ill. I had him walked and quickly moved about, and, finding no relief from such I gave him 3 02s. of spirit of turpentine, 1 oz. of tincture of opium, and a pint of warm ale. Waiting an hour without any improvement takiim place, I sent for the doctor, who, to my great discomfort, was not at home. He, however, arrived in three hours, and found the horse lying down, rolling, groaning, and in a dangerous state. M. Davy (a French veterinary army surgeon, a man of science as well as of great practical experience) immediately asked for a bottle of spirit brandy, gin, or spirits of wine. A bottle of brandy was given him, which he poured gradually over the horse from the shoulders along the back to the tail, and four of us rubbed it into him as quickly as possible. Five rugs and two hoods were then put on, and kept close with a roller haybands being placed round the hind-quarters] where the rugs did not touch. Jn about ten minutes the horse became warm, then broke into a profuse sweat, and in half-an-hour he appeared as well as ever. I have never seen the external application of spirits before. Th a rationale is simple and needs no comment, Without its use in this case I firmly believe my horse wmuld have died.—J. L. E. (Guernsey).-—[The case is an interesting one. In the first place, the use of spirits of turpentine, without being mixed with linseed oil, is not safe, as the pure spirit comes in contact with the mucous membrane, and is (hen of too highly a stimulating nature. Alo and laudanum do not mix with turpentine; hence it did not at once afford the relief which might otherwise have been looked for, and which it helped to produce when the stimulation of the skin was effected. It shows, however, that large doses of spirit of turpentine, even in a neat state, do not in themselves produce inflammation, as the horse was quite well in half-an-hour.— Ed. Field. 1 Settlement on the West Coast oethe Middle Island. —The Melbourne Argus , of the 4th ult., says : —A preliminary meeting of persons desirous of forming a settlement on the West Coast of Eew Zealand was held last evening, at Scott’s Hotel, Col'.ins-strcet, West. After a brief discussion amongst the few persons present, it was resolved to form a Martin’s River Company, with a capital of £1,500, in shares' of £lO each, to purchase a vessel, provide her with all that was required and despatch her first to Milford Haven, and subsequently to Martin’s Bay, with a view of ascertaining where the most eligible spot for a new settlement existed in that locality. A provisional committee was appointed, and the meeting adjourned until Wednesday evening at half-past 7 o’clock.