Amish remedy for colic

Peg D · 12-15-2005, 05:56 AM

I am not sure if this is true or not.
Maybe some of you have heard of this. Its quite gruesome so brace yourself....

they cut a certain artery in the neck and let the blood flow out.....

just prior to bleeding to death, they stop the flow. (don't ask me how they do all this)
Anyone ever heard of this.
Or other remedies from the Amish community's.
Or is this just all urban legend stuff?

Jess! · 12-15-2005, 06:10 AM

Nope, I know of old old vet books that use blood letting as "remedies". They really thought it worked...

CowGirlUp1833 · 12-15-2005, 06:15 AM

WOW. I don't know how letting a horse almost bleed to death would fix a gastro-intestenal problem?!?!? It sounds very dangerous!

Xiphias · 12-15-2005, 06:23 AM

Never heard of that, sounds dangerous, I have heard of giving them whiskey though...Cathy

Toredano · 12-15-2005, 09:13 AM

They would let out so much blood just right before its bled out? Hardly.. Bloodletting was a cure all way back when..BUt not to the extend that it allmost killed the horse, men etc..
Urban Legend is more likely

Shotgun93 · 12-15-2005, 09:39 AM

I have heard of blood letting being used for a lot of old remedies. Obviously, we know now that it would do nothing to help a colicing horse. But, if you read through old medical books, you'd be surprised about what people though would work!

Peg D · 12-15-2005, 09:50 AM

They used to cover people with blood suckers,,,, what was that for? Some type of deadly fever.

RickB. · 12-15-2005, 12:41 PM

IIRC, bloodletting was a "cure" used on George Washington and directly contributed to his ensuing death.

Leeches(blood suckers) were once in vogue for removing "bad blood". The concept was sound, but the leeches usually carried germs and parasites which transfered to the patient and ended up causing even more problems, which led to more bloodletting, etc.

Today, leeches are often used to remove extensive bruising almost anywhere on the body. the difference is that these leeches are bred and raised in antiseptic conditions and are germ,parasite, and disease free.

FWIW, maggots are also once again being used in both human and equine medicine. they too are bred in laboratories , are of a specific species, and are parasite and disease free. They have been used quite successfully in cases where a person with diabetes is in danger of having a limb amputated because of gangrous infections that other treatments are unable to resolve. The maggots will eat only the infected tissues and purulence and leave behind clean, healthy tissue(s).

Dr. Scott Morrison, DVM of Rood and Riddle Veterinary Clinic in Lexington, Ky., has used Maggot therapy extensively in treating severe infections of the hoof. He has both spoken and written papers/articles on the subject.

So, it appears that once again, something old is now something new.

salemvot · 12-16-2005, 07:51 AM

Blood letting was an old remedy (not efective) used on all living creatures, humans too. Back then they though that "bad blood" caused EVERY internal ailment and getting the bad blood out would cure the ailment. Personally I prefer Mineral oil to treat feed related colic, it has to be given by tube but, it does cause a bowel movement or two rather quickly. This ONLY works for feed related colic where removing the offending feed quickly as possible will stop the colic. I does no good for gas colic or other non feed types of colic.

Jennygirl011 · 12-16-2005, 01:33 PM

They use to do blood letting on people too...They would take blood from them until they got to feeling better..well everytime they took blood away they felt weaker and weaker so they kept taking blood thinking it was helping but obvisouly no it wasnt lol

12-15-2005, 05:56 AM	#1
Peg D Senior Member+ Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 3,212 Images: 491 Blog Entries: 4	Amish remedy for colic I am not sure if this is true or not. Maybe some of you have heard of this. Its quite gruesome so brace yourself.... they cut a certain artery in the neck and let the blood flow out..... just prior to bleeding to death, they stop the flow. (don't ask me how they do all this) Anyone ever heard of this. Or other remedies from the Amish community's. Or is this just all urban legend stuff? __________________ Never argue with an idiot. They drag you down to their level and then beat you with experience. Member COL Club- hand over the Oil of Olay and nobody gets hurt!

12-15-2005, 06:10 AM	#2
Jess! Senior Member+ Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: San Diego Posts: 9,160 Images: 210 Blog Entries: 14	Nope, I know of old old vet books that use blood letting as "remedies". They really thought it worked... __________________ (¯`·._¤ Jess!·._¤ ´¯) A Thousand Mile Journey Proud Marine Wife - 8 Weeks left in Iraq!

12-15-2005, 06:15 AM	#3
CowGirlUp1833 Senior Member+ Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Holland Lake Shore, West Michigan Posts: 15,777 Images: 383 Blog Entries: 33	WOW. I don't know how letting a horse almost bleed to death would fix a gastro-intestenal problem?!?!? It sounds very dangerous! __________________ *Kimberly* www.Equine-Endeavors.com Training horses properly is a study in delayed gratification....

12-15-2005, 06:23 AM	#4
Xiphias Senior Member+ Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Maryland, horse country USA Posts: 16,335 Images: 627 Blog Entries: 29	Never heard of that, sounds dangerous, I have heard of giving them whiskey though...Cathy __________________ Member COL Club- hand over the Oil of Olay and nobody gets hurt! http://www.freewebs.com/xiphias21034/ I was on HGS the day we made 2 million posts

12-15-2005, 09:13 AM	#5
Toredano Full Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Tennessee Posts: 88 Images: 15	They would let out so much blood just right before its bled out? Hardly.. Bloodletting was a cure all way back when..BUt not to the extend that it allmost killed the horse, men etc.. Urban Legend is more likely __________________ Petra Who are you ? No one of consequence ... Really..I must know!! Get used to disappointment...

12-15-2005, 09:39 AM	#6
Shotgun93 Senior Moderator Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Southwest SD Posts: 13,388 Images: 124	I have heard of blood letting being used for a lot of old remedies. Obviously, we know now that it would do nothing to help a colicing horse. But, if you read through old medical books, you'd be surprised about what people though would work! __________________ In the quiet light of the stable, you hear a muffled snort, the stamp of a hoof, a friendly nicker. Gentle eyes inquire, "How was your day old friend?" and suddenly, all your troubles fade away. -Author Unknown

12-15-2005, 09:50 AM	#7
Peg D Senior Member+ Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 3,212 Images: 491 Blog Entries: 4	They used to cover people with blood suckers,,,, what was that for? Some type of deadly fever. __________________ Never argue with an idiot. They drag you down to their level and then beat you with experience. Member COL Club- hand over the Oil of Olay and nobody gets hurt!

12-15-2005, 12:41 PM	#8
RickB. Senior Member+ Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Champaign, Illinois Posts: 2,051	IIRC, bloodletting was a "cure" used on George Washington and directly contributed to his ensuing death. Leeches(blood suckers) were once in vogue for removing "bad blood". The concept was sound, but the leeches usually carried germs and parasites which transfered to the patient and ended up causing even more problems, which led to more bloodletting, etc. Today, leeches are often used to remove extensive bruising almost anywhere on the body. the difference is that these leeches are bred and raised in antiseptic conditions and are germ,parasite, and disease free. FWIW, maggots are also once again being used in both human and equine medicine. they too are bred in laboratories , are of a specific species, and are parasite and disease free. They have been used quite successfully in cases where a person with diabetes is in danger of having a limb amputated because of gangrous infections that other treatments are unable to resolve. The maggots will eat only the infected tissues and purulence and leave behind clean, healthy tissue(s). Dr. Scott Morrison, DVM of Rood and Riddle Veterinary Clinic in Lexington, Ky., has used Maggot therapy extensively in treating severe infections of the hoof. He has both spoken and written papers/articles on the subject. So, it appears that once again, something old is now something new. __________________ Rick Burten, CJF, CNBBT/F, RMF Je pense, donc je suis

12-16-2005, 07:51 AM	#9
salemvot Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: USA Posts: 428 Images: 28 Blog Entries: 1	Blood letting was an old remedy (not efective) used on all living creatures, humans too. Back then they though that "bad blood" caused EVERY internal ailment and getting the bad blood out would cure the ailment. Personally I prefer Mineral oil to treat feed related colic, it has to be given by tube but, it does cause a bowel movement or two rather quickly. This ONLY works for feed related colic where removing the offending feed quickly as possible will stop the colic. I does no good for gas colic or other non feed types of colic.

12-16-2005, 01:33 PM	#10
Jennygirl011 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Lone Star State..Where its ALWAYS hot Posts: 1,799 Images: 241	They use to do blood letting on people too...They would take blood from them until they got to feeling better..well everytime they took blood away they felt weaker and weaker so they kept taking blood thinking it was helping but obvisouly no it wasnt lol __________________ Many people have sighed for the 'good old days' and regretted the 'passing of the horse,' but today, when only those who like horses own them, it is a far better time for horses.-C.W.Anderson

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