378 CLINICAL vetp:rinary medicine and surgery. 



PERFORATION OF THE INTESTINE. 



8g. An eighteen-month-old sheep-dog, left in hospital loth May, 

 1898. 



Though usually very bright and playful, this dog had two days 

 before suddenly become dull and refused food. It moved unwillingly, 

 and only when forced. There were no symptoms resembling rabies. 

 The condition was referred to the animal having swallowed some fish- 

 bones (pike). 



On entering its kennel the animal lay down on the right side and 

 moaned. As it refused all food, milk was given by a spoon. Died 

 next day. 



Autopsy. — Lesions of diffuse acute peritonitis. The entire intestinal 

 mass was greatly congested. 



Towards the centre of the small intestine was a perforation due to 

 a fragment of bone (from the upper half of a sheep's tibia). In front of 

 this bone the intestine was distended by grass, which the animal had 

 doubtless swallowed when it felt the first pains due to obstruction. 



90. A three-year-old setter dog, left in hospital 5th June, i8g8. 



The animal had appeared unwell three days before, and remained 

 continually recumbent. If forced to move it walked slowly, showed 

 pain, and howled. Appetite was entirely lost. At times there was 

 nausea and vomiting of yellowish bilious material. 



When brought here the animal was in a grave state ; it no longer 

 recognised its master, and took no notice when called. It walked with 

 short steps, the back bowed, and the limbs thrust apart. The abdomen 

 was tense and painful on pressure ; the pulse rapid and feeble ; the 

 respiration frequent, expiration being at times moaning ; temperature 

 40° C. 



Placed in a kennel the animal lay on its side with the head and legs 

 extended. It refused to drink milk, and was therefore fed by hand. 

 The condition rapidly became aggravated, and death occurred during 

 the night. 



Autopsy. — Lesions of purulent peritonitis. 



Towards its centre the duodenum was greatly swollen ; the surface 

 of the right half was inflamed and granulating. In the thickened wall 

 of this portion, lying almost parallel to the general direction of the 

 intestine, was a needle two and a half inches in length, the eye of 

 which contained a worsted thread, twenty inches long, enveloped in 

 the thickness of the intestinal tunics. 



In front of the point where the needle had become inserted the 

 duodenum was dilated ; behind it was contracted and empty. 



Remark. — The symptoms which follow small perforations of the 

 wall of the stomach or intestine by needles differ widely, according to 

 whether the needle does, or does not, carry a thread. The thread 

 when present becomes the carrier of septic materials, which almost 

 always produce fatal peritonitis. On the other hand, needles alone 

 often pass through the intestine without causing any appreciable 

 symptoms. When they become implanted in the liver they are usually 



