630 RUPTURE OF THE STOMACH. 



occurred under a period of several hours, while not long prior 

 to death we had attempts at vomition, with ejection of material 

 from the nose. Again, it is equally certain that actual vomition 

 has occurred during the simple repletion and distension of the 

 stomach without any rupture of its walls, seeing that following 

 the vomition and discharge of ingesta from the nostrils we 

 have had perfect recovery of the animal. Thus, while we do 

 not appear to be in a position to give a distinct and incontro- 

 vertible opinion as to the exact relationship which the symp- 

 tom of vomition, or attempted vomition, bears to rupture of the 

 stomach, there is yet ample reason why we should as a general 

 rule, particularly when this symptom is collateral with others, 

 still continue to regard it as one of the most truly diagnostic 

 of this fatal condition. 



When an animal suffering from gastric engorgement and 

 distension with much abdominal pain, being very uneasy, 

 tossing himself about with violence, suddenly becomes quiet 

 for a short time with a distinct change in the expression of his 

 countenance, in which is now marked great anxiety, with short, 

 quick respirations, regurgitation of fluid or more solid ingesta 

 from the mouth and nose, with attempts at vomition, pulse 

 becoming quicker and more feeble, the probability is that the 

 walls of the stomach have become torn. In some instances 

 there are additional symptoms, such as sudden fits of perspira- 

 tion, a blanched state of the mucous membranes, cold and 

 clammy mouth, tottering or staggering gait on being moved, 

 or a disposition to move feebly around the box with his nose 

 to the ground. 



When the lesion has taken place at once, and exists as the 

 primary affection, often occurring while at work, from which 

 he has been removed on account of the exhibition of pain, 

 there may not at first be great uneasiness immediately accom- 

 panying the rupture ; but very shortly this becomes a promi- 

 nent symptom, chiefly from the escape of the contained mate- 

 rial into the peritoneal cavity and consequent inflammation of 

 the membranes and organs there. Rapidly the pulse and 

 respirations become affected, and show the same characters as 

 in the other form — sinking, with anxious expression of the 

 countenance, attempts at vomition, and, it may be, sitting on 

 the haunches. As the case advances, the pallid state of the 



