672 RUPTURE OF THE INTESTINAL WALLS. 



move, the animal balancing itself, as it were, on tlie limbs until 

 the very last. Whenever cases of colic marked by impaction 

 of the bowels, with or without much distension, accompanied 

 with straining, suddenly exhibit cessation of the pain and 

 straining, together with the appearance of much exhaustion 

 and other symptoms indicated, we have just grounds to fear 

 rupture of some part of the intestinal wall. 



In two or three cases of ruptured colon which I watched 

 throughout, the disposition to sit on the haunches, and some 

 attempts at vomition, were particularly persistent. With many 

 there is nothing attractive or diagnostic in the symptoms to 

 differentiate this from ordinary fatal bowel affections in which 

 inflammatory action plays an important part, and the lesion is 

 not even suspected until an after-death examination has been 

 made. 



CHAPTER XLII. 



ENTERITIS — INFLAMMATORY DISEASE OF THE INTESTINES. 



Definition. — Inflammation affecting the intestines generally, or 

 any portion of them individually and in jJcirticular. 



Pathology, a. Nature and Varieties. — It has by some been 

 regarded as an established fact that inflammatory disease of 

 the intestinal portion of the alimentary canal is rarely in the 

 horse developed apart from a similar condition of the gastric 

 structures ; this, however, does not seem to be confirmed either 

 by clinical or post-mortem observations. 



In other of our patients, particularly the smaller ruminants, 

 there seems evidence to induce us to regard the concomitance 

 of these conditions as of more frequent occurrence. Neither 

 are we inclined to regard enteritis, apart from mechanical 

 causes, as such a very common equine disease as many represent 

 it ; while, when it does occur, and is fairly developed, there is 

 abundant evidence to satisfy as to its extreme fatality. Like 

 the simple functional disturbances connected with the canal, 

 enteritis, or true inflammatory action, may occur at any period 

 of the animal's life, but is more largely exhibited amongst 

 animals which have reached adult life and are fully under the 



