Rupture of the Stomach hi Solipeds. 183 



able to a verj' tense bladder which is liable to burst when forcibly 

 struck, or suddenly compressed. 



Apart from such indigestion, cases are recorded in which the 

 full stomach has been burst by a sudden fall in the shafts or else- 

 where. Miles even records a case which occurred during a rapid 

 galop after a full drink of water. 



The presence of solid bodies (calculi, gravel) in the stomach or 

 even in the intestines has appeared to cause rupture by blocking 

 the outlet of ingesta and determining indigestion. 



Certain conditions predispose to rupture, notably dilatation of 

 the stomach with attenuation of its walls, cribbiting, old standing 

 catarrh of the viscus, pre-existing ulcerations, cicatrices and 

 abscesses. 



Symptoms. There is usually the history of a full feed of grain, 

 followed by violent colic, and indications of gastric overdisten- 

 sion, tense abdomen, dullness, then the rejection of the gastric 

 contents by vomiting, the matters escaping by the nose, and then 

 collapse. The violence of the colics may cease, but the pulse 

 becomes rapid, small, and finally imperceptible, the breathing 

 hurried, the head depressed, eyelids, ears and often the lower lips 

 drooping, the face becomes lieavj' and expressionless, the belly 

 distended and tender, the skin covered with cold sweat, and the 

 temperature exalted above or depressed below the normal. There 

 is never an}' disposition to eat nor drink. Death follows in a few 

 hours. 



In the vomiting which is independent of rupture, the symptoms 

 are usually at once relieved, when the eme.sis occurs, since not 

 only liquid and solid matters escape but also gaseous material. 

 The pulse retains its fullness, the facial expression is that of in- 

 telligence and comfort, rumbling may be resumed in the bowels, 

 faeces and urine may be passed, and colics are less acute. In 

 favorable cases the animal may even desire to eat or drink. 



Lesions. The usual seat of rupture is on the great curvature 

 and may extend longitudinall}' for from six to ten inches. The 

 laceration is usually most extensive in the outer coats, and the 

 mucosa is carried outward with the escaping ingesta, which helps 

 to efface the normal mucous folds at the cardia, and to render 

 vomiting possible. The edges of the wound are more or less 

 shreddy, and of a dark violet color from blood extravasation and 



