320 Veterinary Medicine. 



diseases, etc.) retard defecation and favor impaction as in the 

 mammal. 



The symptoms may be ; hard dr}' droppings, matting of the 

 feathers over the anus with feculent matters, a firm swelling sur- 

 rounding the sphincter, a pendent condition of the abdomen which 

 when manipulated is felt to be firm and resistant, ruffling of the 

 feathers, drooping of the head, wings and tail, walking sluggishly 

 with legs half bent and a waddling gait, and ineffectual attempts 

 to defecate. 



Treatment. As in dogs remove the obstructing mass by 

 mechanical means. Matted feathers may be clipped off, and 

 feculent accumulations may be dislodged by the aid of the 

 finger, or in small birds of a blunt prob. This may be favored 

 b}' manipulation through the abdominal walls, and the injection 

 of soapy or oily enemata. Accumulations of impacted egg 

 matter may be similarly removed, or, failing this, by an incision 

 made through the abdominal walls and oviduct. As a purgative 

 give one or two teaspoonfuls castor oil according to the size of 

 the hen, or a few drops to a small cage bird. For the latter 

 Friedberger and Frohner advise a few drops of tincture of rhubarb 

 in the drinking water. Injections of warm or cold soapsuds or 

 water may be continued as symptoms demand. Green food, 

 ensilage, roots, worms, snails and insects are indicated to correct 

 the tendency to costiveness and may be continued until the bowels 

 have acquired their proper tone. A moderate allowance of onions 

 is often of great value. 



HAIR BALLS IN THE INTESTINES— HORSE. 

 EGAGROPILES. 



Seat, colon, caecum; hair of oat seed, clover leaf, vine tendrils, hair of 

 horse, nucleus, calcic admixti:re, straw, in horses on dry food, with depraved 

 appetite, or with skin disease. Symptoms : none, or torpid bowels, colics, 

 recurring, fermentations, tympany, obstruction, rupture, peritonitis, rectal 

 exploration. Lesions: impacted ball, with excess of liquid and gas in front, 

 rupture, ragged bloody edges. Treatment : extraction, enemata, eserine, 

 barium chloride. 



Hair balls, received the name of egagropiles because of their 

 discovery in the alimentary canal of the wild goat, but they are 



