76 INTESTINAL OBSTRUCTION. 



soon is no longer felt, and the animal dies. 



This is a picture of a typical case of intestinal obstruction running an 

 acute course. It will be appreciated that few cases have symptomatic 

 phenomena in common. In many instances they run a course which might 

 riot improperly be termed chronic; the symptoms then are vague and ill 

 defined. This is commonly the case when the obstruction is due to the 

 impaction of foreign bodies such as woody fibres, bones, etc. 



Some cases of the so called chronic affection have been reported through- 

 out which aside from discomfort, loss of appetite, obstinate constipation, 

 and some fever late in the attack, no positive symptoms were present 

 absolutely indicative of the trouble. 



Diagnosis . — The diagnosis is usually made at the autopsy, not before. 

 Where the attack takes on an acute course, it might be mistaken for a case 

 of poisoning, more especially with arsenic; but a careful consideration of 

 the symptoms should obviate the danger of confusion. Generally the dif- 

 ficulty in diagnosis will be to discriminate obstruction from colic and 

 acute peritonitis. The persistency of pain, the appearance of tenderness 

 and vomiting, with such marked constitutional symptoms will soon point 

 to a graver affection than colic. 



In acute peritonitis the symptoms develop more gradually ; the tender- 

 ness is more diffused over the whole abdomen, the muscles of which are 

 more rigid, and the matter vomited is different in character. It should 

 also be remembered that peritonitis more commonly follows traumatic 

 injuries and an absence of such a history would weigh considerably. 



In obstruction often a lump or tumor appears in the abdomen, showing 

 the locality of the stoppage. At best a diagnosis will be difficult; the con- 

 siderations noted will aid some in differentiation. 



Prognosis. —If the obstruction is caused by obstinate constipation and 

 impaction of foreign bodies, the chances of recovery are greater. When 

 the intestine is closed by a twist it might straighten itself, a knot might 

 loosen, a strangulated loop might become free, and an intussusception 

 become disengaged; again that portion of the intestine which may have 

 invaginated or entered into another, might slough off and pass out by 

 the bowels. Such happy results are however very rare, and a fatal termi- 

 nation in the majority of cases maybe anticipated. 



Treatment. —Theory suggests many methods of treatment; experience 

 tells how futile they have proved. The indications are to secure as near 

 perfect rest of the intestinal canal as possible, to relieve pain and support 

 the powers of life. Cathartics must never be given, as they interfere with 

 the objects just mentioned and are deadly in their effect. Opium should be 

 given in sufficient quantity to control the pain, and the strength should be 

 maintained by concentrated and nutritious food with stimulants if needed. 



