116 HORSE, SWINE AND POULTRY DISEASES 



Intestinal Concretions (Calculi (Stones) in the Intestines). 

 These concretions are usually found in the large bowels, though 

 they are occasionally met with in the small intestines. They are of 

 various sizes, weighing from 1 ounce to 25 pounds; they may be 

 single or multiple, and differ in composition and appearance, some 

 being soft (composed mostly of animal or vegetable matter), while 

 others are porous, or honeycombed (consisting of animal and min- 

 eral matter) , and others are entirely hard and stonelike. The hair 

 balls, so common to the stomach and intestines of cattle, are very 

 rare in the horse. Intestinal calculi form around some foreign 

 body, as a rule a nail or piece of wood whose shape they may as- 

 sume to a certain extent. Layers are arranged concentrically around 

 such nucleus until the sizes above spoken of are attained. These 

 stones are also often found in millers' horses, as well also as in horses 

 in limestone districts, where the water is hard. When the calculi 

 attain a sufficient size and become lodged or blocked in some part of 

 the intestines, they cause obstruction, inflammation of the bowels, 

 colicky symptoms, and death. There are no certain signs or symp- 

 toms that reveal them. Recurring colics of the type of impaction 

 colic, but more severe, may lead one to suspect the existence of this 

 condition. Examination through the rectum may reveal the cal- 

 culus. 



The symptoms will be those of obstruction of the bowels. Upon 

 post-mortem examinations these stones will be discovered mostly in 

 the large bowels ; the intestines will be inflamed or gangrenous about 

 the point of obstruction. Sometimes calculi have been expelled by 

 the action of a physic, or they may be removed by the hand when 

 found to occupy the rectum. 



As in concretions of the stomach, there can be but little done 

 in the way of treatment more than to overcome spasm (if any ex- 

 ists), and to give physics with the hope of dislodging the stone or 

 stones and carrying them on and outw r ard. 



Intussusception, or Invagination. This is the slipping of a 

 portion of the intestine into another portion immediately adjoining, 

 like a partially turned glove finger. This may occur at any part 

 of the bowels, but is most frequent in the small guts. The invagi- 

 nated portion may be slight 2 or 3 inches only or extensive, 

 measuring as many feet. In intussusception, the inturned bowel is 

 in the direction of the anus. There are adhesions of the intestines 

 at this point, congestion, inflammation, or even gangrene. This ac- 

 cident is most likely to occur in horses that are suffering from spasm 

 of the bowel, or in those where a small portion of the gut is para- 

 lyzed. The natural wormlike or ringlike contraction of the gut 

 favors the passage of the contracted or paralyzed portion into that 

 immediately behind it. It may occur during the existence of almost 

 any abdominal trouble, as diarrhea, inflammation of the bowels, or 

 from injuries, exposure to cold, etc. A fall or leaping may give the 

 initial maldirection. Foals are most likely to be thus afflicted. 



Symptoms. Unless the invaginated portion of the gut be- 

 comes strangulated, probably no symptoms will be appreciable> ex- 



