Symptoms. Course. 



861 



portion, either towards the median line or towards the h't't al)- 

 dominal wall (Fig. 39). 



Defecation at first occnrs more frequently but soon becomes 

 delayed or suppressed. In the beginning, and in the less severe 

 cases until termination of the affection, there is a good deal of 

 flatus. 



The respiration becomes increasingly more difficult; the 

 pulse rapidly becomes accelerated, so that when the bloating 

 of the posterior abdomen has become quite noticeable the 

 pulse will soon be 60 per minute; the more rapid it becomes 



the weaker it will be. The mu- 



cons membranes are at first dark ,^-" 



red, soon, however, they become 



cyanotic, the visible veins are 



strongly filled. ^^MKK^I 



The body of the patient is 0«Mi^mm..l 



loathed in perspiration. If the 

 stomach is likewise bloated there 



is also often belching, more rare- / i | 



ly retching, occasionally^ vomit- v ^ I 



ing. 



Wohner saw a case of bloating in a foal 

 with subcutaneous empliyseina on the back and 

 shoulders. The case ended in recovery. 



Secondary bloating leads to 

 variable symptoms aside from 

 the increase in abdominal circum- 

 ference; these depend largely 

 upon the nature of the under- 

 lying condition. 



In hogs, dogs and rabbits, the 

 clinical picture varies somewhat 

 from that in the horse ; the for- 

 mer animals either do not suffer 

 abdominal pains or they only be- 

 tray them by repeated attacks of 

 crying out, frequent changes of 

 position or groaning. Belching, 

 retching and vomiting on the other hand are seen more fre- 

 quently. 



Course. The accumulation of gas may reach such a de- 

 gree, occasionally within four to five hours, and in smaller ani- 

 mals earlier, even if the animals have apparently quieted down, 

 that suffocation comes on. (Goldbeck saw a horse, in which 

 bloating came on after eating fresh clover, succumb after the 

 illness had lasted only 16 to 20 minutes.) Ruptures are some- 

 times seen ; they occur in those cases of primary bloating where 

 the accumulation of gas is not uniform and where some por- 

 tions of the gastro-intestinal tract become excessively dilated. 



Fig. 39. Bloating of the intestines. 

 Position of the left loops of the colon 

 and course of the longitudinal bands of 

 the left lower portion in extensive 

 bloating of the horse. 



