Anatomical Changes. Symptoms. 367 



causes moderate bloating, possibly even enteritis ; since there is 

 no fermentation in the obstructed portions of the intestines, 

 bloating- will not occur there. However, in obstipation of the 

 small intestine and not infrequently in oJjstipation of the large 

 intestine, secondary dilatation of the stomach is seen frequently. 

 Enteritis and the other complications cause general symptoms, 

 which, however, come on only after several days in obstipation 

 of the large intestines. 



Anatomical Changes. The obstructed parts of intestines 

 are dilated, their surface may be smooth or nodular, their 

 abundant contents appear more or less desiccated, mortar-like ; 

 the contents of the large intestines may even show the contours 

 of the pouches. The mucosa shows blood extravasation ; it looks 

 as if covered with bran in consequence of epithelial necrosis, 

 and sometimes shows larger patches of necrotic tissue. In more 

 prolonged obstipation of the cecum one sees hypertrophy of the 

 muscularis and considerable chronic dilatation of the intestines. 

 Sometimes a rupture is found at the place of the obstruction 

 or immediately in front of it ; if there has been dilatation of the 

 stomach there may be rupture of the stomach. 



Symptoms. In the most common type of obstipation of the 

 large intestine one sees in the beginning retarded defecation 

 which may last for several days, then there is complete absence 

 of it in spite of repeated efforts. Obstipation of the cecum 

 offers an exception because there may be defecation, though per- 

 haps deficient, which only ceases in the further course of the 

 affection. With the absence of defecation symptoms of colic 

 appear, at first of a mild type and at long intervals, often lasting 

 for hours. Restlessness later on becomes somewdiat more con- 

 tinuous and intense, but does not reach a high degree. The 

 animals lie fairly quietly on the floor, only occasionally turning 

 their heads toward the abdomen (rolling is rarely observed) ; 

 they paw from time to time with their front feet and move their 

 tails. Squatting on the haunches may occur in any form of 

 obstipation. Not infrequently the patients place their feet like 

 male horses in urination, so that the front legs are placed much 

 towards the front and the hind legs much backwards, while the 

 back is stretched out. 



The abdominal circumference remains unchanged for some 

 time, and occasionally until the disease has run its course, par- 

 ticularly if the horse has a tense abdominal wall. The percus- 

 sion sound is usually dull over the colon, and the dullness may 

 extend over the cecum ; often, however, percussion may not re- 

 veal anything abnormal in spite of extensive accumulation of 

 feces, because the loops of intestines filled with firm fecal masses 

 may not be in touch with the abdominal wall. The intestinal 

 sounds always occur less frequently and they may be suppressed 

 entirely in the further course of the disease. 



