368 Acciuiiulatidn ot' Feces in the Intestines. 



Kectal examination reveals dilated, semi-solid, soft or en- 

 tirely firm loops of intestines. If there is an accunmlation of feces 

 in the colon, which is qnite frequent, one finds the whole left 

 half of the abdominal cavity filled with the left portions of the 

 colon, the lower one being characterized by longitudinal bands 

 and pockets and being felt towards the median line, the smooth 

 upper portion becoming larger towards the thorax, and the two 

 other portions in the entrance of the pelvis leading to the 

 smooth pelvic flexure. The latter frequently becomes displaced 

 entirely into the pelvis or slides towards the right side. If this 

 is the case one can feel the longitudinal bands running from 

 left to right, possibly with a spiral twist. Not infrequently the 

 left upper portion of the colon is displaced to the right or to 

 the left, beside or even below the dilated lower portion, but 

 without the production of a true torsion. The enlarged stom- 

 ach-like dilatation of the rectum may also be palpated in horses 

 unless they are large; it can be felt in front of the cecum, a 

 little to the right of the median line, and it has the shape of a 

 large semi-spherical, tough body, moving synchronously with 

 the respiration, possibly covered by the anterior mesenteric 

 root. The beginning of the small colon may be felt under the 

 anterior pole of the left kidney, as a sausage-like body of the 

 thickness of an arm, running obliquely from right to left. The 

 cecum, filled with feces, is detected when the hand is directed to 

 the right flank; it is recognized by its form and by the course 

 of its two longitudinal bands; it may be as firm as the colon 

 under similar conditions or its contents may even be almost as 

 hard as a rock. The head of the cecum and the small intestines 

 are frequently bloated in cecal obstipation. Loops of the small 

 colon in which feces have accumulated are felt, by the hand in- 

 troduced into the rectum as sausage-like loops, at the entrance 

 of the pelvis and particularly to the left, externally or internally 

 to the left portion of the large colon ; they are provided with one 

 longitudinal band and filled with balls of fecal matter. 



The pulse and respiration remain normal for a long time, 

 even for days, or if abnormal at all they present only slight 

 changes from the normal. The appetite may be good in the be- 

 ginning of the affection or for several days, even after the first 

 symptoms of colic, the animals ingest some feed and this ag- 

 gravates their condition and the restlessness after each meal. 

 Later, however, the appetite becomes permanently abolished. 



In a more advanced stage, usually only after several da^^s, 

 there is elevation of temperature, with debility and accelerated 

 pulse, indicating the advent of complications (enteritis, peri- 

 tonitis, meteorism, dilatation of the stomach). 



E. Bauer has made interesting observations concerning indican in 

 the urine in obstipation. In all cases examined an increase of indican 

 was found; in obstruction of the cecum three to four times the normal 

 amount, while in obstruction of the colon a rather moderate increase 

 was usually found. If the accumulation of feces could be removed from 



