Symijtonis. 



417 



Symptoms. In horses, sudden, rarely gradually developing 

 symptoms of violent abdominal pain are observed; in some 

 cases the animals previously show the symptoms of stenosis 

 of the intestine. Usually the animals throw themselves down 

 recklessly, roll, kick with their feet, and their restlessness may 

 even assume the character of a maniacal excitement. Later 

 they avoid reckless throwing ; they lie down, but do so carefully, 

 or they stand still, ^ 



probably i n conse- 

 quence of the devel- 

 opment of periton- 

 itis, which causes 

 pain. Earely do the 

 animals behave quiet- 

 ly and with care from 

 the start, and do not 

 throw themselves 

 down, and in such 

 cases one might think 

 of a stronger con- 

 striction of intestinal 

 and mesenteric 

 nerves at the place 

 of strangulation. 

 Sometimes a reck- 

 less behavior persists 

 until the end. Stretch- 

 ing, lying down on 

 one side, squatting 

 dog fashion on the 

 haunches, kneeling, 

 lying on the back are 

 observed frequently; 

 these positions have, 

 however, no particu- 

 lar significance. The 

 restlessness may be 

 almost absolutely con- 

 tinuous, so that the patients are still hardly a moment, either in 

 standing or in the recumbent posture, or the restlessness comes 

 on in short attacks; this depends upon the intervals at which 

 the convulsive intestinal contractions occur. In strangulation 

 of the rectum or small colon, strong pressing down is seen oc- 

 casionally. The expression of the face betrays distressing pain 

 the same as in intestinal displacements in general. 



The abdominal circumference is rarely increased, and if at 

 all only moderately so. Intestinal sounds may be increased for 

 some time in strangulation of the rectum or small colon; in 



Fig. 44. Loop of small intestine strangulated by a lipo- 

 ma: (a), lipoma, (&), its pedicle, which forms a ring, 

 (c), strangulated loop of intestine with swollen and 

 much congested mesentery, (d) . 



