Symptoms. Course. 421 



The elevation of temperature which sets in later, announces 

 the development of peritonitis or of general infection. 



Dogs become depressed, they lie around a good deal, some- 

 times they cry out, groan, whine, constantly change their place, 

 sometimes look around towards the abdomen, get up suddenly, 

 roll, stretch their extremities stiffly, or remain for a long time 

 resting on their abdomen. They frequently exhibit an irritable 

 temper. Gagging or obstinate vomiting are seen frequently. 

 Constipation is complete from the start. 



The abdominal circumference is at first normal, it may 

 become larger in the further course; the abdominal walls are 

 tense, and strong pressure at certain points excites pain. In 

 palpation of the abdomen, which must be made under a slight 

 narcosis if there is great tension, one can feel somewhere in the 

 abdominal cavity, distended painful loops of intestines ; some- 

 times the strangulation can be mapped out as a firm, stretched 

 painful mass. 



The restlessness, which is not very great, decreases within 

 olie next hours, but the deterioration of the condition is shown 

 by increasing depression, weakness, elevation of temperature, 

 a weak and rapid pulse, continued obstinate vomiting and con- 

 stipation. As in serious diseases of dogs in general, one may 

 in this case observe a lowering instead of an elevation of tem- 

 perature. 



In hogs Spathe described a clinical ])icture in intestinal 

 strangulation similar to that observed in dogs. 



Course. The disease is characterized in all species of ani- 

 mals by a sudden onset; sometimes it follows upon a manifest 

 predisposing cause, which is preceded in infrequent cases by 

 the symptoms of intestinal stenosis. Pain is either intense from 

 the very onset or it may increase gradually, l)ut rapidly; this 

 depends upon whether the strangulation has l)een produced sud- 

 denly or has become complete only after some time. Severe pain 

 persists as long as the incarcerated intestines retain their power 

 to contract; according to variability in the degree of strangu- 

 lation this may last from a few hours to one day. Later on the 

 animals become apparently perfectly quiet or only occasionally 

 exhibit some signs of alxlominal pains which are caused by 

 contractions of the intestines situated between the place of 

 strangulation and the stomach, or by peritonitis which has set 

 in in the meantime. 



If the animals are left to themselves they soon perish in 

 consequence of rupture of the intestines, general sepsis or in- 

 toxication. Horses usually, dogs frequently, succumb during the 

 first day while cattle remain alive for two to six days (Walch). 



The possil)ility in the beginning of the affection of a spon- 

 taneous reduction of the strangulated portion of intestines must 

 be admitted in exceptional cases. 



