432 



Volvulus and Torsio 



till' Tutestine. 



in a straight or eurveil lino is witliout sigiiilicauee, because it is likewise seen in 

 thrombotic or embolic infarction (see page 4U."}). It appears doubtful whether one 

 is justified, as Wall claims, to attribute congestion in the colon, in the absence of 

 any torsion, to a stricture which has existed during life, but whidi has become relieved 

 spontaneously before the animal died. 



Postniortem ■displacement of tlie intestines can be distinguished from tliose 

 formed during life, because in the former case signs of congestion are absent. 



Symptoms. External symptoms of torsion are in general 

 identical in varions species of animals with those of internal 

 strangulation of the intestine (see page 417). A decided dif- 

 ference exists in the main in the fact that volvnlns and torsion 

 generally lead to a considerable increase of the abdominal cir- 



/ 





Fig. 47. Volvulus of the small colon. C small colon, R. rectum (according to 

 Mollereau ) . 



cumference, because the large intestine or a considerable por- 

 tion of the small intestine are involved, hence a good deal of 

 bloating will occur. 



In the case of torsion of the colon in the horse, rectal exami- 

 nation will show a high degree of meteorism. One finds both left 

 divisions, particularly the lower one, considerably distended 

 and reaching up to the upper abdominal wall, so that some- 

 times it is possible only with the greatest difficulty to force the 

 hand between the bloated bowel and the upper abdominal wall. 

 Firm feces cannot be felt through the mucli distended and very 

 tense elastic wall. If, however, the patients are examined at 

 once after the onset of the affection or if the latter progresses 

 exceptionally slowly, extensive bloating may be missed for some 



