Symptoms. 433 



time. The other portions of the intestines first remain of normal 

 size, but may often be displaced by the colon out of their proper 

 place (especially the cecum). After a longer duration of the 

 disease the other portions of the intestine likewise become 

 bloated, but never to such an extent as the colon. 



The position of the colon either remains normal or one 

 finds the two left divisions displaced towards the median plane 

 of the abdominal cavity, or even towards the base of the cecum. 

 The pelvic flexure is directed either backward or towards one 

 side, or towards the thorax, and the course of the divisions of 

 the colon is either straight or towards one side, or curved in a 

 bow. The mutual relation of the left divisions of the colon re- 

 mains either normal (in one complete torsion) or their relation 

 has changed so that the smooth upper division, becoming larger 

 towards the thorax, is situated either towards the right or left, 

 or below the much thicker lower division, and presents bands 

 and sacculations. If the pelvic flexure is displaced toward the 

 front, it can be palpated per rectum only in small horses. If, 

 however, the upper division is situated more or less laterally 

 from the lower division, the pelvic flexure is found more or less 

 horizontal on the lower abdominal wall instead of vertical as 

 found under normal conditions. The two free bands of the lower 

 division (one lateral and one median longitudinal band) show 

 the same course as the lower division of the colon itself, but 

 they are also influenced by the position of the pelvic flexure. A 

 spiral course of the longitudinal bands to the right or left can 

 be ascertained particularly in those cases where the spiral 

 formed in twisting reached' into the neighborhood of the pelvic 

 flexure, or where the latter has been bent towards the front, 

 otherwise the bands show a normal course. Pulling- on the colon 

 or on its longitudinal bands frequently causes pain to the pa- 

 tient. The point of torsion, where the divisions of the colon are 

 twisted into a spiral, tough cord, in a circumscribed place, can 

 only be recognized in those very rare cases where torsion has 

 occurred in the posterior half of the left division of the colon. 



According to Jelkmann, in torsion of the colon the hand introduced into the 

 rectum feels the mesentery in the place of the fourth lumbar vertebra as a tense 

 and tender cord which runs from above to the left and downward ; one also feels a 

 second tense cord (one of the longitudinal bands of the left lower division) in the 

 region of the left flank. Moller, however, thinks that the characteristic feature is 

 the finding of the two free bands of the bloated left lower division as two tense 

 strings which run in a spiral direction from left to right or from right to left. 



Kinking^ of the colon or of the cecum may be assumed when 

 the intestinal wall, in some place, forms a sharp angle, and when 

 the bent portion of the intestine is strongly bloated. The place 

 of kinking must, of course, be at a point accessible to rectal ex- 

 ploration, otherwise it cannot be recognized. 



Curved bends of the colon, more rarely of the cecum, which are observed in 

 other colicky affection of horses, cannot be looked upon as kinking, because they do 

 not encroach upon the intestinal lumen nor do they produce circulatory disturbances. 

 Vol. 2-28 



