424 THE PRACTICE OF VETERINARY MEDICINE. 



cause death ; however, if it is situated in the superior part 

 of the rectum, and posterior to the peritoneal attachments, 

 recovery may take place. But, if the rupture be situated 

 anterior to the attachment of the peritoneum, death is 

 almost certain to result. In either case, the practitioner, 

 if he thinks there is any chance of saving the animal, should 

 treat it. 



Treatment. — The treatment consists in closing the rupture 

 by means of the carbolized cat-gut suture. Give the animal 

 very little food for a few days, and what is given should be 

 nutritious and readily digestible. It may terminate in a 

 recto-raginal fistula if the patient be a mare, but death is 

 the usual termination. 



IMPERFORATE ANUS. 



This is a congenital condition in which the rectum ends 

 in a cut de sac, or blind pouch, and has no external opening, 

 or anus. It is by no means uncommon amongst pigs, and 

 may occur in all animals. 



Treatment. — An artificial opening must be made in the 

 proper place, the end of the rectum found, and drawn to 

 the edges of the artificial anus, and stitched to keep it in 

 place. Use some mild dressing, as white lotion, or carbolic 

 acid lotion, to keep down irritation. Keep the patient 

 quiet, and generally in a few days he will be all right. 



CHAPTEE XVIII. 



Diseases of the Liver. 



CONGESTION OF THE LIVER. 



Diseases of the liver are not quite so common in the 

 horse as in the human being, although all the changes 



