570 FOREIGN BODIES IN THE DIGESTIVE TRACT. 



given and the milk be diluted and restricted ; but, as a rule, no change 

 for the better will be observed if a hair or twine ball be present in 

 the stomach. In other cases premonitory symptoms are absent ; 

 the calf is seized with a fit from which recovery takes place in a few 

 minutes, and similar fits follow at longer or shorter intervals. 



In dogs, obstruction of the bowel caused by foreign bodies is 

 shown by vomiting and complete loss of appetite. The animals 

 vomit all kinds of nourishment — even pure water — soon after re- 

 ceiving it. Severe febrile symptoms, which generally accompany 

 inflammatory diseases of the mucous membrane of the stomach 

 or bowel, are here wanting. Under such circumstances diagnosis 

 can scarcely be doubtful. 



By palpation of the bowel the foreign body may sometimes be 

 felt. For this purpose the dog is placed on his hind-legs, the body 

 grasped from above, and the viscera allowed to glide between the 

 fingers of the two hands, by moving these with slight pressure from 

 the under portion of the abdomen towards the vertebrae. But such 

 manipulation often requires to be frequently repeated to discover 

 the foreign body. Sometimes the latter is not felt on the first attempt, 

 but may be discovered after a short interval, say an hour ; some- 

 times it is so far forward, and so sheltered by the ribs, as altogether 

 to escape palpation. Examination by Rontgen rays gives immediate 

 information as to the position and character of the foreign body, and 

 has been successfully resorted to in dogs. 



It is easy to avoid mistaking masses of faeces in the rectum, or 

 the kidneys or abdominal tumours, for foreign bodies. The first 

 will be recognised as long sausage-shaped cords of a softish character. 

 A foreign body is differentiated from a kidney by its position and 

 mobility. The greatest difficulty arises in distinguishing foreign 

 bodies from tumours, but as these are very rare in the anterior part 

 of the abdomen, they may almost be neglected in diagnosis. 



Dogs with stoppage of the bowel generally die in eight to ten 

 days, with symptoms of extreme weakness ; oxen with injuries to 

 abdominal and thoracic organs after an illness of varying length. 

 Recovery is rare, except where the foreign body perforates the 

 abdominal wall. 



Treatment usually comes too late. In oxen, repeated attempts 

 have been made to remove sharp foreign bodies by rumenotomy. 

 Obich cured four cases out of thirteen ; in three, abscesses formed, 

 and in five help was too late. Meyer has operated with success. 

 After making an incision into the rumen in the usual way, the operator 

 inserts his arm in a forward and downward direction to discover 



