TREATMENT OF PARALYSIS OE THE RECTUM. 611 



to be expected, but Hamis's case of paralysis of the rectum in a 

 cow, resulting from fracture between the sacrum and first coccygeal 

 vertebra, recovered in a month. A case is also described in the 

 annual report of the Prussian army, where a horse recovered in three 

 weeks from paralysis of this nature following a fall. 



Treatment. Cicatricial stricture of the anus and posterior section 

 of the rectum may be temporarily relieved by forcible dilatation ; 

 in man, bougies are employed, but their use in animals is attended 

 with difficulty, and is only justified when, for instance, a favourite 

 and very valuable dog is in question, for whose recovery every means 

 must be employed. Bougies consist of cylindrical hollow or solid 

 rods, formed of hard rubber, or of material similar to that of which 

 catheters are made. To be successful they require to be very fre- 

 quently passed. Another method is forcibly to dilate constrictions with 

 forceps. Johow relates having, after incision, dilated with the hand a 

 firm ring-shaped stricture in the rectum of a horse. Volk cured a pig 

 whose anus had closed, after prolapse of the rectum, by making a 

 cross-shaped incision over the anus and breaking down the adhesions. 



Constipation, following either constriction or dilatation, is treated 

 by suitable diet and the use of purgatives or clysters ; the intestinal 

 contents being softened by copious injections of lukewarm water. 

 In advanced cases of dilatation or paralysis, the rectum requires 

 to be emptied once or twice daily. To combat paralysis all kinds of 

 drugs, the induced electric current, &c, have been tried, but without 

 success. Deigendesch tried strychnine without good result. 



VII.— ANAL FISTULA AND RECTO-VAGINAL FISTULA. 



All fistulse in the neighbourhood of the anus are described as 

 anal fistulse. Where a communication exists between the skin and 

 rectum, the fistula is termed "complete," where one end is blind, 

 " incomplete." Sometimes one end communicates with the rectum, 

 the other with the vagina (Fistula recto-vaginalis). The latter is 

 sometimes congenital, but also results from injuries, particularly 

 during delivery. 



Injuries and cellulitis of the paraproctal connective tissue are 

 the common causes of anal fistula, but the condition may be congenital 

 and associated with atresia ani. Operation is the only effective treat- 

 ment, and in the case of recto-vaginal fistulse frequently fails. 



Schrader, in a six-year-old mare, observed recto-vaginal fistula of a 

 diameter of 1J inches, about 4 inches in front of the anus. Meer found a 

 similar one, which had appeared after delivery, 3 to 4 inches in front of the 

 anus in a mare. Munkel observed in an ox a " complete " anal fistula, 



R R 2 



