DISEASES OF THE INTESTINES. 229 



All of them may be associated with great enteric or abdo- 

 minal pain, restlessness, sitting on the hind-quarters, small, 

 frequent, thready pulse, accelerated respiration, cold extre- 

 mities, distension of the abdomen, and collapse, ending in 

 death from exhaustion. 



In some cases it may be possible to detect an external 

 hernia, when the diagnosis will be at once cleared up. The 

 progress of the case will sometimes help us in forming a 

 diagnosis ; for example, if there be constipation, with fre- 

 quent attacks of colic, the obstruction is probably due to 

 impaction of faeces. 



Treatment of Obstruction. — Anodynes, such as those re- 

 commended in colic, may be given, and repeated as often as 

 necessary. Tincture of opium and sulphuric ether are per- 

 haps the most efficacious. Enemata of warm water may be 

 injected in full amount into the rectum, and hot fomenta- 

 tions, or woollen cloths wrung out from hot water, applied 

 to the abdomen. The rectum may be explored also by the 

 hand, with the object of removing obstructions when within 

 reach. 



In some instances tapping the distended bowel is recom- 

 mended when the distension is very great. 



The food sliould be of a laxative kind, and only allowed 

 in moderation. 



RUPTURE OF THE INTESTINE. 



Eupture of the walls of the intestine is of more frequent 

 occurrence in the colon than in the small intestine, and is 

 due in most instances to impaction of faeces, or to excessive 

 tympanitis, or to both these conditions associated together. 

 It is readily intelligible that these disorders are especially 

 liable to result where the walls of the gut are in an atonic 

 or degenerated condition. Moreover, under these circum- 

 stances the muscular and other coats of the intestines are 



