696 SPORADIC DISEASES. 



degeneration of its muscular coat, is manifested by symptoms 

 similar to those of rupture of the stomach. If occurring from 

 impaction, it will be found that the passage of enemas, which 

 had previously been difficult, owing to the violent straining or 

 resistance of the animal, becomes suddenly easy ; the hand 

 introduced into the rectum meets with little or no resistance, 

 the intestine itself being dilated and paralyzed. 



DISEASES OF THE RECTUM. 



The condition of degeneration observable in the stomach and 

 colon J^ sometimes met with in the rectum, causing a gradually 

 decreasing contractile power of the bowel, in consequence of 

 which the fsecal mattei's accumulate to an inordinate extent, 

 and are only expelled by violent straining and contraction of 

 the abdominal muscles. In such instances, it is observed that 

 the faeces of the horse, which in its normal condition is divided 

 into globular pellets, is discharged from the body as a huge 

 mass, resembling a large German sausage, and as thick as a man's 

 leg. I have observed this condition, which may be denominated 

 paralysis of the rectum, as a result of injury of the spine or 

 sacro-lumbar nerves, and independently of injury in old horses 

 habitually kept upon coarse, indigestible food. When resulting 

 from injury, it has sometimes disappeared, either spontaneously, 

 as the lesion which caused it became repaired, or by the assis- 

 tance of nervine tonics, more particularly nux vomica, and 

 blisters to the sacro-lumbar region. In many instances, it has 

 been necessary to empty the bowel by the hand four or five 

 times daily, and to administer enemas to prevent pain and 

 colicky symptoms. Eupture of the rectum has sometimes 

 occurred from this cause. 



Rupture of the rectum has also occurred within my experience 

 from the formation of an aneurism of the hemorrhoidal arteries, 

 the pressure of the aneurismal timiour having caused atrophy, 

 not only of the muscular and peritoneal, but also of the mucous 

 coat of the intestine, and rupture of these being caused by 

 some sudden effort ; haemorrhage has occurred both into the 

 intestinal canal and peritoneal cavity. Rupture has also been 

 witnessed as a result of a tumour, and as an accident during 

 parturition. 



Accidental rupture of the rectum, posterior to its peritoneal 



