116 DISEASES OF THE DIGESTIVE APPARATUS. 



It is by methodically observing, grouping, and classifying the 

 symptoms presented that one is enabled to detect the links connecting 

 them. 



Intestine. The intestinal mass is contained in the right half of the 

 abdomen above the compartment of the stomach. The large intestine 

 occupies the upper zone, corresponding externally with the hollow of 

 the flank from the thirteenth rib to the haunch. The small intestine 

 occupies the middle zone from the thirteenth rib to the entrance to the 

 pelvis and the stifle region ; the inferior zone is occupied by the rumen 

 and abomasum, and in pregnant females by the gravid uterus. 



Notwithstanding these indications it is somewhat difficult to examine 

 the mass of the large intestine, separated as it is from the abdominal wall 

 by the U-shaped inflection of the duodenal loop, of which the deep retro- 

 grade branch is in contact with the terminal portion of the floating colon. 



Inspection of the right flank furnishes no information of value 

 in diseases of the intestine, nor is auscultation of much service beyond 

 enabling one to detect the frequency, diminution, or absence of bor- 

 borygmus. Palpation alone is really of service. Practised gently and 

 superficially with the tips of the fingers it detects abnormal sensibility 

 in acute cases of enteritis ; when with more energy, palpation reveals 

 whether the bowel be full or empty, provided that the muscular resis- 

 tance be not too marked. 



Colic. In colic the clinical signs, their varieties, and the lesions which 

 give rise to them are of much more importance. When it results from 

 intestinal congestion a frigore (due, for example, to the ingestion of cold 

 water), colic is usually violent, sudden, and of relatively short duration. 

 In other cases it is violent and prolonged for several hours, a whole day, 

 or even two days, and may be followed by coma and suppressed peristalsis ; 

 it then indicates invagination, volvulus, or strangulation. Sometimes, on 

 the contrary, it remains dull and is slow and continued (acute gastro- 

 enteritis, haemorrhagic gastro-enteritis, etc.). 



Finally, colic of the latter character may, in addition, be accompanied 

 by icterus, in cases of retention- of bile, biliary calculi, hepatitis, etc. 



Anus. Examination of the anus is easy. Simple inspection reveals 

 its presence or absence, and consequently the existence of congenital 

 rectal atresia, which is somewhat common in calves and colts. Digital 

 exploration is, however, sometimes useful, for in occasional cases an anus 

 may exist, which externally appears normal, but terminates in a sac, the 

 rectum being closed by a membranous partition. 



Nothing is easier to recognise than tenesmus; it occurs in cases of 

 profuse diarrhoea, diarrhoea of calves, and dysentery in newly-born 

 animals. 



Rectal exploration. Exploration of the rectum is a last and most 



