118 DISEASES OF THE DIGESTIVE APPARATUS. 



should first be thoroughly emptied by the free use of enemata, the 

 subsequent examination being made with great care. The animal's hind 

 legs being secured, the operator smears his hand and forearm with some 

 fatty substance, and, forming the fingers into a cone, introduces them 

 with gentle pressure through the anus, the palm of the hand being turned 

 downwards. Passing the hand gently along the rectum, the operator 

 will be able to distinguish the conical posterior pouches of the rumen, 

 the loop of the duodenum, the mass of convolutions of the small intes- 

 tines and of the colon, etc. Next, he will examine the vagina, uterus, 

 bladder, ureters, kidneys, aorta, and the pelvic and sub-lumbar lymphatic 

 glands. He may be able to recognise distension of the rumen with food, 

 twists of the intestine, herniae, mesenteric or diaphragmatic invagination 

 or volvulus of the bowel, etc. 



In other cases he may be able to discover lesions of the kidney, of the 

 uterus, of the broad uterine ligaments, of the ovaries, or of vessels. 



In all cases it is desirable to make a methodical and complete 

 examination, whatever the primary object may have been. Such 

 an examination may be carried out as follows: The operator having 

 introduced his hand into the rectum, begins by examining the state 

 of the pelvic organs, the rectum, base of the vagina, the body and 

 horns of the uterus, the bladder and the lymphatic glands and ligaments 

 of the pelvis. 



By laying the hand flat in the rectum and pressing gently downwards 

 the anterior border of the pubis may be felt, somewhat more deeply 

 placed. The rectum is then thrust slightly to the right, and the 

 ascending branch of the right ilium, as high as the sacro-iliac articula- 

 tion, and the lower surface of the sacrum, are directly examined ; lastly, 

 the hand is directed towards the left, gliding down the left ilium, and 

 returning to the point of departure. In this way the state of the pelvic 

 floor, of the arteries, veins, and lymphatic glands, etc., the degree of 

 mobility, tension, or fulness of the uterus, as well as the condition of the 

 broad ligaments, are all ascertained. 



Still more deeply placed, and at the extreme limit to which the arm 

 can be introduced, will be found some or all of the above-mentioned 

 organs — viz., the small intestine, large intestine, kidney, etc. 



Defaecation : Examination of the fsecal material. The character of 

 the faeces is very important in certain diseases ; e.g., diarrhoea assumes a 

 varying importance, according as the discharges are of an alimentary, 

 serous, mucous, or sanguinolent type, and are slight, temporary, intense, 

 profuse, or continued. In other cases defaecation is slow, becomes diffi- 

 cult, and various degrees of constipation exist. Defaecation may be 

 completely suppressed, as in invagination or strangulation of the intes- 

 tines ; on the other hand, one may observe diarrhoea, dysentery (microbic 



