76o DISEASES AND ABNORMALITIES. 



Ill young female animals in which the rectum is absent, it often hap- 

 pens that the intestine opens into the vagina, and the fasces are expelled 

 by that canal. Rainard has witnessed this malformation in several fillies, 

 and his attention was also drawn to four young pigs — males and females 

 — in which the anus was absent. They were the litter of one Sow. It is 

 therefore well to ascertain, in the case of female animals destitute of an 

 anus, whether the meconium or faeces pass by the vulva. 



Treatment. 



The symptoms lead the veterinary surgeon to examine the defecating 

 organs, and to discover the character of the obstruction. If there is only 

 a simple membrane occluding the anus, this projects like a large vesicle 

 through the pressure made upon it by the faeces. This membrane, which 

 is really the skin, has usually a deep red tint, and is soft and thin, offer- 

 ing but little resistance. The prominence it forms is altogether soft and 

 pits on pressure. In such a case all that has to be done is to incise the 

 membrane — in a crucial manner, if deemed best. Along, narrow, pointed 

 bistoury is the most suitable. After well ascertaining the entrance to 

 the rectum, the skin is punctured, care being taken not to allow the knife 

 to pass too deep ; a director may be employed to complete the incision, 

 and to guard the intestine from injury. No sooner is this incision made, 

 than the meconium escapes ; then the crucial division may be made with 

 a pair of sharp scissors. The index finger should be introduced as far as 

 possible into the intestine, to make certain that all is right there. 



In order to prevent the opening closing by cicatrization, a suppository 

 or tent may be introduced into the rectum, and withdrawn every now and 

 again in order to allow the fasces to be expelled — injections assisting in 

 the latter ; or the angles of the divided skin may be snipped off by scis- 

 sors, so as to hinder their union. The lips of the wound are subsequently 

 lubrified by a little oil or grease, and, provided inflammation does not 

 set in, recovery is certain. 



When the prominence is not present, and yet there is complete occlu- 

 sion, with all the symptoms above-mentioned, the operation is more dif- 

 ficult. The perineal raphe is sought for, as on its track the anus should 

 be found. This is carefully felt, when the prominence formed by the end 

 of the intestine will be discovered. Then a short incision is made through 

 the skin only on the middle line ; the subcutaneous tissues are dissected 

 away until the bulging of the intestine is reached ; this is drawn outwards 

 between the lips of the wound by forceps or a ligature, and an opening 

 made into it, and the contents removed. The margins of the opening 

 are then secured to the borders of the external wound by some fine su- 

 tures, and attention is paid to the parts during the healing process, in 

 order to prevent the artificial anus becoming too contracted. 



When the rectum is absent to a more or less considerable extent (in 

 some cases it is reduced to a mere fibrous cord), then but little benefit 

 can be conferred. In a few instances nature has effected a partial rem- 

 edy, by establishing an artificial opening by ulceration through organs 

 and textures, and the faeces have escaped by the fistula. 



Rainard mentions this natural colotomy as occurring in two young 

 horses. An artificial opening may be made either in the perineal or ab- 

 dominal region \ but it is rare indeed that the animal is worth the trouble 

 and risk. 



