INFLAMED BOWELS. 185 



when it has commenced, it is not easily removed. This 

 kind is known by the gradual manner in which it attacks, 

 and by its being at first unaccompanied by any very active 

 symptoms. , The dog* appears dull, dislikes to move, and 

 hides himself ; his belly is hot, and sore also. The costiveness 

 is sometimes so complete, that nothing at all comes from him ; 

 at others a few drops of foeces are strained out at every effort, 

 which is apt to make the observer suppose that the dog is not 

 bound, but, on the contrary, purged; he is, therefore, led to 

 neglect the principal means of relief. 



In the inflammation arising from costiveness, the sickness of 

 stomach is not at first so distressing ; nor is the dog so ex- 

 tremely anxious for water, as he is when it arises from a cold 

 taken, or when it comes on spontaneously. The obstruction 

 that exists, is commonly situated far back in the larger bowels, 

 so that, by introducing the finger into the fundament, a quan- 

 tity of hardened excrement may frequently be felt. This oc- 

 curs so often, that, whenever costiveness is even suspected, 

 the dog should be examined, by passing the fore finger up 



the anus. 



Obstructions may, however, exist in any portion of the in- 

 testinal track. I have in my possession an obstructed jeju- 

 num ; in the centre of which intestine is a cork, that had been 

 brutally forced down the throat. Needles and pins form fatal 

 obstructions sometimes, by getting across the bowels. I have 

 also known a splinter of a chicken bone imbed itself in the 

 substance of one of the intestines, and form an insurmount- 

 able obstruction. Intussusception also now and then occurs, 

 in which one portion of bowel gets folded within another 

 from spasm, and thus forms a complete stoppage to the pas- 

 sag-e of the foeces. 



Whenever we can ascertain, by the anus, that the obstruc- 

 tion consists of a simple accumulation of hardened excrement 

 within the rectum, it is evident that purging medicines by the 

 mouth can do little good, but may do a great deal of harm, 

 by forcing the obstructed contents into a more solid mass. 



N 



