Obstruction of Bowels 271 



be made by inserting the oiled arm into the rectum. In 

 a few cases the obstacle can be felt and removed. 

 When an obstruction of this kind is suspected, copious 

 enemas, mild purgatives, such as raw linseed oil, or 

 small doses of Epsom or Glauber's salts, can be given, 

 with plenty of water to drink and fluid food, as gruels, 

 etc. Hair -balls in the rumen of cattle can be removed 

 by the surgical operation known as rumenotomy (see 

 "Impaction of Rumen" page 260). 



INTUSSUSCEPTION, OR INVAGINATION OF THE BOWEL 



In this form of obstruction, the bowel slips inside 

 itself Treatment is not satisfactory. Purgatives and 

 copious enemas of warm water are used. Inserting the 

 arm into the rectum and manipulating the large intes- 

 tine with a sweeping movement of the hand and arm 

 may straighten it. 



VOLVULUS, TWISTING OF THE BOWEL, '^GUT-TIE " 



In this trouble, the bowel becomes twisted on itself 

 in such a way as to obstruct the passage of its contents. 

 The treatment is the same as for intussusception, but 

 nearly all cases are fatal. 



INFLAMMATION OF THE BOWELS, OR ENTERITIS 



Inflammation of the bowels is a severe and usually 

 fatal disease caused by some irritant, such as undi- 

 gested food, irritating poiscns, stoppage of the bowels, 

 or injury to the walls. Colic, indigestion, volvulus 



