DISEASES OF THE DIGESTIVE APPARATUS 

 organs can be made easier by palpation of the abdominal 



28 



these 

 wall. 



In certain cases where light has to be thrown on the rectal mucous 

 membrane the necessary examination can be made by means of a specu- 

 lum and then a mirror or an electric torch can be used to throw the light 

 into the cavity. Inflammation of the rectum from any cause, such as 

 hemorrhoids, fistulae, foreign bodies, or abscesses, can be readily exam- 

 ined by this means. 



lio. i:j. — Examinatiou of the lower bowel with speculum. 



The Faeces. 



The number of times that an animal has an evacuation of the 

 bowels depends on the two circumstances: The quantity and character 

 of the food and the rapidity with which it passes through the bowels. 

 Normally, an animal has two or three passages daily; sometimes even 

 less. Diarrhcea, as a result of catarrh of the intestines, may be due to 

 a variety of causes, such as irregular diet, cold, or to some infectious 

 disease (distemper), latter stages of infectious hemorrhagic gastro-enteritis, 



