C8 DISEASES OF THE DIGESTIVE APPARATUS 



the condition continues for some time, the animal becomes gradually 

 weaker from day to day, loses flesh rapidly, pulse is smaller and finally 

 imperceptible, the temperature may rise but frequently it remains normal, 

 in a few days the animal may die in a condition of collapse. A favorable 

 termination may result, and foreign bodies, such as pieces of cork, bone or 

 wood may be macerated and passed out finally without any great trouble. 

 It is not difficult, as a rule, to detect the existence of a foreign body in the 

 intestines, but it is very difficult to tell its exact nature. By means of 

 palpation of the abdomen, see page 25, we may be able to detect hard, 

 foreign bodies, or objects, such as hair balls, but invagination or twisting 

 of the intestines is, however, rather difficult to diagnose. Metallic ob- 

 jects, stones, etc., can be diagnosed by means of the Rontgen or X-ray, or 

 by performing laparotomy. Where the intestine is completel}^ obstructed, 

 in front of the obstructed portion of the intestine, is greatly distended, 

 due to the collection of faeces and gas, and the intestine immediately 

 after the obstruction is contracted and empty. At the obstructed point 

 there will be found great inflammation of the mucous membrane, which 

 finally affects the muscular and serous coat and peritonitis, or the portion 

 becomes necrosed and a purulent peritonitis follows and the animal at any 

 of these stages may die of septicaemia. 



Therapeutics. — In an ordinary case of constipation give plenty 

 of exercise and a carefully regulated diet. If it is advisable to give the 

 animal very little food for a few days, give plenty of water and small 

 quantities of soup, either beef or vegetable. In old animals, where diges- 

 tion is more or less weakened, give easily digested food and no bones 

 whatever. Clysters or mechanical laxatives, such as glycerine or soap 

 suppositories, and massage of the abdomen is advised. As a laxative, 

 oleum ricini 15.0 to 30.0 in a capsule or emulsion, Glauber or Epsom salts, 

 10.0 to 20.0, Hunyadi Janos, or Apenta water, teaspoonful doses. 



When a case is very ol^stinate and does not respond to the previously 

 advised treatment, especially where we find the large colon filled with 

 fseces, and laxatives have no effect, the rectum must be emptied. The 

 finger after being well oiled is introduced into the anus where there will 

 be found hard fsecal masses in front of the sphincter. It is generally 

 impossible to remove them, except by breaking them up, cither with the 

 finger or having first injected a small quantity of oil or glycerine into the 

 rectum, or the handle of a spoon can be used to break up the masses, 

 taking care not to injure the mucous membrane. This is to be followed 

 by the injection of the clysters by means of the hose and funnel (see Fig. 

 29). The lower part of the bowel is filled with a coml^ination of luke- 

 warm water and a small quantity of oil. These clysters should be re- 

 peated frequently, at least several times a day, or even several days, until 

 the whole canal is emptied. Or what is better, glycerine suppositories, 



