72 DISEASES OF THE DIGESTIVE APPARATUS 



various foods used as substitutes for milk. "Where the animal is subject 

 to fffcal obstructions, it is well never to let him have bones if it can pos- 

 sibly be avoided. 



Intestinal invagination occurs as a result of irregular or extraordinary 

 poristalsis, particularly when the intestinal wall is in a relaxed, debilitated 

 condition, as a result of intestinal catarrh from prolonged administration 

 of laxatives. Death as a rule occurs from the fifth to tenth day. The 

 symptoms of invagination are those of occlusion of the intestines, see 

 the above, and more or less blood on the fa?ces. We may be able by pal- 

 pation to detect the invaginated portion by feeling a circumscribed 

 elastic, elongated, sausage-like portion along the intestinal tract. This 

 is extremely painful on pressure. If it is detected, perform laparotomy, 

 reduce the invagination by lifting out the loop of intestine and reducing 

 the invagination, but if the irritation is too great, or necrosis has devel- 

 oped, perform enterectomy. See further on under Enterectomy. 



Chronic Constipation. — This is seen occasionally in the dog. It is 

 due to a weakened or lessened peristaltic action of the bowels. It is seen 

 in all chronic diseases that are accompanied by emaciation and debility, 

 as in chronic catarrh, fevers, icterus, chronic peritonitis and in many dis- 

 eases of the nervous system; but it may be observed in many old but 

 healthy dogs, caused by an atrophy of the mucous and muscular mem- 

 branes of the intestines. This disease is frequently called chronic obsti- 

 pation, for it causes a form of constipation which would, as can be readily 

 understood, cause just such a train of symptoms as has been described 

 above. 



These animals should be fed on non-stimulating, easily digested food 

 with or without the admixture of vegetable soup, and also plenty of 

 exercise and small doses of tincture of nux vomica. This treatment is far 

 better than the frecjuent administration of purgatives, especially 

 Glauber salt, jalap or aloes and cathartic pills. 



Enterectomy, Entero anastomosis. — This operation becomes necessary 

 when a portion of the intestine becomes necrosed or where stenosis of a 



Fig. 32. — Hairpin method of anastomosis, showing the manner in which the pin is bent. 



certain portion causes accumulation of fa?cal matter anterior to the 

 contraction. The operation is only possible where there is a small sec- 

 tion of the intestine to be removed, as a section of any amount is apt, if 

 the animal makes a recovery, to be followed very quickly by marasmus 

 and terminate fatally in a very short time. 



French has devised a very simple mode of operation, the technique 

 of which has proved very efficacious in the writer's hands. It is as follows : 



