COLICS OF THE SOLIPED 29 



similar symptoms, associated with a straddling attitude^ 

 elevated tail and dropping, at frequent and irregular in- 

 tervals, of scattered particles of alvine material, together 

 with entire absence of pain upon artificially emptying the 

 crowded rectum. 



3. — Obstruction Due to Displacement. — Colics of 

 displacement have their origin more especially through 

 escape of a portion of the bowel following diaphragmatic 

 or mesenteric rupture, in inguinal or scrotal hernia, and 

 also volvulus may for simplicity be included under this 

 group, the latter constituting either a simple or multiple 

 torsion, twisting or knotting of one portion of the bowel 

 upon its mesenteric axis or around the loop of another 

 portion; either condition prompted through irregular 

 peristalsis and varying weight of the contents of adjacent 

 regions of the tract. Volvulus can occur in any part of 

 the tract, but more constantly in the ileum of the small 

 intestines, the double or floating colon. 



These displacements may, under certain influences, 

 be differentiated one from another by intelligent rectal 

 or scrotal examination. Collectively they are character- 

 ized primarily by intermittent, sharp spasmodic pains 

 that increase in duration and intensity, causing ultimately 

 the most violent demonstrations, with entire disregard 

 to self-inflicted injury. The animal moves about with 

 a head-shaking, swaggering, straddling gait. When 

 standing it inclines to move backward; has an anxious 

 look; a weak pulse and progresses rapidly toward col- 

 lapse, with relapse of pain just prior to death, which 

 finally results from shock, intestinal or mesenteric stran- 

 gulation, internal hemorrhage, peritonitis or enteritis. 



