IMPACTION OF THE CECUM 91 



Diagnosis. — Judging from the form, location and at- 

 tachments of this obstructed portion of intestine, I im- 

 mediately mistook it for the voluminous extremity of 

 the great colon which so suddenly draws in to join the 

 anterior extremity of the small colon. Often havmg 

 found this part of the great colon impacted I thought it 

 nothing out of the ordinary. 



In view of the sensitiveness on palpation and the long 

 duration of the attack and the seriousness of the general 

 condition, I considered the outcome quite doubtful and 

 so informed the owner. 



However, as the owner believed very strongly in the 

 old adage, "Where there is life there is hope," he in- 

 sisted that I give treatment. 



Treatment. — The stomach tube was passed and af- 

 ter having emptied the stomach of two or three gallons 

 of fluid in which floated a small quantity of food, we 

 pumped in three gallons of warm water in which had 

 been dissolved 24 ounces of magnesium sulphate and 

 eight ounces of sodium chloride. 



After having withdrawn the tube I administered a 

 regulation aloetic cathartic bolus and left nux vomica to 

 be given every four hours. 



The foregoing has been, for the past two years, by 

 never failing treatment for subacute impaction of the 

 colon, when the cases have been seen at a reasonably 



early date. 



At 4 p. m. the owner again phoned that he wished me 

 to come immediately ; on my arrival I found that a de- 

 cided change had taken place since the morning. The 

 horse was covered with perspiration, the pulse at the 



