IMPACTION OF THE CECUM 95 



but on the following morning she was much worse, in 

 great distress, labored breathing, rapid wiry pulse and 

 patchy perspiration. 



Per rectum I discovered the presence of ingesta in the 

 peritoneal cavity, denoting a rupture; whereupon I shot 

 the poor creature. The postmortem examination showed 

 the cecum to be full of almost dry closely packed in- 

 gesta with an eight-inch rent near its base. 



The remainder of the intestinal tract was practically 

 empty. 



Theory As to the Cause of Cecal Impaction 



From my observations in these two cases I firmly be- 

 lieve that impaction of the cecum is caused, primarily 

 and fundamentally by the lack of water in sufficient 

 quantities and at the proper time to keep this reservoir of 

 the system filled with fluids. 



We know that horses coming from work at night and 

 expecting food, will not, as a rule, drink water in very 

 great amount until this appetite for food has been sat- 

 isfied. We know that horses will drink eagerly and at 

 length if water is offered them two or three hours after 

 the evening meal. Many times we have seen a horse stop 

 eating hay during the evening and refuse to eat more 

 until after having had water. 



Physiologists agree that the contents of the cecum are 

 always fluid or of the consistency of pea soup. I know 

 that I have at postmortem examinations, except in these 

 two cases, always found this to be true. 



I think that Fred Smith, in his work on Physiology, 

 hits upon a most plausible theory, when he suggests that 

 the ingesta may pass directly from the ileum to the 



