SUBACUTE OBSTRUCTION OF THE SINGLE COLON 123 



efforts on the part of the patient, while the bowel itself 

 exerts a peculiar glove-like clasp upon the arm. 



The pelvis is found to contain portions of bowel beyond 

 its normal contents : if small intestines, empty ; if single 

 colon, more or less impacted with ingesta. Sometimes 

 it fortunately happens that the very portion of bowel 

 giving rise to the trouble is well within reach of the 

 operator's arm. If so, no further doubt as to the exact 

 nature of the case he is treating need remain in his mind. 



In different cases the obstructed bowel varies in shape 

 and size from a small portion resembling a large cocoa- 

 nut to an impacted length of from 6 to 12 inches. That 

 this impacted portion is the actual cause of trouble is 

 fairly evidenced by the symptoms induced by its manipu- 

 lation. Pressure on it, even if of a careful and tentative 

 nature, will cause the patient to evince unmistakable 

 signs of pain. Swerving from side to side, he endeavours 

 to escape the inserted arm ; and, persisted in, the 

 manipulative movements will bring him with successive 

 crouching gestures to the ground. 



In most cases, contrary to what one would imagine, 

 tympany is absent ; and it is only towards the end of the 

 attack, when the case is approaching a fatal termination, 

 that it occurs to any appreciable extent. Enemas intro- 

 duced with a nozzle of ordinary length are not retained, 

 but forcibly ejected almost immediately after their in- 

 jection. 



Should the case be one of rectal impaction, its nature 

 will at once be apparent directly the hand is introduced 

 into the rectum ; and, so far as the purposes of this 

 chapter are concerned, a consideration of its other 

 symptoms are unnecessary. Provided the animal is 

 healthily strong prior to the attack, and his end is not 

 hastened by the exhibition of sedatives or violent purga- 



