CONSTIPATION. 85a 



extricated ; the protrusion of the gut increases ; irritative fever en- 

 sues ; and death speedily follows. 



In order to allay irritation, and in some measure lessen these efforts 

 by which more of the intestine is expelled or its return prevented, 

 a pint of castor oil with two drachms of opium should be adminis- 

 tered, and a quantity of blood, varying with the size and condition 

 of the animal, abstracted. The protruded part should be thoroughly 

 cleaned, and diligently fomented, during the space of an hour, with 

 a decoction of poppy-heads, lukewarm. Gentle, but long-continued 

 efiforts should then be made to return the intestine, which will be 

 accomplished much oftener than would be imagined if the operator 

 will have patience enough. The gut having" been returned, cold 

 water should be applied around the anus, and for a considerable 

 time, in order that the sphincter muscle may more powerfully close, 

 and confine the intestine in its proper situation. It mav, however, 

 again protrude, but it should be immediately returned, and care 

 having been taken to allay the irritation of the bowels and of the 

 system generally, the straining will gradually cease, and the intestine 

 will no longer be forced out. 



If the protrusion continues in despite of every effort, and the part 

 begins to swell, and to become black, and fetid, and mortified, and 

 the pulse is small, and the mouth hot, and the ears cold, and the 

 muzzle dry, and the eyes red, and the appetite and rumination are 

 suspended, and the animal is rapidly becoming weak, the practitioner 

 must have recourse to a bold and dangerous operation, but which 

 will succeed much oftener than it will fail : he must cut off the pro- 

 truded intestine close to the anus. There will probably be considera- 

 ble haemorrhage, but he must not be alarmed at that ; it will be bene- 

 ficial rather than injurious ; it will prevent or abate inflammation, 

 and it will cease long before tlie strength of the patient is exhausted. 

 The little portion of intestine half protruded at the anus will gradu- 

 ally return ; the sphincter muscle will contract ; union of the divided 

 portions of the intestine will take place, and the animal will perfectly 

 recover. 



Homoeopathic treatment. — After having reduced the intestine, pre- 

 viously oiling it, we should prescribe internally belladonna and mer- 

 eurius vivus, if symptoms of inflammation be observed. When the 

 accident has been caused by the effects occasioned by constipation, 

 this is a case for recurring to murias magnesia, just as urgilla is 

 suitable when diarrhoea is the cause of the accident. Arsenicum also 

 is a very effectual means in the latter case. 



CONSTIPATION. 



Tlie immediate cause of many of these affections of the bowels is 

 constipation. The beast is sapped or hound. This constipation is 



