388 DADDS VETERINARY MEDICINE AINi) St/RGERY. 



closed through constriction in its centre, though, when opt», issu- 

 ing a mucous and sanious matter, especially at such time as the 

 animal is straining afresh. The circumflex action of the sphincter 

 ani around the neck of the swelling, together with its distension 

 with gas, and the action of the air upon its surface, all add to its 

 increase of volume and change of color; while the straining, at ths 

 same time, increases the difficulty of any effort the practitionci 

 may make toward effecting a return of the protruded gut. With 

 its augmentation of volume comes a deepening redness, turning, 

 through the constriction of the sphincter, to a darker, and even 

 purple hue, the membrane becoming, at the same time, inflated 

 and swollen, and gradually changing its color from red to yellow 

 and to brown, though still having a humid shining aspect, now 

 becoming glairy from albuminous secretion, which is not only 

 mucous, but at times purulent. 



Causes. — These may be summed up in irritation, either direct 

 or sympathetic, of the mucous membrane lining the anus and 

 rectum. It is possible that prolonged constipation, from giving 

 rise to violent straining efforts at expulsion of dry and hardened 

 feces, might briug it on, or even the strains of parturition. The 

 action produced by excessive purgation may cause it, but more 

 especially irritation of a mechanical kind, arising from direct in- 

 jury to the membrane or rectum during the operation of raking 

 or manual exploration of the gut, or of clystering. It may prove 

 an accompaniment of an enteritic, colicky, or diarrheal condition 

 of bowel. It is possible it may ensue on nicking, though I never 

 knew it to follow that operation. Violent struggles of any kind, 

 as in such a case as is mentioned in the ' Veterinarian,' by Mr. J. 

 "Brown, V. S., London, wherein the horse ' had forced out nearly 

 a foot of the rectum in struggling violently to release himself,'" 

 while being cast. 



Treatment. — The formidable, and indeed awful, aspect of this 

 disease is apt to operate in the mind of the owner of the animal 

 favorably for the veterinary surgeon, inasmuch as it gives rise to 

 his being called to the case sooner than he otherwise would have 

 been. Should the summons be an early one, at the time that 

 the protrusion is recent, and its volume nothing so very alarming, 

 judicious exercise of the taxis, if employed at the moment, may 

 succeed in the return of the gut. Distributing the fingers of both 

 hands over the wrinkled and swollen body of the protrusion. 



