272 KUPTUKED EECTUM. 



thus give way, and with it the peritoneal covering and 

 mucous lining of the tube. 



The causes of such rupture are therefore over-distention, 

 jerking movements of the animal, especially in trotting, and 

 not attending to prompt evacuation. 



Symptoms are not very distinct, and the rupture is usually 

 recognised only on a post-mortem examination. The relief 

 which occurs suddenly in an attack of spasmodic colic, coupled 

 with the readiness with which water passes into the intes- 

 tine, though all clysters have been violently ejected before, 

 and all this followed by the animal acquiring rapidly a very 

 anxious expression, sweating, and sinking fast, may indicate 

 the organic lesion. It is doubtful how long an animal may 

 live after the rupture has occurred. In some 'cases death is 

 almost instantaneous, but if the immediate shock of the rup- 

 ture is overcome, death may be delayed for hours, and per- 

 haps days, but the animal evinces symptoms of peritonitis 

 and severe fever in the latter instance, which prove the case 

 to be hopeless. Such instances of prolonged life are doubt- 

 less very rare. 



KUPTUKED EECTUM. 



Mr John Field records two cases of this singular lesion : 



"May 12th, 1837. I was this day called to see a horse 

 belonging to Mr S . It was a case of protrusion of the 

 intestines, their external coats being exposed through the 

 anus. The parts protruding were the convoluted portion of 

 the rectum, and the curvature of the colon ; the mesocolon 

 was ruptured, and, from the intestines being exposed on their 

 peritoneal surfaces, it was certain that the rectum had rup- 

 tured. The horse was destroyed by injecting the jugular 

 with a solution of nitre. 



" Examination. The rectum was found broken entirely off 

 at the sacral attachment, and the piece so broken off had en- 



