INTUSSUSCEPTION. 277 



venous circulation is at first chiefly retarded, and as a neces- 

 sary result, the intruded gut becomes of a dark red, or black 

 colour, tumefied, and even the seat of ulceration. Thus the 

 invaginated intestine dies, and in the rare instances in which 

 the peritoneal coat of the intestines adheres at the part where 

 the invagination stops, the invaginated portion may slough 

 and pass out so that the animal recovers. Such is an occa- 

 sional though rare result in intussusception of the small 

 intestine. 



With invagination of the caecum, as the colon is ample, 

 and the blind pouch free, there is not the same tendency to 

 compression of the blood-vessels, &c. Provided the ileo-colic 

 opening is not closed, the animal may live, and in proof of 

 which I subjoin a drawing taken at Alfort, from a subject 



Fig. 103. 



destroyed in perfect health, and at a great age, for purposes of 

 dissection. The condition of the intestine was such as to 

 assure us that the lesion was not recent, and the animal had 

 perfectly recovered from its effects. 



Treatment. It has been suggested that the abdomen 

 should be opened and the invagination overcome by a man- 



