140 THEORY AND PRACTICE 



Imperforated anus sometimes occurs. The foetus may be born 

 with the skin closed over the anus. In such case cut through 

 and open up the rectum. Sometimes the rectum has to be sewed 

 to the anus. 



RUPTURE OF THE INTESTINAL WALL. 



Rupture of the intestinal wall occurs occasionally but not 

 as often as rupture of the stomach. It is usually caused by flat- 

 ulence. The 'flrst attack very seldom ruptures a bowel and not 

 very often the stomach, but repeated attacks lead to degeneration 

 of some part which finally ruptures with much less provocation 

 than may have existed some time before. The rectum is some- 

 times ruptured by reckless force used in back-raking. 



Semeiology. — There are no diagnostic symptoms of this 

 trouble but there will be pretty nearly the same symptoms as 

 occur in case of rupture of the stomach. These are great nerv- 

 ous prostration ; a small weak, rapid, hard pulse which finally 

 gets wiry and imperceptible ; animal sweats in patches ; sits on 

 his haunches. When the rupture is in the rectum there is usu- 

 ally violent straining and the animal dies from syncope. Death 

 usually occurs in from 2-10 or even 20 hours. 



The only positive proof of rupture of the bowel is the post 

 mortem. 



Naturally there is no special treatment but since there are no 

 diagnostic symptoms you have to treat the case until the animal 

 dies. 



ENTERITIS. 



Enteritis is an inflammation of either the small or large bowel. 

 We consider enteritis as a true inflammation but there are author- 

 ities, writers and text-books that consider it more in the light of 

 apoplexy. It usually comes on suddenly, runs a rapid course 

 and terminates fatally. We do not believe that any cases of this 

 disease ever recover but there are practitioners who claim to 

 have cured many cases of it. Probably their cases were pro- 

 long-ed cases of colic, perhaps with local irritation just develop- 



