Diseases of the Bowels. 87 



Where these measures fail, an operation will be neces- 

 sary ; and this generally consists in removing one of the 

 folds of the mucous membrane by knife or ligature, or the 

 destruction of a portion of it by actual cautery. It is need- 

 less to remark that either operation should be performed 

 under the influence of chloroform, and by a veterinary 

 surgeon. 



FISTULA IN ANO. 



Fistula of the anus is frequently met with in dogs, parti- 

 cularly of the pampered house tribe, and is usually the 

 result of neglected piles ; it may occur from wounds,, 

 abscess, or ulceration of the rectum (the latter generally 

 consequent on piles), or from impaction of hardened fasces. 



The fistula may be external or internal, complete or par- 

 tial, i.e., external if the orifice of the wound is in the in- 

 tegument, or internal if within the rectum ; complete, if 

 the two orifices exist together, partial when there is but 

 one orifice. 



Symptoms. — The symptoms of fistula in the dog are con- 

 tinual irritation of the affected part ; the animal will ,be 

 observed continually licking the anus, and dragging himself 

 along the floor with his fore-limbs. If the fistula be ex- 

 ternal it requires little diagnosis ; if internal, and not com- 

 plete, there is an offensive rectal discharge, and the faeces 

 are often coated with matter and blood. 



Treatment. — The treatment of fistula lies in laying open 

 the sinus with a fine probe-pointed bistoury, and after- 

 wards treating it in the first instance as a common wound, 

 and subsequently with a solution of chloride of zinc. If 

 considerable haemorrhage follows, the part should be packed 

 with lint or cotton-wool steeped in tinct. of iron, or a solu- 

 tion of tannic acid ; or if it be from a divided artery, to tie 



