Dilatation of the Stomach. 185 



functions of the vagus nerve ; obstructions of the intestines 

 which force the contents back into the stomach or hinder their 

 exit. Thus tumors on the duodenum, calculi in stomach or in- 

 testines, volvulus and invagination have been charged with pro- 

 ducing overdistension. Chronic hepatic disorder has also been 

 quoted as a cause. 



Symptoms. The subject may eat naturally or excessively yet 

 is unthrifty, the belly is habitually distended, the hair dry and 

 rough, there is loss of flesh, there may be eructations or (in the 

 horse) swallowing of air, lack of endurance, a disposition to per- 

 spire easily, a tendency to indigestion and colics after meals, and 

 hurried breathing sometimes marked by a double lifting of the 

 flank in expiration. In the dog which has the stomach more ac- 

 cessible to examination its outline may be followed by percussion, 

 a tympanitic resonance being produced from the eighth rib back 

 to the umbilicus or further. If there is any difficulty the organ 

 may be emptied of water by a stomach tube and then pumped 

 full of air by means of a Davidson's syringe, and percussed in 

 each condition. Or a half a teaspoonful of bicarbonate of soda 

 may be given in a little water followed by an equal amount of 

 tartaric acid, and the stomach percussed. 



Lesions. The distension of the stomach may reach ten times 

 its normal size in the horse (I^eisering). Kitt found a stomach 

 with a capacity of 84 quarts. Fitzroy Philipot took from a di- 

 lated equine stomach 140 lbs. of contents. The contents of the 

 viscus are usually largely of solids which the weakened and at- 

 tenuated walls failed to pass into the duodenum. On the con- 

 trary and as if by compensation, the pylorus and duodenum are 

 constricted and the latter has liquid contents which pass from the 

 stomach with very little of the solids. 



Special dilatations are sometimes met with, thus an equine 

 stomach has been found largely dilated at the greater curvature 

 where concretions formed in the viscus or pebbles introduced with 

 the food had habitually lodged. In other cases the cardia has 

 been dilated like a funnel, so that the animal could eructate or 

 vomit with great facility. This last dilatation is especially com- 

 mon in cribbiters. 



Treatment. This must necesssarily be prolonged as time must 

 be allowed for a tonic contraction of the viscus. Food must be 



