VOLVULUS (TWISTING) OF THE INTESTINE IN 

 SOEIPEDS. 



Definition : rolling of a loop on its mesentric axis, bending in a vicious, 

 direction, rolling of one loop round another. Causes : laxity of mesentery 

 in hernia, relaxation or rupture of linea alba, pot belly in old breeding 

 mares, sudden movements in falls, leaps, draught, galop, slipping, mount- 

 ing, warm weather, casting, rolling, rising, sudden filling of a loop, heavy 

 feeding and fermentescible food, cold drinks, chills. Lesions, most in 

 double colon, next in jejunum, caecum wrapped in small intestine, floating 

 colon, tympany and pallor of obstructed loops, later congestion, infiltration, 

 extravasation, adhesions, necrosis, sloughs, infective peritonitis. Symptoms : 

 sudden severe attack, violent, reckless colicy movements, pain constant with 

 exacerbations, fever, prostration, collapse. Diagnosis : only by rectal ex- 

 ploration and exceptionally. Treatment : by rectal manipulation, eserine, 

 castor oil, laparotomy. 



Strictly speaking this lesion consists in the twisting of a loop of 

 intestine upon the mesenteric axis, so that the portion which is 

 drawn spirally over the mesentery of the other is more or less 

 completely obstructed. The term has, however, been applied as 

 well to the turning of a viscus at a sharp angle from its normal 

 direction so as to interfere more or less with the passage of its 

 contents and with its circulation. This has been especially seen 

 in a vicious direction given to the caecum, but also at times to the 

 double colon. The simple twisting on the mesenteric axis is 

 common to the floating portion of the small intestines, the double 

 colon, floating colon and rectum. A third form of twisting which 

 is, however, rather a strangulation, consists in the rolling of one 

 loop of intestine round the loop of another, the mesentery of 

 which has become unduly long. 



Causes. The predisposing cause is a certain laxity or undue • 

 lengthening of the mesenteric attachment of the intestine. This is 

 sometimes formed in connection with the existence of hernia, into 

 which the bowel protrudes, or short of this relaxation or rupture 

 of the linea alba so that the whole of the intestinal mass hangs 

 down unduly, or finally in unthrifty pot-bellied animals and in 

 breeding mares in which the abdomen is unduly pendent. 



Next comes the question of sudden movement as in falls, in 

 leaping, in violent exertions of draught, or galop, in sudden slip- 

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