222 Veterinary Medicine. 



which is felt as a firm body impacted in the gut. In other cases 

 the distended bowel has given way and the liquid contents and 

 often the hair ball as well are found free in the abdominal cavity. 

 In such a case the edges of the laceration are covered with blood 

 clots and thickened with inflammatory exudation, and there is 

 more or less peritonitis. 



Treatment. Relief may sometimes be obtained by the extrac- 

 tion of a hair ball lodged in the rectum or adjacent part of 

 the floating colon. In other cases abundant soapy or oily 

 eneniata, and the employment of eserine or barium chloride sub- 

 cutem are indicated. 



HAIR AND BRISTLE BALLS IN DOG AND PIG. 



Prom licking in skin disease. Symptoms : of obstruction. Treatment: 

 manipulation, enemata, oil, antispasmodics, eserine, barium chloride, laparo- 

 tomy, diet in convalescence. 



The hair balls of dogs come mainly from licking themselves 

 when affected with skin diseases or para.sites. In pigs they are 

 mostly attributed to depraved appetite. 



The hair balls of the dog are small, open in texture, and easily 

 disintegrated, having little mucus and no earthy salts in their 

 composition. 



The bristle balls of pigs take the form of straight or curved 

 rods of firm consistency, but without earthy salts. The project- 

 ing ends of the bristles render them particularly irritating. 



The symptoms are those of obstruction of, the bowels, and the 

 treatment consists in efforts to dislodge them. If situated near 

 the anus they may sometimes be reached with the finger, or co- 

 pious oily injections may facilitate their passage. Manipulations 

 through the abdominal walls may be helpful in the dog. Olea- 

 ginous laxatives and antispa.smodics may be tried, or these fail- 

 ing, eserine or barium chloride. As a last resort laparotomy may 

 be performed, the ball abstracted and the intestine and abdominal 

 wall carefully sutured (Siedamgrotzky). In such a case the 

 diet should be restricted for a week to beef .soups, buttermilk, 

 and well boiled gruels, especially flaxseed. 



