i68 CANINE AND FELINE SURGERY 



and the abdomen palpated between the hands or fingers. 

 This is best done in small animals by placing the left hand 

 firmly on the spine, whilst the right one, with outstretched 

 fingers turned upwards on one side and the thumb on the 

 other, passes carefully along the under surface of the abdomen 

 from before to behind in an endeavour accurately to locate 

 and diagnose the cause of the pain and obstruction. In the 

 larger breeds both hands must be used, one being passed 

 along each side. 



In small patients with some kinds of swallowed foreign 

 body, the aid of the Rontg'en Rays may be satisfactorily 

 invoked (see pp. 173 and 357). 



Preparation of the Patient. — Where circumstances will 

 allow it, the patient, in addition to the usual preparation for 

 an operation (see p. i), should three or four times a day 

 receive doses of some internal antiseptic. Of these, chinosol, 

 carbolic acid, izal, salol, calomel, or /3-naphthol are amongst 

 those most commonly selected. 



Colic. 



Patients, especially canine, are frequent sufferers from 

 abdominal pain. Cases are met with most commonly, 

 perhaps, in puppies, but adults are by no means exempt. 

 The causes are various, the commonest being flatulent dis- 

 tension of the stomach or bowel, the presence of round worms 

 {Ascaris mai'ginata) and foreign bodies, violent and irritant 

 poisons, hernia, intussusception ; and a strangulation of the 

 gut by fibrous bands, Meckel's diverticulum, or volvulus. 



Symptoms. — Sudden seizure, continual 3'elping which cannot 

 be quietened, raised temperature, quickened pulse, and dis- 

 tended abdomen, the animal crawling away to hide itself, 

 and laying flat on its belly on a cold surface between the 

 spasms, but changing about from place to place to try to 

 get relief during the seizures. 



Vomiting, especially if the dog takes food (which it will 



