170 CANINE AND FELINE SURGERY 



Casl I. — October, 1898. Dalmatian dog, two years old, the subject of 

 persistent vomiting for the past three weeks. The dog was ver)' thin, 

 and could neither retain fluids nor solids. As no drugs gave permanent 

 relief, it was thought that there must be some foreign body present, and 

 an exploratory laparotomy was done under chloroform. By some mis- 

 fortune the animal escaped from hospital, and was ultimately found three 

 days later at the Dogs' Home ; it then ate greedih" and retained any food. 

 The wound healed by first intention, and the patient was sent home, 

 remaining quite well until January of 1899. Between January and April 

 several similar attacks occurred, these being temporarily relieved by 

 doses of orthoform. In April, after an especially severe attack, the 

 owner had the dog destroyed. Post-mortem examination revealed 

 nothing to account for the symptoms. 



Case 2. — December i, 1S98. A cat, fifteen months old, had for about 

 ten M-eeks suffered from occasional fits of abdominal pain and great 

 prostration. An exploratory laporotomy revealed no visible cause, but 

 the patient recovered well, and afterwards had no return of the symptoms. 



Case 3. — December i, 1899. Fox-terrier, male, six years old. The 

 owner said the animal had swallowed a meat-skewer. Being a little 

 sceptical at the time, we treated the dog with medicines for a week, but at 

 the end of that time, as there was great debility and partial paralysis of 

 the hind-legs, we thought that probably the owner was right in saying 

 that a meat-skewer had been swallowed. An exploratory laparotomy 

 was made, but no foreign bodv was found. The wound healed by first 

 intention, the sutures being removed on the third day, and the patient 

 was sent home on December 6. Reinspection was made at intervals 

 during the next three months, but there was no return of the symptoms. 



Case 4. — May 19, 1899. Retriever, male, nine years old, supposed to 

 have swallowed a solid rubber ball. There was excessi\'e abdominal 

 pain, vomiting, no fasces had been passed for three days, and the dog 

 seemed very weak and ill. An exploratory laparotomy revealed nothing. 

 Until the 22nd the dog appeared very dull, but on this date suddenly 

 brightened up and began to feed. Diet was given sparingly, and it was 

 arranged for the owner to remo\ e the animal home on the 29th. 

 Unfortunately, on the 28th the owner came to see how things were 

 progressing, and, with mistaken kindness, gave the dog a heavy meal of a 

 food of which he was especially fond. 



The result was that violent peristalsis was caused, the abdominal 

 wound was torn open, and the intestines escaped. A dose of poison was 

 at once given, as veterinary help was not accessible at the time. 



Case 5. — July 13, igqo. Fox-terrier, male, four years old, in acute 

 abdominal pain for several days. Various drugs were unsuccessfully 

 tried, and, feeling sure that some foreign body must be present, an 

 exploratory laparotomy was performed. Nothing was discovered, but 

 the pain ceased at once ; recovery was uneventful, and the patient was 



