THE STOMACH AND INTESTINES 175 



As a rule some history can be obtained, either that the 

 patient has been seen to swallow the suspected foreign body, 

 or that the animal is in the habit of swallowing such things ; 

 but this is not to be too definitely relied upon unless accom- 

 panied by certain symptoms, as on more than one occasion 

 a dog has been operated upon in a vain endeavour to recover 

 some object which has been discovered on the owner's 

 premises a few days later. 



The chief signs exhibited are : attempts at vomiting, dis- 



Fig. 126. — Photograph of a Sheep Dog, Ten Days after Operation, from 

 whose Stomach a Rubber Ball was removed by Gastrotomy.^ 



inclination to feed, general dulness and depression ; in a later 

 stage, unthriftiness of the coat, irregularity of the bowels, 

 blood in the motions, and progressive emaciation. 



Treatment. — For small bodies, such as nails or fish-hooks, 

 some dietary of the ' stodgy ' variety, which will surround 

 the foreign body and gradually pass it along the intestine, 

 is required. Suet pudding, if the animal will take it, is 



^ For Figs. 126 and 127 I am indebted to Mr. C. S. Simpson, veterinary 

 student. 



