202 CANINE AND FELINE SURGERY 



the patient being unable to get rest and ease for long in 

 an}- position. 



Colick}' pain will be especially shown after food has 

 been taken, and ma}- be so severe as to cause continual 

 \-elping, moaning, or screaming. Pressure on the posterior 

 part of the abdomen between the fingers and thumb causes 

 evidence of soreness, and in some cases the swollen caecum 

 can distinctly be detected. 



Treatment ma\' be medicinal or surgical. The former 

 consists in the administration of the usual sedatives, together 

 \\ith a dose of castor oil to clear out all irritants from the 

 gut, and a dose of morphia subcutaneously ma}- be requisite. 

 If the pain is not eased within twelve hours, laparotomy (see 



139. — Coecum of a Bull Bitch distended from Inflammation 

 of the Interior. 



p. 158) should be performed, and the caecum and surrounding 

 bowel carefully massaged between the iinger and thumb, in 

 order to macerate the contents, which are often in a semi- 

 solid, thick condition. Collection of gas (the caecum is 

 usually much distended) can also be got rid of by this means. 



After-treatment is as already described on p. 179, and for 

 several \\ eeks afterwards no bones or \-er}- indigestible food 

 should be given. 



Torsion of the Stomach has been recorded twice. It is 

 rare, and is not a condition which can be diagnosed except 

 by explorator}' laparotom}.' It causes acute pain and col- 

 lapse, with death in a very slu^rt time. 



1 Vc'terinaty Record, vol. ix., p. 449 (W'allmann and Kitt, Mayall's 

 translation). 



