2o6 CANINE AND FELINE SURGERY 



returned by a little manipulation, and now is the time to 

 differentiate bet\\-een rectum and small intestine. When it is 

 the former, a digital examination reveals the interior to be 

 perfectly smooth, the \\alls being relaxed and in their normal 

 place again. When one has to deal with an intussusception 

 and prolapse of the bowel above the rectum, the rounded 

 edges of the intussuscepted portion will be felt at the finger- 

 tip, just out of reach, and the end of the finger can be 



Fig. 140. — Prolapse of the Bowel. 



distinctly passed into a pouch between the interior of the 

 rectal wall and this piece of gut. 



As a rule, too, in the case of a prolapsed rectum, ^^'hen 

 returned, the bo\\'el will remain in situ for some hours, and 

 often permanentlv, ^\'hereas in the case of an intussusception 

 and prolapse of the small intestine, the gut will be protruded 

 immediatelv the patient moves a few 3'ards — i.e., of course, if 

 no mechanical means are taken to prevent it. 



