THROMBOTIC COLIC 95 



THROMBOTIC COLIC 



Obstruction of the mesenteric arteries by a species of 

 Sclerostoma is a recognized clinical phenomenon in the 

 horse. Thrombosis resulting as a consequence of such 

 obstructions produces attacks of colic that are termed 

 thrombotic colics. Cases of colic of this type are only 

 reported when the attack terminates fatally, when post- 

 mortem examination reveals the thrombotic vessels. 



That an obstruction in the mesenteric arteries will 

 produce colicky pains is not a theory. Experiments per- 

 formed on animals by ligating and limiting the blood 

 supply in the mesentery have shown that two patholog- 

 ical conditions will result, one of which is immediate and 

 the other remote. The immediate result occurs within 

 an hour or two after the blood supply has been cut off, 

 and consists of violent peristaltic movements in that por- 

 tion of the intestine from which the blood supply has been 

 shut off. This violent peristalsis will continue until: 



1. The obstruction to the blood supply is removed ; or 



2. The regional vessels assume the work of the ob 

 structed artery; or 



3. The section of intestine is paralyzed. 



Under 1, there occurs an attack of "spasmodic" colic 

 of moderate duration. 



Under 2, we see a prolonged siege of colicky pains and 

 varying degrees of flatulence in the small intestines. 



Under 3, we see first what has just been said of 2, plus 

 the grave developments of enteritis and peritonitis, ter- 

 minating usually in death. 



The remote effect of obstruction in the mesenteric ar- 

 teries is obliteration of the arteries and accompanying 

 lack of tone in the section of gut formerly served by the 

 obliterated artery. The result here, also, is colic. De- 

 spite the fact that the manner in which colic can result 



