112 DISEASES OF THE STOMACH AND BOWELS 



Simple Impaction of the Intestines. — ^Definition. — Simple 

 impaction of the bowel (obstipation) consists in an accumula- 

 tion of feces which obstructs the lumen of the bowel. After 

 a time the bowel surrounding the impacted mass loses its 

 tonicity, dilates and becomes paralyzed. 



Occurrence. — Simple impactions are very frequent in 

 horses. According to the records of the Berlin Clinics 75 

 per cent, of the cases of colic are due to this cause. The 

 frequency of this disorder, however, varies with the kind of 

 food and manner of feeding, so that these figures do not apply 

 to all parts of the world. For instance, in Budapest the 

 statistics show a much lower prevalency (6 to 20 per cent.) . 



Etiology. — ^The exciting causes of this form of colic are due 

 to feeding food rich in cellulose and wood fiber, the character 

 of this type of food requiring that large quantities be ingested 

 to supply nutrition. Straw, chaff, corn fodder, clover or 

 alfalfa which is not young and tender are, therefore, causes. 

 Overfeeding any sort of food may have a like effect. Foods 

 which contain a large amount of mineral matter or earth, 

 sand, etc., often lead to impaction (bran, barley, swamp 

 hay). 



Horses suffering from chronic gastro-intestinal catarrh, and 

 those with diseased teeth preventing proper mastication 

 are commonly victims. Old and very fat horses which are 

 not exercised sufficiently are predisposed. 



Impaction may also be secondary to pathological condi- 

 tions of the bowels (dilatation of the cecum, stenosis of the 

 ileum, paralysis of the rectum, enteroliths, worm parasites 

 and embolism). 



Forms. — ^From the standpoint of diagnosis two forms of 

 simple impaction are distinguished : 

 Impaction of the small bowel. 

 Impaction of the large bowel. 



Impaction of the Small Bowel. — Diagnosis. — The 

 principal symptoms of this form of impaction are the sudden- 

 ness of the attack of colic which appears usually a few 

 hours after feeding. The pain is usually quite marked, the 

 patient often assuming the attitude of the male horse when 

 urinating. The peristalsis of the left side is suppressed and 



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