GASTRIC TYMPANY 57 



pressure on the diaphragm. While engaged in this, the 

 examiner will often hear sounds of peristalsis, with some- 

 times the passing of a small volume of flatus per anum. 

 He knows, again, that in enteritis these movements and 

 sounds are almost always entirely absent. The eye, 

 though expressive of excruciating pain, has not the 

 haggard ' I'm done for ' kind of expression that the 

 animal in the fatal grip of enteritis always shows. 



Having dismissed enteritis from his calculations, the 

 field of error is considerably reduced. The pains are not 

 those of ordinary impaction of the stomach or intestines ; 

 they are much too acute in character. Is it twist, 

 volvulus, or strangulated hernia ? In a typical case of 

 the affection even these serious sounding suggestions are 

 easily disposed of. The abdomen is not hard enough, 

 tense enough, tympanitic enough to allow of such an idea 

 being seriously entertained for long. It will not be for- 

 gotten, however, that, as previously stated, the abdomen 

 may be tympanitic, so that, to assist him in his diagnosis, 

 the veterinarian must look for signs more convincing still 

 ere he comes to a final conclusion. 



Perhaps he has punctured the abdomen, and still finds 

 tympany remaining. In the positions in which he has 

 operated he knows he should have encountered the 

 caecum and colon. He knows of no other bowel that is 

 able to distend to the extent that his case presents. He 

 is compelled, and rightly, to fall back on the stomach as 

 the seat of mischief. 



He is struck by the catchy, see-saw breathing, and the 

 trickling fluid, small in quantity, running from the 

 nostrils. He auscultates the trachea and obtains distinct 

 evidence of fluid in that passage. The idea of an inspired 

 drench is emphatically negatived by the owner and 

 attendants ; sometimes, even, one has not been ad- 



