418 DISEASES. OF DIGESTION. 



RELATIONS OF VOMITING AND RUPTURE OF THE 

 STOMACH. — Although vomiting occurs so frequently in cases of 

 rupture of the stomach, that it might be accepted as a well-marked 

 symptom of this condition ; no necessary connection exists between 

 the two. In fact, vomiting cannot be a consequence of com- 

 plete rupture of the part ; for the contents of the distended stomach 

 would have, through the rent in that organ, a far readier way of 

 escape, than through the usually closed passage from the stomach 

 into the gullet. Besides, there have been recorded numerous cases 

 of rupture without vomiting, and of vomiting without rupture. 

 Bearing these considerations in mind, it seems reasonable to con- 

 clude that when vomiting occurs, it does so before rupture of the 

 stomach takes place, or before such rupture becomes complete. 

 Anyhow, vomition in the horse seldom, if ever, takes place unless 

 the stomach' is distended nigh unto bursting. The manner in 

 which the contents of the stomach, in the act of vomiting, overcome 

 the resistance offered by the narrow passage from the stomach to 

 the gullet, has not yet been satisfactorily explained. 



Vomiting without collapsus (more or less sudden failure of the 

 vital powers) is generally an indication of a speedy recovery. 



TREATMENT is of little or no use in cases of rupture of the 

 stomaxjh, or of vomition. 



Twists and Folds of the Intestines. 



Apart from the various kinds of herniae, the intestines are liable 

 to constriction (drawing together) by alteration of position, chiefly, 

 in the two following ways : — 



1. By twist (volvulus). When this accident takes place, it al- 

 most always affects the large intestine, in which case there are con- 

 tinuous colicky pains of gradually increasing severity with flatulent 

 distension of the belly, and constipation after the part of the bowel 

 behind the accumulated gas has cleared itself out ; supposing that 

 the twist is complete. In this case the rejected dung gives off a 

 peculiar odour which is characteristic of intestinal inflammation. 

 By passing the hand into the rectum one feels the distended colon 

 (large intestine), which may for the moment be mistaken for the 

 over-filled urinary bladder, but careful examination reveals its 

 real nature. The longitudinal muscular bands can be distinctly 

 felt, and show, not only that we have to do with the colon, but also 

 in what direction torsion has occurred. When the bowel is in its 

 proper position, they run nearly parallel with the long axis of the 

 body ; but in twists, a change in their course is distinctly appreci- 



