430 DISEASES OF DIGESTION. 



staling, owing to irritation of the bladder caused by pressure of 

 the hardened mass of retained diing, on that organ. Death 

 from this form of constipation is generally due to rupture of the 

 intestine. 



TREATMENT. — Constipation, when it is caused by improper 

 food, rarely kills, even though no dung is passed for three weeks, 

 or even longer, as has not infrequently happened in cases which 

 have, subsequently, made good recoveries. This fact should teach 

 us to exercise patience when treating this condition. Human 

 beings have been known to live for six months without going to 

 stool. A horse usually dungs 8 or 10 times a day. 



Strong purgatives, such as aloes or eserine, may, if given, cause 

 rupture of the intestine and consequent death, by producing a 

 copious watery discharge which is not able to force a passage in a 

 natural manner, by the removal of the impacted matter. 



If colicky pains are present, with a hard pulse, a purgative 

 should on no account be given ; for such a condition indicates a 

 tendency to inflammation. The administration of belladonna and 

 enemas of water will then be appropriate. If the pulse is soft, 

 a gentle purgative, for instance, a quart bottle of linseed oil, may 

 be given. 



In constipation owing to errors of feeding, starve the animal, 

 give a pint and a half of linseed oil, two or three times, back 

 rake once or twice, and give two or three enemas of as much cold 

 water as the bowel will take. The enemas should be administered 

 while the hind quarters are raised, as recommended (p. 420). If 

 the belly be distended with gas, give 2 oz. of turpentine with the 

 oil. The animal should be moderately exercised, provided he be 

 not troubled with flatulency. If these metisures do not produce the 

 desired effect, give 2 drachms of belladonna in a ball, or made up 

 into a soft mass with treacle, and placed between the horse's back 

 teeth, so that he may gradually swallow it. The amount of bella- 

 donna can be increased to 3 or 4 drachms in urgent cases accom- 

 panied by pain. The belladonna can be repeated in half its 

 previous amount, after a few hours, if necessary. 



Belladonna increases the worm-like motion of the bowels, with- 

 out causing a watery discharge into them, and also allays pain. 

 It is specially indicated, if the constipation is accompanied by 

 colicky pains. The linseed oil is useful in softening and lubricat- 

 ing the undigested mass of food. The turpentine checks the 

 evolution of gas, and also increases the action of the bowels. 

 Ample time should be allowed for these drugs to act. Opium 

 should on no account be employed ; as it checks the action of the 

 intestines. In human practice, good results are often obtained by 



