38 



DISEASES OF THE DIGESTIVE APPARATUS. 



Fig. 11. 



constipation. In chronic catarrh of the bowels the pain is not 

 very severe on pressure. In twisting of the bowel, foreign bodies, 

 and the presence of tumors, abnormal growths on the intestines or 

 the abdominal walls can be detected either by pain on pressure or 

 also by manipulation of the hand. 



The circumference of the abdomen is increased by accumula- 

 tions of gas in the intestines in fat animals and in bitches in 



whelp ; it is also observed in chronic 

 catarrh of the intestines and all peri- 

 toneal inflammations, or, in rare in- 

 stances, where air has escaped from 

 the intestines or stomach by perfora- 

 tion of abscesses, accumulations of 

 fluids, as in exudative peritonitis or 

 ascites, or by bursting of the bladder, 

 or where the bladder is abnormally 

 distended. 



The circumference of the abdomen 

 is lessened where the animal has been 

 starved, or in obstinate diarrhoea or 

 dysentery. 



The lower bowels can be examined 

 per rectum by means of the finger. 

 This method of examination is used to 

 determine any diseased condition of the 

 bowel and to see the character of the 

 feces or to examine the neighboring organs— prostate gland, vagina, 

 uterus, or the floor of the pelvis. To make this examination the 

 author frequently uses a mirror in coujunction with the apparatus 

 illustrated in Fig. 11. The bowel is first emptied by means of 

 enemas or a glycerin suppository; the apparatus is introduced 

 into the rectum, and then the mirror can be used to throw the 

 light into the cavity. Inflammation of the rectum from any 

 cause, such as hemorrhoids, fistulas, foreign bodies, or abscesses, 

 can be readily examined by this means. 



The Feces. The number of times that an animal has an 

 evacuation of the bowels depends on two circumstances: the 

 character of the food or the rapidity with which it passes through 

 *u„ u„„.„i. Normally an animal has two or three passages daily 



Speoulums. 



the bowels. 



