DIGESTIVE APPARATUS. lb') 



2. In serious subacute diseases; in such sases the ani- 

 mal's general condition may still be good. 



3. During or following severe diarrheas, or after colic 

 when strong purgatives were prescribed. 



-A. Violent contraction of the abdominal muscles in pain- 

 ful affections of the hind legs. 



b. Palpation. The object of palpation is to ascertain 

 the consistency of the bowel contents and whether or not pain- 

 ful conditions exist. In ruminants the peristaltic motion of 

 the bowels per rectum is of especial value in large animals. 



In horses the abdominal walls are thick and tense; this 

 and the fact that during an examination the animals frequent- 

 ly contract their abdominal muscles increases the difficulty of 

 arriving at accurate results in judging of the condition of 

 the abdominal organs, their contents, etc. In cattle the ab- 

 dominal walls are thinner, hence the results of palpation are 

 more accurate and satisfactory; in sheep this is true to a still 

 greater degree. 



Dogs habitually contract the abdominal walls when these 

 are manipulated, but soon relax them again. In dogs both 

 sides are palpated simultaneously, and by exerting pressure 

 from both sides toward the median line the entire abdominal 

 cavity may be thoroughly examined. 



Palpation serves in the first place to inform us as to the 

 degree of contraction (the tenseness of the abdominal walls 

 and the consistency of the bowel contents ; the latter should be 

 soft and easily compressible. If impressions are made by pres- 

 sure they should soon be effaced by the effects of peristalsis. 

 Large quantities of fluid bowel contents produce fluctuation. 

 Neoformations (tumors) are recognized by the extreme resist- 

 ance they offer to pressure. In dogs accumulated fecal masses 

 [and , intussuscepted intestines] can readily be felt. Foreign 

 bodies in the stomach and intestines can also be detected by 

 palpation providing the normal bowel contents are previoush 

 evacuated [medicines or clysters]. 



