68 CANINE MEDICINE AND SURGERY 



lacerated. If not treated, the gut in a- few hours 

 becomes intensely swollen, of a dusky hue, and ex- 

 ceedingly painful, and if further neglected death 

 may take place from shock, collapse, or septic ab- 

 sorption. When the act of defecation takes place 

 the gut is seen to protrude and retract as straining 

 takes place and ceases. 



Treatment. — As a rule a general anesthetic should 

 be given, since the parts are very sensitive and 

 there is always straining by the patient; further- 

 more, reposition is a great deal easier when the 

 parts are relaxed and the patient's opposition under 

 control. In recent cases before the mucous rhem- 

 brane of the gut has become friable and easily lacer- 

 ated, the parts should be bathed freely with hot 

 water, to which may be added some antiseptic such 

 as creolin or chinosol, or if exceedingly congested, 

 they may be sprayed with a solution of adrenalin 

 chlorid, 1 to 10,000 or 1 to 20,000. The gut is then 

 cautiously manipulated with the fingers and the 

 prolapsed portion replaced, the rectum being 

 smoothed out into its normal position with the mid- 

 dle finger. A stitch or two should then be placed 

 across the anus to retain the bowel, or a purse- 

 string suture inserted for the same object. 



In longer standing cases in which the prolapsed 

 portion is lacerated and the mucous membrane 

 friable, cold water should be substituted for hot in 

 the preliminary bathing as it will tone up the parts 

 and render them less liable to injury during the sub- 

 ■ sequent manipulations. Straining must be con- 

 trolled by morphin or cannabis indica, and the diet 

 restricted to slops. Constipation should be guarded 

 against by the use of laxatives of olive oil or cas- 

 cara. Prolapse of the rectum is very prone to re- 

 currence, and amputation will very likely be neces- 

 sary to obtain permanent relief. Amputation should 



