COLICS IN THE HORSE 109 



All of these pathological displacements lead to a sud- 

 den occlusion of the bowel and fatal colic. They con- 

 stitute about five percent of all colic cases. Displace- 

 ment of the large bowel and displacement of the small 

 bowel are of great practical importance and may be dis- 

 cussed as follows : 



Displacement of the Large Bowel. — Most commonly 

 this consists in a rotation (torsion) of the left colons 

 around their long axis. On account of their free posi- 

 tion in the abdominal cavity, contrary to the colons on 

 the right side, a certain predisposition to abnormal dis- 

 placement is present. 



The exciting causes are usually primary impactions 

 behind the point of torsion. Therefore, an impaction of 

 the upper right colon ("stomach-like dilatation") may 

 lead to torsion of the lower colons, or an impaction of 

 the lower colons, torsion of the upper colon. In 36 cases 

 of torsion studied by Behrens, 39 showed impaction 

 (81%). In that part of the bowel, which is in front of 

 it, impaction seems to produce a violent anti-peristaltic 

 movement, which induces secondarily a torsion. In 

 rare instances paralysis of the bowels, due to embolism 

 is the cause, and still more rarely it is due to the rolling 

 of the patient during an attack of colic. 



A correct diagnosis of torsion can be arrived at only 

 through rectal examination. Very important to consider 

 is the course of the bands of the left lower colon. In 

 place of their normal straight course, the bands will be 

 found bent spirally to the right or the left. The torsion 

 is always in the direction opposite to the turn of the 

 bands. For example, the common torsion of the left 



