IMPACTION OF THE COLON 139 



evidenced by the diarrhea, and by auscultation of the 

 abdomen. The pain is seldom severe, and the violent 

 symptoms of spasmodic colic are absent. There is 

 usually pavi^ing, uneasiness and an anxious counte- 

 nance. 



The diagnosis is not always easy. Both the history 

 and symptoms are misleading. I am never satisfied to 

 diagnose a case of colic, no matter how mild or how 

 severe, without a most thorough rectal examination. 

 A rectal examination, is to most practitioners a dis- 

 agreeable task and many cases are never properly 

 diagnosed for the lack of it. First of all the examina- 

 tion tells me if the rectum is empty, and if it is, other 

 symptoms being right, I begin to suspect impaction 

 because in so many of these cases the rectum has 

 been emptied, and in fact the whole floating colon 

 back of the obstruction, before the animal evinces any 

 uneasiness. In more than half of the cases I have 

 observed, the impacted mass can be located, thus ren- 

 dering the diagnosis certain. 



Consequently I repeat and I say this after nearly 

 nine years' experience, always make a rectal examina- 

 tion in every case of colic. 



As to treatment. I have nothing new to oiler, and 

 must confess that I am something of an old "fogy" 

 after having tried about everything known to man, 

 with varying success. This thing should be remem- 

 bered that a case of impaction may nearly always be 

 counted on to live for several days without treatment 

 other than controlling the flatulence with a trocar. I 

 have known them to live ten days with treatment, and 



