CHAPTER XVIII 



SUBACUTE OBSTRUCTION OF THE 

 CAECUM' 



Definition. — The collecting in the csecum of ingesta, 

 abnormally dry in consistence, together with obstinate 

 atony of the caecal walls. 



While giving this definition, a few words on the 

 history of this condition will not be out of place. Although 

 for many years it appears to have been recognized by 

 Continental authors and practitioners, it is only so recently 

 as igi2 that English veterinary surgeons began to de- 

 scribe it as a separate entity. 



If we may judge from the scarcity of literature refer- 

 ring to it, then caecal impaction is far from being of 

 common occurrence. On the other hand, it is just 

 possible, owing to its having been so meagrely described, 

 that it may occur with greater frequency than we are 

 as yet aware of, and then be simply overlooked, not only 

 evading diagnosis during the life of the patient, but also 

 escaping notice at the autopsy. 



1 As our knowledge of this condition is still so plainly in a state 

 of flux I have deemed it wise, for the present at any rate, not to 

 interfere with the existing arrangement of this book by inserting 

 this matter before the chapters dealing with the more commonly 

 recognized conditions. The same remark also applies to the 

 following chapters on Displacements of the Double Colon.— 



il. C. R. 



219 



Digitized by Microsoft® 



