TORSION OF THE DOUBLE COLON 243 



It is a point of practical importance, however, that 

 two very common seats of torsion are — (i) At the supra- 

 sternal and diaphragmatic flexures ; (2) at a point not far 

 distant from the extremity of the colic loop. 



But although torsion of the double colon has been 

 recorded as affecting various portions of the bowel, I 

 shall make no attempt (apart from a consideration of 

 twist of the pelvic flexure — see Chapter XXI.) to 

 differentiate between these different forms of displace- 

 ment. I do not think the time for that is ripe. I do not 

 consider that our knowledge of these conditions, per- 

 plexing as they often are, is sufficiently advanced. 

 Simply, therefore, I shall content myself with discussing 

 the matter more or less generally, hoping in this way to 

 do something, if only a little, to pave the way for what 

 future observation may disclose. 



Preliminary Remarks. — At the outset I should like 

 to give my reason for dealing at all with volvulus or 

 torsion in a work having as its title, ' The Common 

 Colics.' My reason is this. From my own experience 

 I am quite convinced that the cause of death in nearly 

 all our fatal cases of equine colic is torsion of some 

 portion of the intestines. I am further convinced that 

 in the very big majority of such cases the seat of the 

 torsion is the double colon. It is, indeed, an accident 

 unfortunately only too common. 



Smith, too, is plainly of much the same opinion. In 

 his ' Manual of Physiology,' p. 236, he says : ' What 

 is the common cause of death among horses from 

 intestinal affections, whether affecting the large or 

 the small bowels? There is only one answer to this, 

 and time and careful enquiry will prove its accuracy. The 

 answer is strangulation of the bowels, partial or complete.' 

 Further, on referring to vol. ii. of Cadeac's ' Patho- 



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