246 THE COMMON COLICS OF THE HORSE 



covery of cases of torsion affecting this particular portion 

 of the bowel, but it has enabled me to come to some 

 measure of differential diagnosis during the life of the 

 patient. But of that more in the chapter devoted to its 

 consideration. Just now we are concerned only with a 

 consideration of twists of the double colon in general. 



Anatomical and Physiological Facts concerning 

 the Double Colon. — If ever we are to come to a close 

 and real understanding of the various forms of displace- 

 ment of the double colon, it is quite certain that a ready 

 knowledge of the normal anatomy and of the physiology 

 of the parts will be of the very greatest assistance to us 

 — will, in fact, be indispensable. In a previous chapter 

 I have already dealt briefly with the anatomy. What 

 follows here is an enlargement on that, together with 

 several physiological facts of the highest importance. 

 For this I am again indebted to Major-General F. Smith, 

 for both the subject-matter and the illustrations of this 

 section are a direct transcript from his ' Manual of 

 Physiology.' This little book already owes much to 

 Smith's writings, and I would like here, in addition to 

 what I may have said elsewhere, to give that fact 

 prominence, and at the same time to express my thanks 

 for permission to use the material. 



The Colon. — ' The direction taken by the colon of the horse 

 is remarkable. It commences high up under the spine on the 

 right side, its origin being very narrow, but it immediately 

 becomes of immense size. It descends towards the sternum, 

 and, curving to the left side, rests on the ensiform cartilage 

 and inferior abdominal wall. The colon now ascends towards 

 the pelvis, and here makes a curve, the bowel becoming very 

 narrow in calibre. The pelvic flexure having been formed, 

 the intestine retraces its steps towards its starting-point. 

 Running on top of the previously described portion, it descends 

 towards the diaphragm, growing gradually larger in calibre. 



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