TORSION OF THE DOUBLE COLON 283 



be able, should reduction fortunately occur, to point to 

 its happening, and refer to our previous explanation. Do 

 we leave this explanation until the event, then it is far 

 more likely to appear a shifty wriggling from a nasty 

 situation than a truthful exposition of the facts. 



In the case of complete torsion, of course a prognosis 

 may be given at once. Needless to say, it is a fatal 

 one. 



Treatment. — At first sight it would appear that any 

 treatment for twist would be useless. And in the case of 

 complete twist it certainly is. In such an instance the 

 only thing that can be done is to attempt to relieve the 

 animal's sufferings by administering huge doses of seda- 

 tives. Even this, however, seems to accomplish but little 

 towards the desired end ; and really, where we are quite 

 sure of our diagnosis, the most humane treatment is a 

 charge of shot, or the administration of chloroform with 

 the mask pushed to the point of poisoning. 



When we come to consider the condition of incomplete 

 twist, however, then not only are we justified in attempt- 

 ing treatment, but we may do so with the not unreason- 

 able assumption that some few cases will recover, owing to 

 the bowel effecting its own reduction (see Chapter XXII.). 

 How can we best aid the bowel to that end ? I certainly 

 do not think it will be by giving sedatives. In these 

 cases, therefore, I again advocate the line of treatment to 

 which all along through this book I have given prom- 

 inence — namely, the administration of stimulants, as 

 opposed to a treatment that is purely sedative. It may, 

 and does, cause additional pain. At the same time, it is 

 on occasions productive of results that a solely .sedative 

 treatment could only hinder. The very thing to which 

 we are to look for any chance of the bowel's spontaneous 

 reduction— namely, the action of its powerful muscular 



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