TORSION OF THE PELVIC FLEXURE 303 



succeeded in negativing that it is twist of the small 

 intestines ; we have also negatived the fact that it is 

 complete twist of the colon ; we have gone further and 

 decided that it is incomplete twist of the latter bowel, and 

 that in this particular case of incomplete colic twist there 

 is the absence from its normal position of the colon's 

 free end. All this can but mean that the pelvic flexure 

 is displaced, and that such displacement is responsible 

 for the patient's condition. In this way our diagnosis is 

 complete, and that a successful diagnosis may be made 

 in this manner I am quite convinced. That I am not 

 alone in this opinion I know from the following words 

 of Major-General Smith : ' I lay particular stress upon 

 the absence of the large intestines from the left flank 

 when the pelvic flexure is displaced. This symptom 

 enabled me on one occasion to arrive at a successful 

 diagnosis. ' 



There remains one other point for consideration. I 

 have already pointed out that although the pelvic flexure 

 may be. displaced and the actual cause of the mischief, 

 matters may be complicated by our discovering in the 

 pelvis a gas-distended coil of small intestine (see 

 Chapter XIX., p. 275. This may readily be mistaken 

 for the inflated pelvic flexure, especially when we are 

 greatly hindered in exploration by the violent straining 

 of our patient. In such a case the veterinarian may 

 excusably fail to make an accurate diagnosis. The 

 admission of this, however — one of the many difflculties in 

 our way — does not detract from the truth of my conten- 

 tion that some cases of pelvic torsion may be diagnosed. 



I am particularly anxious to press this point, if only 

 that it may be the means of enabling others to experience 

 the pleasure of thus accurately defining their case during 

 life, and afterwards verifying the diagnosis at post- 



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