304 THE COMMON COLICS OP THE HORSE 



mortem. For when once we are able to do this, if only 

 in isolatedi nstances, and at post-mortems always care- 

 fully checking the errors we unavoidably make, we must 

 come eventually to a greater understanding of these 

 troublesome conditions, upon which so much yet remains 

 to be written. 



Differential Diagnosis between Torsion and 

 Simple Impaction of the Pelvic Flexure. — With 

 his case before him and with such help as I have been 

 able to give, I do not think the veterinarian should 

 experience any great difficulty. In the first place the 

 history of the illness will give him material assistance ; 

 and in this connection too great a stress cannot be laid 

 on the fact that the case of torsion is the one where the 

 urgent symptoms develop in the early hours of the 

 morning, and appear to be consequent on some more than 

 ordinarily severe hauling effort during the labour of the 

 day before. On the other hand, when one is called in 

 during the late forenoon, afternoon, or evening, more par- 

 ticularly when the history points to no labour more severe 

 than steady work, and that on regularly full rations, then 

 usually we need fear nothing worse than the simple case 

 of impaction (see Chapter X.). 



The observation of the symptoms gives further help, 

 and for purposes of ready comparison may conveniently 

 be put into tabular form as follows : 



Impaction. Twist. 



See Chapter X. See Chapter XIX. 



I. Periods of ease manifested i. Constant pain, exhibited by 



by the patient maintaining a continual crouching movements, 



sleepy, stretched-out position on and marked disinclination to lie 



the floor, for quite long periods. down. The dog-like attitude 



when down, and the frequent 

 twinges of acute pain then 

 shown, as described in the text. 



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