The Abdomen 169 



ev€r, saw a champagne cork passed. Compressed sponges are 

 sometimes given by malfcious persons. In other instances masses 

 of leaves, straw, and grass have been found. Animals suffering 

 from eczema tear at and consume their hair, with the occasional re- 

 sult that impacted hair masses form. Bruckmueller has remarked 

 that dogs kept in barbers' shops are very apt to suffer from im- 

 pacted hair masses. Siedamgrotzky removed a hair ball by entero- 

 tomy, and Gurlt found eighteen in another animal. Puppies some- 

 times swallow balls of yarn. These are apt to lodge in the pylorus or 

 upper bowel, and gradually become unraveled, the free portion 

 being carried the length of the bowel. When a threaded needle 

 is swallowed it may lodge at any part, while the thread is carried 

 along. 



Symptoms and Diagnosis. Foreign bodies are productive of 

 varied symptoms. A mobile body advancing by stages, is often 

 the cause of violent colicky pains. Sometimes it produces nervous 

 phenomena of a convulsive or rabiform nature. In some instances 

 primary vomiting has been observed, but it is probable that this 

 lasts only as long as the body remains in the stomach, or at the 

 most in the upper bowel. Vomiting of this nature is to be dis- 

 tinguished from that induced by an impacted body, which does 

 not occur for some hours later. All food is refused, and there may 

 be expression of considerable pain, with arching of the back. 

 Symptoms of icterus may also appear. 



Characteristic of complete occlusion by an arrested body are 

 the following symptoms: 



The animal becomes dull and listless, seeks secluded and cool 

 spots, and reclines most of the time. There is no apparent pain. 

 Its appetite becomes capricious, and it finally refuses all food, and 

 rapidly emaciates. Vomiting appears, becomes more frequent 

 and violent, bile-stained, and lastly, stercoraceous. Hoare recorded 

 a case where the animal retained liquid nourishment forced upon 

 it. Thirst is apparent from the outset, but every draught of water 

 provokes a spell of vomiting. Defecation is suspended, and this, 

 together with stercoraceous vomiting, are the most typical symp- 

 toms of obstruction. Some writers speak of tympanitis, but I have 

 never seen this a very marked symptom. If one examines the in- 

 testinal tract of an animal dead of this form of obstruction, it 

 is true that the bowel for some distance above the seat of lesion 



