174 Surgical Diseases and Surgery of the Dog 



ligatures. With the colon, Jaffe did not have similar results, for 

 in this part of the tract ligaturing was followed by local necrosis 

 and diflfuse peritonitis. This is probably to be accounted for by 

 the fact that bacteria are believed to be present in greater numbers 

 in the large intestine than in the small. 



Symptoms and Diagnosis. The symptoms of incarcerated 

 hernia are of a chronic type and very similar to those of fecal im- 

 paction, which have already been sufficiently discussed. Those of 

 strangulation are of an extremely acute character, appearing with- 

 in a very few hours. The breathing is accelerated, the temperature 

 somewhat elevated, and there is an anxious facial expression. The 

 cardiac impulse is scarcely perceptible, and the animal is soon in a 

 state of collapse. The collapse is believed to be due to the profound 

 impression sustained by the sympathetic system through the com- 

 pression. Food is entirely refused, but there is intense thirst. 

 Vomiting occurs very early, and becomes frequent and copious, and 

 finally feculent. The greater the degree of strangulation and the 

 higher the lesion occur in the tract, the more pronounced are the 

 symptoms. Such symptoms, coupled with the presence of hernia, 

 which is tense, hard, and painful, may be taken as indicative of 

 strangulation. 



Treatment. Incarcerated hernia may generally be relieved 

 by taxis supplemented with purgative doses of castor oil and ene- 

 meta of olive oil. The application of ice-bags is also useful, to cause 

 contraction of the vessels. Where such measures fail of effect, re- 

 course must be had to enterotomy and further operative measures 

 to effect permanent reduction. Strangulated hernia is treated by 

 the operation of herniotomy, and if the viability of the bowel is no 

 longer apparent, by resection and anastomosis. 



Strangulation being an extremely severe lesion, the chances 

 of recovery are always very slight. An early diagnosis and im- 

 mediate operative interference offer some hope. 



Torsion. Volvulus. Ileus. These terms signify twisting of 

 the bowel about its mesentery or around its own axis. This lesion 

 occurs very rarely in the dog on account of its short mesentery. 

 Lienaux witnessed a case in a fox terrier which had' been thrown 

 up and turned about a great deal by some children. The animal 

 suffered severe abdominal pain, and died fifteen hours later. The 

 necropsy revealed a torsion of the mesentery around an axis co- 



