DISEASES OF THE SOLID OMGANS OF THE ABDOMEN. 93 



Passage of Gall Stojves. 



The term calculus denotes a stone or gravel, or unorganized concretion 

 found in the body, as in the bladder, gall-ducts, kidneys, etc. Biliary cal- 

 culi are usually formed in tlie gall-bladder, and their passage dowu the 

 duet or canal into the Intestine is if they are large, attended with the 

 severest pain. The reasons for their formation are not understood; it is 

 presumed that certain constituents of the bile are deposited in conse- 

 quence of the presence of mucus in the gall-bladder or ducts, as the result 

 of inflammation. Other reasons are assigned, but sufficient evidence to 

 substantiate these theories is yet to be secured. 



^mptoms . — The presence of calculi in the gall-bladder cannot be deter- 

 mined until their passage out is commenced, and then only when they are 

 of sufficient size to distend the walls of the canal. Pain is the prominent 

 symptom and is of so violent a character in some cases the suffering is 

 extreme. The occurrence of the pain is usually abmpt, no indications of 

 ill health preceding it. 



Vomiting sets in early and continues throughout the attack. The expres- 

 sion and manner of the animal are Indicative of the great distress he is 

 experiencing. The bowels are constipated, and in many cases if a move- 

 ment occurs the discharges are clay-colored. Unless the attack is of long 

 continuance the pulse shows but little change from the normal. The pain 

 maybe persistent without intermission, or it may take on a paroxysmal 

 form, vary in intensity and finally end as abruptly as it first appeared. 



Treatment . — Opium in full doses is the only agent to be relied upon. 

 Astonishing quantities of this drug will be borne and little or no effect be 

 observed. Of the solid opium the dose is one grain eveiy two or three 

 hours or until the pain is controlled. If vomiting contra-indioates its use 

 by the mouth, one eighth of a grain of morphine should be given subcu- 

 taneously or double that dose by anal injection. If relief is not secured 

 by this treatment the animal should be etherized and kept so for a time, 

 then allowed to return to consciousness, and if the pain still persists the 

 ether should be re-applied. It must be remembered that opiates need to 

 be given with great care and not too often. While the pain is intense it 

 antagonizes the narcotics and no harm results, hut the gall-stone may sud- 

 denly pass from the duct into the intestine and then the pain will at once 

 cease. If the system is too heavily loaded with opium, its antidote the 

 pain being no longer present, the result ispoisoningby the drug. 



Various agents have been .suggested to act as a solvent on the calculi 

 and thereby prevent a recurrence of pain, which is almost certain to follow 

 sooner or later, but it has not been proven that their use has resulted in 

 marked success. 



