128 THE DISEASES OP THE D0Q. 



the invaginated bowel. In other cases, however, we have 

 the symptoms of enteritis complicated by those of bile 

 resorption, and if the animal does not succumb, it is found 

 that after the lapse of a considerable time the impacted 

 piece of bowel is thrown off as a slough and expelled per 

 anum. I think it must be accepted as an axiom in canine 

 surgery that where intestinal obstruction is marked and 

 obstinate, laparotomy should be performed before the 

 powers of the patient flag. Cases have been known in 

 which, with antiseptic precautions, a couple of inches of 

 bowel have been freed from the rest by two incisions, 

 and the cut ends of the bowel, thus shortened, having 

 been brought together and retained by suture, have re- 

 united, the excised portion being utilised by the experi- 

 menter for collection of succus entericus. Youatt tells us 

 that enteritis will not long exist without leading to intus- 

 susception. Mayhew considers the cascum the main seat 

 of intestinal disease in most cases ; he says : " In the dog 

 which has died of intestinal disease, the cEecum is almost 

 invariably found enlarged and inflamed. In it I imagine 

 the majority of bowel affections have their origin. The 

 gut is first loaded, and the consequence of this is it loses 

 its natural function. The contents become irritants from 

 being retained, and the whole process of digestion is 

 deranged ; other parts are involved and inflammation is 

 induced." 



Peolapsus Recti vel Ani is a result of debility, and con- 

 sists in protrusion of a portion of the rectum through the 

 anal opening. Either all the coats of the bowel are 

 extruded or only the mucous, which has become much 

 relaxed. This "dropping of the bowel" is most frequently 

 seen in old dogs, and is in the majority of instances a 

 result of the costive habit. The protruded portion seldom 

 becomes strangulated but gradually undergoes changes 

 which increase the difficulty in replacing it and favour its 

 reprotrusion. The bowel must be promptly returned 

 after cleansing, and cold astringent applications and as- 

 tringent suppositories or injections resorted to for several 

 days. Also the animal should be fed on boiled rice and 



