136 



DISEASES OF THE DIGESTIVE APPARATUS. 



again, under a third heading may be classified some which are 

 remarkable by their growing into the intestine, and which are more 

 or less obscure. Accidents of this nature produce gastric symptoms 

 and are ordinarily complicated with hemorrhages or with necrosis 

 of the mucous membrane. We shall discuss them in this article. 



Among the substances swallowed by dogs we often find bones, 

 pebbles, lead or iron balls, glass marbles, currency, buttons, corks, 

 chestnuts, strings, etc. The animals usually swallow these objects 

 in playing or carrying to their masters, more rarely in taking their 

 food. We have seen a dog which had swallowed a projectile 

 measuring 4 centimetres in diameter and weighing 250 grammes 

 (8 ounces). 



Symptoms. As long as the foreign body floats freely in the 

 stomach its presence is generally indicated by symptoms of an acute 

 or chronic gastro-intestinal affection. Often, however, it does not 

 provoke any abnormal phenomena. Nichoux has seen a dog which 

 carried a silver five-franc piece and a large two-cent copper for two 

 years without showing the least inconvenience.' 



When the foreign body obstructs the opening of the intestinal 

 canal the symptomatic picture becomes definite. At the outset there 

 is no fever, but marked nervous depression is often seen ; the ani- 

 mals remain lying, eat little or refuse all food, and drink with 

 avidity ; they are soon affected with vomitings, especially after 

 meals or ingestion of water. These vomitings are sometimes per- 

 formed with extreme violence, and then mucous, bilious, and excre- 

 mentitious matters are rejected ; icterus appears quite frequently ; 

 defecation is either suppressed or is reduced to a minimum. We 

 may observe rabiform symptoms ; the dog is cross and very excitable ; 

 he has often a tendency to bite and to destroy objects which he can 

 seize ; generally he runs from man. The fever appears and increases 

 with variable rapidity ; anorexia is complete and emaciation is 

 striking. There are cases where the trouble is overwhelming ; the 

 animals are apathetic, remain almost always recumbent ; the coun- 

 tenance is anxious, the fever increases rapidly, the pulse is small^ 

 and death takes place during deep somnolence. 



Diagnosis. The course of the disease and the information 



1 We have observed a dog swallowing spinning-tops, and carrying them in the 

 stomach for eleven months without any sign of distress, but finally one of the two 

 tops entered the duodenum, and, being there held fast, superinduced grave symptoms 

 and death. At the autopsy the other top was found free in the stomach. — n. d. t. 



