COLICS THROUGH INTESTINAL OCCLUSION 177 



Treatment. In the great majority of cases the treatment is 

 purely palliative. We merely liquefy the intestinal contents 

 through the administration of purgatives. When these neofor- 

 mations are accessible to the hand introduced in the rectum (we 

 have ourselves observed some of these cases), it is advisable to 

 empty this bowel several times a day. If pedunculated, they may 

 be removed either by torsion or by means of an écraseur.^ 



6. COLICS DUE TO CONSTRICTION OF THE INTESTINE. 



Etiology. In our domestic animals the small intestine is most 

 frequently the seat of constrictions. They are due to the conse- 

 quent formation of cicatrices when there has been loss of tissue of 

 the mucous membrane in cases of enteritis, helminthiasis, etc., or 

 where there has been a hernia or invagination. The opening of 

 the intestinal canal may be reduced to such an extent as hardly to 

 permit the introduction of the finger. Immediately in front of the 

 contraction we notice a more or less extended dilatation. 



Symptoms. In general the symptoms are those of colics super- 

 induced by intestinal obstruction. Sometimes death occurs rapidly, 

 at other times — and this is the most common — the contraction pro- 

 vokes intermittent colics, appearing at irregular intervals. In spite 

 of the retained appetite, the patients lose flesh and die in a condi- 

 tion of marasmus. 



1 Professor Mauri has related a very interesting observation of a valvular constric- 

 tion of the rectum cured through partial resection of the constricted portion. The 

 subject of this observation, an Anglo-Norman horse, seven years old, was affected by 

 intermittent colics for one month, when put under treatment at the Veterinary School 

 of Toulouse. He had preserved his appetite, but at certain times he was down- 

 cast : he would stretch himself frequently, pass small quantities of urine, look at his 

 flank, prepare himself for defecation, and make violent and repeated efforts which 

 were unsuccessful; he would also scratch the ground, or lie down, seeming to be 

 relieved by assuming the sterno-costal decubitus. Eectal exploration showed a very 

 marked constriction at twelve centimetres from the anus, in iront of which there 

 was a large reservoir formed by the distended rectum, which was filled with packed 

 fecal masses, the extraction of which was difficult. This artificial evacuation having 

 been performed, the rectum became normal, the animal showed a very manifest and 

 immediate relief, and the colics stopped for several hours. But with reaccumu- 

 lation of the excrements the symptoms returned. At the time the animal made 

 these efibrts, there could be seen at first a considerable dilatation of the anus ; then, 

 during the contraction of the abdominal muscles, the fecal mass became packed 

 against the valve and carried it forcibly backward. Notwithstanding the greatest 

 efforts, no excrements could be rejected. A definite cure was obtained through the 

 resection of the valvula with the écraseur. Macroscopic and microscopic examina- 

 tion of this wall showed that it was formed of smooth muscular fibre covered with 

 normal mucous membrane. — n. d. t. 



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