COLICS OF THE OX 



183 



in the right flank. Invagination, which is often difficult to dis- 

 cover in pregnant animals, may be reduced by taxis (Degive). When 

 attempts to loosen the intestine are unsuccessful we must make a 

 resection, and then join the ends, serous to serous, by means of the 

 intestinal suture (Meyer, Taccoen). 



2. COLICS DUE TO INTESTINAL STRANGULATION. 



Etiology. In the ox, intestinal strangulation may take place 

 through a perforation in the omentum, mesentery, diaphragm, the 

 broad ligament, etc., but it is especially found as a complication of 

 pelvic hernia^ which has for its cause the tearing of the testicular 

 cords during castration. In fact, rupture of the testicular cords 

 may be the cause of strangulation acting through a variable mech- 

 anism, as follows : In some instances the traction upon the cords 

 results in a tearing of the peritoneal fold which is located at the 

 entrance of the pelvis — an intestinal loop becomes engaged in the 

 opening thus produced and is strangulated there; in other instances, 

 the end of the testicular cord, which has been torn, enters the 

 abdominal cavity and entangles a portion of the intestine, which it 

 crowds more or less closely ; lastly, the end of the testicular cord 

 becomes joined to the abdominal wall, and in this case the intestine 

 may also be strangulated in the funicular-peritoneal cleft thus 

 formed. 



Symptoms. The symptoms and duration of the disease are 

 nearly the same as in invagination. Upon the anterior border of 

 the pelvis is formed a soft, painful tumor of the size of an apple or 

 the fist ; this, together with the extended condition of the testicular 

 €ord, constitutes very precise diagnostic information. 



Treatment. This is exclusively surgical. In some cases 

 the hernia may be reduced by rectal taxis. When this latter 

 method is insufficient, the cause of strangulation must be removed 

 by rupturing the cord by the hand introduced into the rectum or 

 through an incision in the flank. 



3. OTHER COLICS OF THE OX. 



We may also observe in the ox colics produced by overloading 

 of the stomach, by cold, by intestinal obstruction (tumors, fecal 

 matters, segagropilse), or by ingestion of the placenta in females just 

 delivered. But, ordinarily, these colics are not so serious as those 



