160 
THE VETERINARY SCIENCE 
18. Protrusion of the Rectum or Back Bowel. 
This is often met with. It is a miserable looking sight, 
especially when the protruded portion is allowed to remain 
out for some time and become swollen. 
Causes. — A horse in jumping a fence may get caught 
and lie with his belly half over. The extreme pressure of 
his weight upon the fence in this position may cause it. 
Extreme cases of bloating, as with wind colic or acute indi- 
gestion, sometim-es causes sufficient pressure to force the 
rectum out. It has been met with in cases of diarrhoea, 
being the result of straining. Constipation, however, is the 
great cause of protrusion. The straining is so great in pass- 
ing manure as to frequently press the rectum out. A mare 
while foaling or an old stallion while being castrated may 
strain sufficiently hard as to bring about the same result. 
Symptoms. — A red mass of bowel hanging from the anus, 
varying in extent from three inches to three or four feet and 
in some cases even more than this. 
Treatment. — Place a twitch on the horse's nose. While 
one attendant holds up one of the front feet to keep him 
from kicking and another holds the tail out of the way, 
cleanse the protruding bowel thoroughly by washing it well 
with lukewarm water. When satisfied that it is thoroughly 
clean, oil well all over with sweet oil. Commence by return- 
ing the bowel in at the anus, after which it should be pushed 
well back into the body with the hand and arm according 
to the amount protruding. The tail must be held down tight 
over the anus for an hour or so after the operation, until 
straining has ceased, to prevent its coming out again. It is. 
well to place straw or boards under the hind feet to keep the 
rear end of the body higher than the front. Give : 
Raw Linseed Oil 1 pint 
Laudanum 1 ounce or 4 dessertspoonfuls. 
This will act upon the bowels and also relieve the pain. 
Shake well together and give as a drench. Feed soft feed 
containing plenty of boiled linseed to keep the bowels loose. 
If constipation be the cause of protrusion give : 
Mix with a pint of lukewarm water and give as a drench. 
Bitter Aloes 
Ginger 
Bicarbonate of Soda 
8 drams. 
1 dessertspoonful. 
1 dessertspoonful. 
