THE 
VETERINARIAN. 
YOL. XXYI, 
No. 312. 
DECEMBER, 1853. 
Third Series, 
No. 72. 
PROLAPSUS ANI. 
Prolapsus Ani , proctocele, inversio recti , (or, as the French 
denominate it, renversement du rectum ,) are so many appella- 
tions for a disease which, if one may judge from the paucity 
of cases on record, comes but occasionally under the notice of 
the veterinary surgeon — even in horses, though oftener among 
them, it is said, than in other animals; still, it is a disease which 
it behoves him both to understand the nature of, and be pre- 
pared with remedies to remove, whenever it does happen. 
Definition. — It consists in inversion and prolapse of the 
mucous coat of the rectum; either confined to the mucous 
membrane itself, or, otherwise, involving more or less of the 
entire substance of the intestine along with it. 
The Aspect of the protrusion will mainly depend on 
the nature and volume of the parts ejected, and upon the 
time such evolution has been in existence. YYhen recent, so 
readily does tumefaction of the parts follow their protrusion, 
that this speedily opposes all attempts at return, should the 
animal make any; though, in truth, his efforts in general have 
the effect of straining more gut out, and, through his strain- 
ing, in some cases, lacerating the membrane, and thus aug- 
menting, instead of diminishing, the evolution as well. In 
this manner arises a large, sometimes enormous, rotund, red, 
rugose efflorescence, consisting of cylinders of mucous mem- 
brane, having an aperture closed through constriction in its 
centre, though, when open, issuing a mucous and sanious 
matter, especially at such time as the animal is straining 
afresh. The circumflex action of the sphincter ani around 
the neck of the swelling, together with its distension with gas, 
and the action of the air upon its surface, all add to its in- 
crease of volume and change of colour; while the straining 
at the same time increases the difficulty of any effort the 
practitioner may make towards effecting a return of the 
protruded gut. With its augmentation of volume comes a 
deepening redness, turning, through the constriction of the 
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