RUPTURE OF THE DOUBLE COLON IN A HORSE. 259 
On the 4th of March he was observed to be dull and disinclined 
to feed. I found that he was labouring under a severe attack of 
indigestion, and treated him accordingly, and ordered him to be 
kept without food for the remainder of that day. On the 5th there 
was no amendment. Continue the treatment. On the 6th he was 
much worse ; lies down frequently, but does not roll about — sits on 
his haunches — the vertebral column is arched upward — he evinces 
great pain on pressing the right hypochondriac region — points with 
his nose to his flanks — the pulse 60, and small and feeble — his 
mouth moist, but clammy ; its temperature, as well as that of the 
body, rather below the normal standard — the tongue coated — the 
respiration regular — appetite lost — extremely costive — urine not 
small in quantity, but thick, and of a dark colour. 
Diagnosis. — Obstruction in the abdominal viscera, the precise 
nature of which I cannot determine. The prognosis unfavourable. 
Give solutio aloe §viij, in haustus & hydrarg. chlor. 3 j, in 
bolus with medicated enemas every ten minutes, and apply hot 
fomentations to the abdomen. The rectum was also explored, and 
was found empty and of the same temperature as the body, that is, 
rather below the natural standard. On auscultation, no borboryg- 
mus in the abdomen. On the 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, and 11th, the 
treatment, consisting of purgatives, laxatives, sedatives, and, oc- 
casionally, antispasmodics, with stimulants, internally as well as 
externally, was most actively followed up without the least bene- 
ficial effect. On the 12th he died without a struggle, at half past 
eight, A.M. What seems extraordinary is, that he was not in any 
very violent pain, though he seemed uneasy; and when led out he 
walked without any indication of weakness or staggering, and even 
looked lively, though for nearly a week he had not had any evacu- 
ation per anum, nor taken any nutritive food. 
Autopsia Cadaveris. — The whole extent of the double colon 
highly inflamed — its colour nearly black — its vessels gorged with 
dark blood — it was distended to its utmost with dry food consisting 
of bran, chaff, and beans : at its anterior flexion there was a rup- 
ture extending about eight inches in a transverse direction ; and so 
crammed was the intestine, that through this enormous rent not a 
particle of food had escaped into the abdominal cavity, which only 
contained a small quantity of bloody serum. The stomach was 
nearly empty, and healthy in appearance, likewise the small in- 
testines and caecum. The single colon contained a few dung-balls, 
and had participated but little in the inflammation of the double 
colon. The rectum was healthy, as well as the remainder of the 
abdominal viscera. — Query : did the rupture exist from the time 
the horse sat on his haunches, or did it occur only a short time 
previous to death! 
