638 
RUPTURE OP THE COLON. 
an enema, and well clothed the body. In about half an hour 
she appeared to be somewhat easier; the abdominal pains 
being a little less violent, and she also began to perspire. 
About half past two o'clock, as the pain had not left her, 
and the pulse had now risen to sixty-five beats in the 
minute, I extracted about four quarts of blood. This did 
not appear to relieve her very much. 
From the peculiar train of symptoms, I now concluded 
that I had lesion of some of the abdominal viscera to con- 
tend with. About four o'clock, I administered another 
draught, consisting of — 
01. Lini, Oj ; 
Tinct. Opii, §j. M. 
The animal did not at this time lay down very often, but when 
down w r as very still, having her legs drawn up to her body. 
Occasionally she looked back towards her flanks. When 
standing, the head drooped, and the sighing became much 
increased; while the expression of her countenance was such, 
that once seen it could never be forgotten. 
i to 5. — The pulse is very much increased in frequency, 
and stertorous breathing has commenced. I now no longer 
saw any hope. From this time until five o’clock, she stood 
still, when she suddenly fell down and expired. 
Post-mortem examination . — On laying open the abdominal 
cavity my attention was attracted by the contents of the 
intestines floating about, which had caused extensive in- 
flammation of the peritoneum. On examining the stomach 
I found it to be intact, and perfectly healthy. Proceeding 
along the intestines for some distance, I came to a rupture, 
about three or four inches in diameter, in the colon, just 
where it is about to make its second curve across the spine, 
or the termination of the double colon. Passing my fingers 
into the interior of the intestine they came in contact with 
some hard substance. Extending the opening, I took out a 
calculus, almost spherical in form, but having some very 
sharp points jutting out in places. These, in my opinion, 
from attrition, were the cause of rupture. On further exa- 
mination, I found another calculus, not so large as the first, 
almost triangular in form. The calculi were worn quite smooth 
in places from rubbing one against the other. The weight 
of the one first removed was ten pounds ; that of the second 
two pounds ten ounces. They appear to be of the triple 
phosphate kind. The animal had been noticed to be rather 
dull for some time previous to the attack, but she had not 
lost her appetite; indeed, she had eaten a feed of corn only 
an hour previous with her usual avidity. 
