INTERRUPTED DILATATION OF THE DUODENUM. 129 
mass, which I have sent you, composed of the berries and 
twigs of the thorn-tree, mixed with mucus, which had 
effectually closed the passage, and produced the symptoms 
that have been described. The case then appeared clear, and 
we can readily account for the symptoms which were shown. 
It is valuable in showing that great quantities of matter may 
be rejected from the stomach of the horse in other affections 
than those of rupture. 
I have seen the above symptoms in one or two cases where 
death has been caused by mechanical obstructions in the intes- 
tine near the stomach, such as the above case ; also in stran- 
gulation, intussusception, &c. The rectum seems to be an 
old affection, but I will wait your opinion upon the matter. 
The other parts of the abdominal viscera were healthy. The 
lungs were found to be highly congested. I have thus 
attempted to describe this peculiar and interesting case, and 
hope that it may be acceptable to the readers of the Veterinarian . 
I remain, 
Your obedient servant. 
[The peculiarities of the lesions of the parts sent by Mr. 
Leech, are so well described by him that there is but little 
required of us in addition to his lucid account. The pouch-like 
portions of the duodenum had evidently existed for some 
time, and were seemingly the result of partial retention of 
badly masticated and imperfectly digested alimentary 
matters. It would be interesting to know how much of the 
cause of these dilations depended upon the animal’s “ teething,” 
or indeed whether to this cause may not be attributed the 
whole of the mischief. 
The hardened mass spoken of as being situated at the su- 
perior part of the rectum, was found to consist of an accu- 
mulation of feculent matter, of about the size of the fist, 
and which had become very dry from long retention. The sack 
or pouch in which it was placed, communicated with the 
intestine by an opening which would admit the ends of three 
fingers ; its edges were well defined and covered, as was the 
whole of the interior of the sac, by a continuation of the mucous 
membrane, but which gave no evidence of having sustained 
any injury whatever. We could easily, in our minds, account 
for the formation of this pouch on similar grounds to those 
previously alluded to. The case altogether is both a novel 
and very interesting one.] 
XXIX. 
17 
