ADHESION OF THE CiECUM TO THE ABDOMEN. 391 
which were in an active state of decomposition. The ileum had 
protruded about eighteen inches into the caecum. The contents 
of the intestines were soft. All the other viscera were free from 
disease. 
ADHESION OF THE CiECUM TO THE ABDOMEN. 
By the same. 
Feb. 14 th, 1842. — A bay mare, half bred, and in low condition, 
fell lame from a strain of the coffin-joint. Proper remedies were 
used, and on the 15th a mild purgative was administered. 
All went on well until the 23d, when the mare that had appeared 
to be sound was attacked with colic. The symptoms were not of 
a very acute character. The pulse was not at all affected ; but the 
mucous membranes had a slight yellowish brown tint. An in- 
jection was thrown up, which was returned with a little slimy 
matter, but no faeces. 
Knowing that our patient had, before her lameness, been worked 
very hard, and was now doing nothing, but having a tolerable 
supply of food with the view of getting her condition improved, 
and a repugnance to mash, we were led to conclude that she had 
an obstruction of the intestinal canal from derangement of the 
digestive organs. Cathartics, combined with antispasmodics, 
were given, and repeated injections thrown up without the least 
appearance of faeces. The rectum was examined, and found 
empty. The disease continued with little variation, such as her 
remaining at comparative ease for fifteen or twenty minutes, and 
then walking round the box, and repeatedly lying down. Frequent 
efforts to dung were made, but nothing passed. This continued 
until the morning of the 26th, when she died. 
Post-mortem Examination . — On our first making an incision 
through the parietes of the abdomen, we observed with some 
surprise the peculiar attachment of the caecum to the peritoneum 
of the abdomen. This adhesion commenced at the apex of the 
caecum, uniting its posterior border through an extent of twelve 
or fourteen inches, thus making it a fixture. The nature of this 
adhesion, and the appearances it presented, shewed that at least 
part of it had existed for some considerable time. The caecum 
was less inflamed than might have been expected ; the whole of 
the intestines were slightly coloured, and their contents fluid. 
The liver was a little softened. 
