GUT-TIE. 
305 
He had evacuated nothing but a quantity of mucus since 
the previous day. The pulse was natural ; the breathing 
slightly accelerated; and the rumination suspended, the animal 
refusing both food and water. On examination, I found the 
rectum to contain nothing but mucus. I at once pronounced 
it to be a case of “ gut tie and, although a very favorable 
case for operating upon, I persuaded the owner to have him 
slaughtered that I might forward the diseased parts to you. 
During the last ten or twelve years, I have met with many 
of these cases, and by referring to my notes I find I have 
operated upon nineteen animals altogether ; and of these 
fourteen terminated successfully. It has always occurred, as 
far as my observation extends, amongst bullocks from two 
to three years of age ; commonly in those low in condition, 
(the above case was an exception) and in the spring of the 
year. The symptoms are generally such as were present in 
the above case, and if not relieved by operation, the animal 
becomes dull, the abdomen tympanitic, bloody mucus is 
voided, the pulse becomes accelerated, and death takes place 
from mortification of the strangulated parts. 
The symptoms may appear somewhat ambiguous, but any 
one who has seen a case will rarely fail to diagnose cor- 
rectly. 
The only treatment is by an operation, which I perform in 
the following manner : The animal is placed in a stall, and 
kept standing with his right side against the wall, while 
the left side is supported by a short ladder securely tied to 
the manger near the head of the animal and extending 
along the side, while two or three assistants keep the 
animal in position by pressing against it. The hind legs 
being now tied together above the hocks, another assistant 
secures the head by holding the nose and horn. I then 
make an incision on the left side, about midway between the 
antero-inferior spinous process of the ileum and the last rib, 
in a line with the fibres of the internal oblique muscle, 
through the skin, muscles, and peritoneum, sufficiently 
large to admit the left hand and arm, which is then passed 
upwards and backwards over the rumen to the right side 
where the strangulated part may readily be felt. I then in- 
troduce the hand a second time, having a small probe-pointed 
bistoury guarded between the fingers, and cut through the 
remains of the vas deferens. Withdrawing the knife I 
again introduce the hand, so as to ascertain that the strangu- 
lated parts are entirely liberated ; I then close the wound by 
passing three or four interrupted sutures through the skin, 
muscles, and peritoneum, and leave the animal at rest. In 
xxxi. 41 
