34 MALFORMATION OF THE INTESTINES IN A COLT. 
and in the evening a solution containing three ounces of Epsom 
salts was administered. 
At midnight I paid my patient another visit. He was still in 
pain, but it was not of so acute a character as before ; the ene- 
mata continued to be returned quite as colourless as ever ; and 
the finger, passed into the rectum, was unstained. I was informed 
that the foal had been sucking several times during my absence ; 
from which, and its symptoms generally, I considered that it was 
somewhat better, and might still rally. Some milk and an enema 
were directed to be given at intervals during the remaining part 
of the night. 
29th . — Delusive was the hope I had cherished, and all chance 
of its recovery had now fled. I found my poor patient down, 
making ineffectual and distressing attempts to rise ; life being un- 
willing to depart until forcibly, as it were, ejected, and Nature 
having left only power sufficient for it to throw its tortured frame 
from side to side. The respiration was painfully laborious, and 
the extremities and surface of the body deathy cold. The head 
was drooping on its straw bed, the eyes closed, and a discharge 
of frothy saliva from the mouth. The pulse imperceptible even 
at the side. In this state it continued until noon, when its suf- 
ferings terminated, about thirty hours after the birth. 
Being desirous of correctly ascertaining the cause of death, and 
how far a retention of the meconium might be connected with it, 
I had the foal immediately sent to the infirmary, in order to make 
a post-mortem examination, principally of the intestinal canal and 
other abdominal viscera. Having exposed the abdomen, I was 
struck with the large quantity of small intestines which presented 
themselves. Being distended with gas, they completely concealed 
from view the other viscera. On turning these aside, the caecum 
was found to be filled with meconium, and I remarked the small- 
ness of that intestine. The colon was likewise distended with the 
same peculiar substance ; but from the large volume of small in- 
testines I did not then perceive any singular formation or deviation 
from natural structure in this bowel. 
In order to make a more minute and satisfactory examination, 
I commenced dissecting away the mesentery from its spinal attach- 
ments, so as to remove the whole of the intestines. I was much 
surprised, as I proceeded in my dissection towards the posterior 
portion of the spine, to find that there was a sudden discontinua- 
tion of attachment of the mesentery to the lumbar vertebrae. At 
the sacrum it again commenced, leaving a space of about four 
inches between the two points. This latter portion may more pro- 
perly be styled the meso-rectum, as I found it supported that in- 
