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FOREIGN BODIES IN THE DIGESTIVE TRACT. 
after a short interval, say an hour ; sometimes it is so far forward, and 
so sheltered by the ribs, as to altogether escape palpation. Examination 
by Rontgen rays gives immediate information as to the position and 
character of the foreign body, and has been successfully resorted to 
in dogs. 
It is easy to avoid mistaking masses of faeces in the rectum, or the 
kidneys or abdominal tumours, for foreign bodies. The first will be 
recognised as long sausage-shaped cords of a softish character. A 
foreign body is differentiated from a kidney by the fact that it may be 
pressed towards the lower abdominal wall, which cannot be done with 
a kidney. The greatest difficulty is in distinguishing foreign bodies 
from tumours, but as these are very rare in the anterior part of the 
abdomen, they may almost be left out of account. 
Dogs with stoppage of the bowel generally die in eight to ten days, 
with symptoms of extreme weakness; oxen with injuries to abdominal 
and thoracic organs after an illness of varying length. Recovery is rare, 
except where the foreign body perforates the abdominal wall. 
Treatment usually comes too late. In oxen, repeated attempts have 
been made to remove sharp foreign bodies by rumenotomy. Obich cured 
four cases out of thirteen ; in three, abscesses formed, and in five help 
was too late. Meyer has operated with success. After making an 
incision into the rumen in the usual way, the operator inserts his 
arm in a forward and downward direction to discover the reticulum, 
which lies on the right, searches this carefully, and endeavours to remove 
the foreign body. The chief difficulty is the impossibility of certain 
and early diagnosis. Provided the foreign body has not injured the 
diaphragm and pericardium, there is little to indicate its presence. 
Disturbance of digestion and breathing, caused by injury to the wall of 
the stomach and to the diaphragm, are not sufficient to warrant operative 
measures, whilst, should the pericardium be already injured, operation 
can scarcely procure recovery, and slaughter is generally preferable. 
Meyer, however, states having succeeded, even after pericarditis had 
set in. Eppele and Seloz removed a piece of probang and gloves from 
a cow’s stomach by rumenotomy (see that heading). 
Dogs are sometimes seen to swallow the foreign body, and in such 
case an emetic should first be tried, but not before giving a considerable 
quantity of firm food (flesh), so as to distend the stomach. Faecal stasis, 
if already existent, may be overcome, and the foreign body brought away 
by injecting lukewarm water into the rectum. Plenty of fluid should 
be used, so as to distend the bowel and open the way for the foreign 
body. Sometimes the hypodermic injection of eserine produces powerful 
peristaltic action and passage of the offending object, but purgatives 
given per os are useless, and are always vomited. 
