180 
CALCULUS IN THE INTESTINES. 
Another circumstance worthy our attention in the case before 
us is, that of a passage having become established through the 
all-along obstructed intestine a few hours antecedent to death. 
The calculus, which was found within the first flexure of the 
double portion of the colon, notwithstanding its magnitude, did 
not completely fill the canal containing it; there was still space 
enough around it for the passage of liquid faeces, and yet none 
passed until life was about to depart. This appeared to be 
readily explicable on the supposition that the gut had contracted 
upon the calculus, and by so doing had closely embraced it on 
all sides, and in this manner had obliterated all vacant space 
between itself and the stone. 
The calculus proved to be one of the ammonia magnesian phos¬ 
phate class. It is of a dung colour, of a rugged exterior, of an irre¬ 
gular spheroid shape, and, though hard, is disposed when roughly 
handled to break or crumble away. It measures 15 inches round, 
and weighs l|lb. To appearance it consists of calcareous sub¬ 
stances in combination with alimentary and secreted matters: 
in other words, it appears made up of particles of hay and oat- 
husks and fragments of earth and stone, such as are contained 
in the (Irish) corn, which seem cemented together by the mucous 
and albuminous secretions from the bowel. Were the calculus 
saAvn in two, it would, no doubt, disclose a nucleus of some 
kind or other. There existed some inflammation of the portion 
of intestine in which the calculus was found lodged, and it was 
pretty intense at that spot, becoming less and less upon the gut 
as it receded from the calculus: but nowhere was there any 
appearance of gangrene; indeed, there had been no distention 
to produce such a change. There was not a solid portion of 
dung to be found in the whole alimentary canal; and the con¬ 
tents, liquid as they were, were everywhere imbued with the 
colouring and odour of medicine. The stomach was half full 
of chymous medicated fluid. 
The length of time this animal subsisted upon water alone is 
worthy a note; and in regard to it, I may mention an observa¬ 
tion made to me at the time the animal was in the midst of his 
suffering by a by-stander, that he had a horse that died under 
the same privation, and that survived thirteen days. Is the 
thirteenth a critical day in such cases ] 
Analysis. —Professor Morton, of the Royal Veterinary Col¬ 
lege, has most kindly examined the calculus for me. Its ge¬ 
neral composition he finds to be— 
1, Cryslallizahle salts, which are the phosphates of mag¬ 
nesia and ammonia ; 
2, Matters separable by the filter, which, when dried, shewed 
under the microscope the presence of broken-up husks of the 
oat and fibres of hay, mingled with msoluble earthy matters. 
