330 PARALYSIS or THE COLON OF A HORSE. 
they gave evidence of some intestinal obstruction, 
1)iit of what nature 1 could not decide, nor was I able 
to say in what particular division of the intestines it was 
located. Considering the length of time the horse had shown 
tliesc symptoms, and that there was no chance of relief being 
afforded by the aid of medicine, I advised that he should be 
destroyed; and as this advice coincided Avith the views taken 
of the case by the veterinary surgeon who attended him, my 
suggestion was carried into effect, and thus an opportunity 
was afforded me of making a post-mortem examination. The 
abdominal cavity being laid open, and the intestines removed, 
the large intestine was found to present such an unusual 
appearance as to be at once noticed by those who happened 
to be present. The colon, from the point where it makes 
its sigmoid flexure to where it crosses the spine the third 
time, was enormously enlarged, while the other divisions of 
the intestines appeared to be in a normal condition. The 
part of the colon referred to was in some places as much 
as eighteen inches in diameter, and its coats thin and pallid. 
It contained a firm mass of coarse ingesta, occupying about 
five or six feet in length, and averaging about ten inches in 
diameter. Judging from its character, it must have been 
some time accumulating. This mass of faecal matter did not, 
liowever, fill the whole of the interior of the bowel, for a 
space existed along its attached border, which was partially 
occupied with semifluid matter. This space had apparently 
been the course which the ingesta had taken for some time, 
by which it had gradually deposited some of its solid 
contents, thereby adding to the accumulating mass before 
alluded to. 
These are the principal peculiarities noticed by me in this 
investigation, which, coupled with the symptoms previously 
narrated, suggest the following practical considerations : 
First. Upon what did the abnormal condition of the bowel 
primarily depend ? 
Seco7idly. Had the case been correctly diagnosed in its 
early stages, could a cure have been effected? 
Thirdhj. Was it consistent with sound practice to order 
that the horse be destroyed ? 
These points, of course, are capable of being subdivided; 
but to discuss each division separately would occupy more 
time than I can devote to their consideration; therefore the 
few remarks I shall make on this important case will be only 
suggestive. In the first place, I think the arrestation of the 
ffecal matter in the intestine depended primarily cither upon 
a loss of the normal contraction of the muscular coat, 
