REPORTS OF CASES. 
51 
scar, and by a careful dissection traces of the injury were 
followed deep into the muscular coat. No doubt this injury 
occurred during- the first attack, and was probably the cause 
of the frequent attacks of colic prior to death. 
IMPERFORATE ANUS AND RECTO-VAGINAL FISTULA. 
By Geo. Jobson, V.S., Oil City, Pa. 
A bay filly, about twenty-four hours after birth, was no¬ 
ticed by the owner to make frequent attempts at defecation, 
but could not accomplish it. An examination by him re¬ 
vealed an imperforate anus, whereupon Dr. W. E. McCray 
was immediately called in, and he removed a circular portion 
of the bulging tissue over the fascal mass, thus making an 
artificial anus, through which the excrementitious matters 
escaped. The attendant was instructed to insert a sperm 
candle frequently, and endeavor to keep the marginal border 
from uniting. But this method was ineffectual and the open¬ 
ing closed in several days after the operation, and it was ob¬ 
served that the fascal matter was escaping by way of the 
vulva. The doctor made a diagnosis of rupture of the floor 
of the rectum. The writer was consulted, and an operation 
agreed upon, to rectify existing abnormalities. When the 
day set arrived, the filly was cast and secured, and an exam¬ 
ination revealed a rupture of the recto-vaginal wall, about 
two and a half inches in length. The anal opening was en¬ 
larged, the rectum evacuated, and washed out thoroughly 
with warm water by means of a syringe. The ruptured 
portion was everted by inserting two fingers into the rectum 
and turning the parts out through the vulva. The ragged 
edges, which had healed, were cauterized with a small 
feathering-iron made for the purpose, the object of this treat¬ 
ment being to set up adhesive inflammation, which I be¬ 
lieve can be accomplished more successfully than by scari¬ 
fying, and also with more speed and less pain to the animal. 
Four deep interrupted silk sutures were taken, the anal 
opening was further enlarged, and the animal allowed to 
rise. The after treatment consisted in keeping the bowels 
open and preventing the anal aperture from closing. In 
time the rupture healed nicely, and the stitches were re¬ 
moved. At first the fasces were expelled involuntarily, but 
now a sphincter muscle has developed and it performs its 
function properly, and to-day an observer who was not ac¬ 
quainted with the facts would not know that an abnor¬ 
mality had existed. 
