388 
T. F. WINCHESTER. 
\ 
struction which demanded a little more attention than [ 
usually received, and that was the form of obstruction due t 
aneurism of the branches of the mesenteric artery. He su£ 
gested that more careful post-mortems might reveal a c'aus 
that is often overlooked. 
Dr. Wm. Willis, M.R.C.V.S., in Veterinary Record , Julj 
16, 1892, in criticising Prof. Smith’s paper, remarks the entir 
absence of an) 7 reference to the condition of the circulator 
apparatus of the bowels. He says, “ I am inclined to thin 
mesenteric aneurism is much more frequently responsible fc 
the death of our patients than is generally supposed. Ce 
tainly, it is not the rare disease of old horses which the scar 
notices of our text books might lead one to believe. It is 
most common condition. Physiological experiments teach u 
that when the blood supply to the bowel is suddenly inte 
rupted, violent intestinal movements result, and that, if th 
interruption be continued, a paralytic condition of bowel r< 
suits. I would suggest that the first result is probably th 
precursor of twist, and the second is certainly the explanatio 
of some cases of obstructed colon. 
“ How far mesenteric aneurism, thrombosis, and embolisn 
are likely to give rise to the conditions referred to above, an 
to what extent they must be held responsible for the fatal tei 
mination of many of our bowel cases, is a matter which d< 
serves more attention at the hands of the British veterinaria 1 
than it has hitherto received.” 
Dr. Willis cites seven post-mortems ; five eight years ol 
and under; two more aged. He found six with aneurism; 
one of them with strongyles ; the other one revealed a pei 
fectly round hole about the size of a sixpence, in the side ol 
the ileum, near ileo-cascal valve. 1 am of the opinion, ha 
his examinations been made with a little more care, he wouf 
have found the worm in each case; although not necessaril 
at the point of aneurism. 
J. E. Miller, M.R.C.V.S., in Veterinary Record , June if 
1892, cites an exceptional case of mesenteric tumor wit 
aneurism of anterior mesenteric artery. 
Cobbold says: So practically important, however, do 
