416 
REPORTS OF CASES. 
upon his side, head and legs extended, and grunting or moan¬ 
ing, evidently enduring great suffering. He was urged to 
get upon his feet, which he readily did; examination revealed 
a pulse of 60 per minute ; temperature ioi 4-5°; rectal explor¬ 
ation revealed a large distended body a little to the right of 
the spinal column, and filling nearly the entire pelvic cavity. 
Thought first I had to deal with a distention of the bladder, 
but closer rectal manipulation cleared up all doubts as to dis¬ 
tention of the bladder, as I was unable to outline it on account 
of its largeness, and also its rounded appearance posteriorly. 
During my examination the animal evinced no sharp or ex¬ 
cruciating pain, but on being left to himself would soon lie 
down again and make few attempts to roll round, after which 
he resumed a sternal or flatwise position. Diagnosis ; obstruc¬ 
tion of the bowels, either by intestinal calculi or spasmodic con¬ 
traction of the intestinal track. Prognosis guarded. Treat¬ 
ment. The owner informing me that he had given the horse 
one ounce of powd. aloes on the nth of October at about 
noon, stated that he simply gave the physic because he thought 
he was a little more constipated than he should have been. I 
followed up the treatment with a dose of chloral hydrate, 3 
drachms, 1-2 ounce bicarb, potash made up with a little linseed 
meal and administered in pill form ; also gave enemas of warm 
water every hour for the first three hours, afterwards at longer 
intervals. I left the case at 12 o’clock at night, at which time 
he seemed much easier, drinking water and nibbling straw, 
which he had not done since he became sick. Left orders to 
look after him the remainder of the night, and administer 
enemas whenever pain would be manifested, as the enemas 
always seemed to give immediate relief. Saw the horse 
again on the morning of the 13th of October, he still 
having some pain, but at longer intervals, in the intervals of 
pain drinking a little and eating straw or hay, but no oats or 
bran mash; pulse 48; temperature ioi°; rectal exploration 
revealed the large body much diminished, at which time could 
easily detect the feces in the gut feeling doughy to the touch, 
while on the previous day it felt more like a distended bladder. 
During all this time a large amount of gas escaped from 
