INTUSSUSCEPTION OF THE BOWEL IN THE OX. 
341 
well understood. The supposition is that its causes are two¬ 
fold, and for this reason opinions differ. 
The subject which I bring before you, endeavoring to get 
some information and enlightenment, is intussusception or in. 
vagination of the bowel of the ox. Invagination is the slipping 
of a portion of the intestine into the cavity of that immediately pos¬ 
terior to it; in consequence of this the natural functions of the 
intestine are interrupted by a kind of knot, consisting of three 
successive portions of bowel, the immediate effect of which is 
obstruction of the passage of the intestinal contents and to the 
return of blood from the impressing portions of intestine in¬ 
volved, along with some portion of the mesentery. 
Both the small and large intestine are subject to it. Instances 
have occurred, both in horses and cattle, of recovery after 
sloughing of the invaginated portions. Several writers, such as 
Siebert’s article in Thierarztliche Wochenschrift in 1861, 
relates of several cases. Meyer’s Annual Report, 1864, describes 
several cases. Williams’ “ Principles and Practice of Veterinary 
Medicine ” has a very short article on this subject. In his opinion 
cases recover without any treatment far better than with treat¬ 
ment. His own treatment consists of opiates. I consider it out 
of the race and entirely unqualified to treat cattle whatsoever, 
and for that reason we may ignore his work. 
Moller’s “ Surgery ” describes the disease as a most frequent 
form of fatal colic, and describes the symptoms as follows : The 
disease begins with a sudden attack of colic, which may last 
twelve hours, and is followed by subsidence of pain. Appetite 
is wanting, rumination ceases, discharge of blood-stained mucus 
sets in or obstinate stoppage of the bowel occurs. Peristalsis is 
incomplete, the pulse becomes frequent and small, but the tem¬ 
perature seldom rises. On examination per rectum the invag¬ 
inated spot may sometimes be felt as a cord-like painful swell¬ 
ing. Slight colicky symptoms, straining to pass fseces and dis¬ 
charge of small quantities of mucus or blood continually recur. 
Dr. Merton says the animals show a desire to lie on the 
back. Friedburger and Frohner’s u Pathology and Therapeutics ” 
