420 
.REPORTS OF CASES. 
REPORTS OF CASES, 
LARGE FIBROUS TUMOR IN RECTUM-REMOVAL—RECOVERY. 
By W. H. Gribble, D.V.S. 
A valuable trotting-bred gelding, one and a half years old, 
had been treated by an empiric some time for malarial trouble, 
but with no success. 
On our being called, the owner informed us that it had not 
been doing well for several weeks, seeming stiff in the loins and 
unable to lift its hind feet up properly ; also that the act of defe¬ 
cation was accomplished with much trouble, being accompanied 
with pain, straining, groaning, etc., these symptoms varying in 
intensity according to the state of the foeces, being worse when 
costive than when loose. 
On examination, temperature, pulse and respiration were 
fonnd normal, but while watching him he undertook to empty 
the rectum, when he strained most terribly, a dung ball or two at 
a time being passed with considerable force. 
These actions led us to suspect some interference with the 
normal size of the rectum ; so, after an enema of warm water, 
we immediately made an examination with the following results: 
On the median line, directly under the sacrum and between it 
and the rectum, we felt a hard mass, somewhat rounding, slightly 
movable, and in size about seven inches long, five inches wide, 
and three inches thick. 
We diagnosed it a fibrous tumor, which from its size caused 
the symptoms mentioned by being an obstruction to half or more 
of the diameter of rectum. 
After our explaining the case, the owner left the matter of 
treatment entirely to us, being positive from the actions of his 
colt that the tumor had been growing quite rapidly of late and 
would soon cause the animal’s death. 
We ordered oleum lini Oss twice daily for two days, together 
with soft food and frequent enemas ; then we removed the growth, 
accomplishing our object much easier than we had anticipated. 
The animal was placed in a narrow stall and kept close to one 
side by means of a pole; several enemas of hot water were used 
