744 NORTH OP ENGLAND VETERINARY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION. 
dilated, non-contractile condition of the rectum when the hand is intro¬ 
duced ; if due to impaction from errors of feeding there is general 
abdominal pain, the animal often stretching itself out in a similar posi¬ 
tion to that seen in the act of urination, paddling with the hind feet, 
whisking the tail, and keeping it close between the hind legs; at times it 
will stand for a considerable period apparently easy, at other times lying 
stretched out, for twenty minutes or even half an hour, and occasionally 
looking back at its flanks. There is a tendency to resist by straining 
the introduction of the hand, and injections into the rectum, also 
enlargement and distension of the abdomen; in many cases impacted 
masses can be felt by the hand when examining per rectum, and when 
the hand is withdrawn it is generally covered with mucus. 
Treatment .—Constipation when arising from paralysis of the bowels is 
best overcome by stimulants and nervine tonics, with an occasional dose 
of opening medicine, and by the administration of enemas; if from a 
torpid state of the bowels alkalies are to be given, with occasional cold bran 
or linseed mashes, and sparingly supplied with hay. I think, gentlemen, 
you will agree with me that impaction or obstruction of the bowels 
requires very careful treatment and a large amount of patience. We are 
very anxious that our patients should recover as soon as possible, and 
the owners are generally very fidgety, consequently we are apt to give 
too much medicine, and instead of our patients dying of the disease, dies 
of the treatment ; after giving a certain amount of medicine we ought to 
leave the rest to nature ; as a rule they are lingering cases, often extend¬ 
ing over a period of five or six days ; one case which I remember lasted 
eleven days, and recovered. The great danger to be guarded against is 
muco-enteritis and rupture of the bowels. 
In these cases I have had the greatest success from linseed oil; if much 
pain were present have given opium or belladonna, or both together; 
also subcutaneous injections of morphia or atropia, or the two combined, 
I must say I am very partial to belladonna in these cases, as it is a laxa¬ 
tive, relieves pain and muscular contraction. Opium is too constipating, 
and I think often counteracts the effects of any opening medicine that is 
given. I have no doubt in my own mind that when the bowel becomes 
impacted there is a tendency to contraction of the muscular coat of the 
intestines. 
I remember a case of obstructed bowel which terminated fatally from 
a huge calculus in the rectum. In this case, no matter what I gave the 
animal, it got no relief until I gave a large dose (one ounce) of the ex¬ 
tract of belladonna. It seemed to act like a charm; the pain subsided, 
and I heard, what I liked most to hear in these cases, intestinal rum¬ 
blings, and the animal passed a large quantity of wind. This state of 
affairs only lasted the time the animal was under the influence of the 
drug. I feel confident if this had been an ordinary case of impacted 
bowel the animal would have recovered. 
In these cases, and I think I may safely say in all cases where the 
bowels are affected, aloes should seldom or never be given; undoubtedly 
aloes in a ball is the most convenient way of administering opening 
medicine, and in this form is easiest given. The great objection I have 
to aloes is its tendency to irritation and exciting the bowels to undue 
action. If opening medicine is necessary, linseed oil is to be preferred. 
Perhaps some of you will say linseed oil is very difficult to give to some 
horses, and that you cannot determine thequantity they have got; with 
linseed oil I think you need not be particular to half a pint how much 
you give. I have given it in large quantities; in some cases they have 
almost passed pure oil, without any injurious effects. Enemas of warm 
