318 
E. H. SHEPARD. 
with US. The delicate nerve filaments near the seat of trouble 
become somewhat benumbed, and no longer communicate the 
seriousness of the hidden volcano. The bowel tract is also 
soothed into quietness ; a full peristaltic action, now above all 
other times most needed to carry away what flatus and food has 
escaped the stomach, becomes weak or entirely absent. The 
rapid accumulation of poisonous gases, unable to find exit, al¬ 
ready are contaminating the mucous membrane’s delicate net¬ 
work of miniature glands and vessels, thereby reaching and 
poisoning the blood. The heart responds to the unnatural 
stimulus, the pulse quickens, the visible mucous membranes 
become injected, the short and quickened respirations inform 
us of the unnatural size of the stomach pressing against the 
diaphragm and whose walls are stretched till their functions 
have become practically useless. Then we take in the full sit¬ 
uation, but the injury done by the benumbing influence of one 
dose or two, perhaps three, of opiates is hard to overcome; 
time has been lost, and a case of acute indigestion with all its 
complications and results stares us in the face. His distress is 
increasing, regurgitation of gas—perhaps fluids, possibly solids 
_takes place, till he nearly strangles; sweats bedew the whole 
body ; he trembles and shows his intense agony in every action. 
Medicine is often hard to administer, and fatal complications 
are liable to confront us at any moment. 
The natural functions of the walls of the stomach have 
nearly, if not entirely, ceased. The pyloric and cardiac 
openings may be completely closed *, if so then we hear no eruc¬ 
tations. If,^ on the contrary, they allow the passage of some of 
the contents of the stomach—it may prove a safety valve, 
relieving the tension on the walls—but at the same time 
making the bowels a party to the trouble and the danger in¬ 
creases. 
While I firmly believe that the animal’s pain under these 
conditions is most acute, and that when continued for some 
time has undoubtedly its effect upon the nervous system, there¬ 
by increasing the danger of true inflammation, still the constant 
