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Total Obstruction of Small Bowel by an Ingested Stone
Partial Paralysis oj the Single Colon.
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had disappeared. Up to this time his rug was seen to be covered on its upper surface with moisture, as if a dew had fallen upon it . This became dry. The perspiration under the tail ceased, and the horse was brighter and more active. H e moved more freely around the box, and the eyelids did not droop; the pulse being now normal, also the temperature. The patien t was kept on so ft diet for a fortnight longer (though this may not always be necessary). During this time the bowels were kept regula r by diet only. H e did not require a ny opening medicine or inj ections of soap and water per rectum to keep them open. Under this simple treatment the horse made a good recovery, and this was brought about with mu ch less anxiety a nd only half the trouble and expense enta iled in the cases that died. The horse is still low in condition, but in this he will improve, as he eats anything and everything that is given to him. TOTAL OBSTRUCTION OF SMALL BOWEL BY AN IN GESTED STONE. By HUGH BEGG, F.R.e.V. s , Veterinary I nspector for the County of Lanayks/tiYe .
THREE years ago, when passing the p remises of the H amilton Co-operative Society, I met Mr. James Pollock, Veterinary Surgeon, who told me he had been at tending a very interesting case that had been troubling him for fully three weeks. The animal, a six-year-old Clyd esdale gelding, had been the subj ect of periodic abdominal pain during that time, and when I met Mr. Pollock he was beginning to consider the case hopeless. The first att ack of pain had been prolonged, and the symptoms were rather ominous, but after three days there had been a gradual recovery, though the horse was much worn with exhaustion. H e was offered n othing but bran mashes and other soft food, which he took freely when rid of pain. \Vhen Mr. Pollock told me of the case the horse had suffered five or six bad turns, and he thought there was some obstruction that was not removable. When I saw the horse that day the signs of abdominal pain were well-marked and characteristic, but the animal was not violent. At times he would stand for fifteen minutes on his hind feet while resting on his knees in front, and this position seemed. to afford greater relief than any other, and indicated the tilting forward of the obstruction Mr. . Pollock feared. On one or two occasions when the pain returned the patient sweated profusely from the very start . On the day I saw him his skin was steaming, the pulse was rather worn, and the temperature I03° F . H e strained when examined
The Veterinary Journal. p er rectum, and nothing abnormal could be felt within reach, so tha t suspicion attached to the small bowel. An unfavourable prognosis was given to the owners. From this time, until his death seven days later, the horse was m ore or less in constant pain. During the first three weeks recovery seem ed so nearly complete tha t h e was on the eve of going on duty o n two occasions, when pain again returned. Mr. P ollock m ade a post-mortem examina tion, a nd advised me that he had at his place a portion of the small bowel from which he h ad removed the composite stone which I have se nt to you. The ·s tone was m ore or less covered by inflammatory exuda te of the area ,of enteritis set up by its presence. The stone* was evidently a piece of the kiln-dried ornamental facing .of the stable wall , and but for its very rough borders might h ave occasioned very little trouble. I h ave, however, never known a horse to swallow an unchewable h a rd body so la rge as this; indeed, it has been my experience tha t all coins, stones, nails, a nd other m etallic substances that found their way into the chop bin were eventually .recovered in the h orses feeding trough .
INTERESTING CASE IN A MARE. By H. G. HEWETSON, M .R.e.V.s ., Southport.
THESE notes a re of an interesting case which I had under m y care for nearly three m onths, and which ultimately h ad to be destroyed owing to the subj ect proving incura ble. The history of the case is as follows :- The mare in question was a four-year-old vanner, bred by the owner, brought up on the farm , and never had a day 's sickness in h er life until attacked by this illness which proved fatal. The first time the owner noticed that there was anything wrong with the mare was on or about July I 6, I 920, and the four subsequent d ays, when he observed t hat the m are was isola ting herself from the other horses at pasture in the same fi eld , was not feeding, and would remain standing in one position for some time, but if approached by .anyone she would move away a nd commence to pasture. The other a nimals, two young colts, remained healthy. The owner though t very little of this for three days, but on the fourth day he decided t o h ave the ma re caught a nd brought up in to the farmya rd to be examined. H e kept her up, and on July 24 he called m e in to attend to her, and I was in regular a ttendance on her until October I4 last, when ' the
* Th e portion of stoneware sent by Mr. Begg measured zt x 2 x of inch es, a most unu sua lly la rge foreign body for a horse to s wallow.- (Editor VETERI NAR Y J OURNAL.)
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had disappeared. Up to this time his rug was seen to be covered on its upper surface with moisture, as if a dew had fallen upon it . This became dry. The perspiration under the tail ceased, and the horse was brighter and more active. H e moved more freely around the box, and the eyelids did not droop; the pulse being now normal, also the temperature. The patien t was kept on so ft diet for a fortnight longer (though this may not always be necessary). During this time the bowels were kept regula r by diet only. H e did not require a ny opening medicine or inj ections of soap and water per rectum to keep them open. Under this simple treatment the horse made a good recovery, and this was brought about with mu ch less anxiety a nd only half the trouble and expense enta iled in the cases that died. The horse is still low in condition, but in this he will improve, as he eats anything and everything that is given to him. TOTAL OBSTRUCTION OF SMALL BOWEL BY AN IN GESTED STONE. By HUGH BEGG, F.R.e.V. s , Veterinary I nspector for the County of Lanayks/tiYe .
THREE years ago, when passing the p remises of the H amilton Co-operative Society, I met Mr. James Pollock, Veterinary Surgeon, who told me he had been at tending a very interesting case that had been troubling him for fully three weeks. The animal, a six-year-old Clyd esdale gelding, had been the subj ect of periodic abdominal pain during that time, and when I met Mr. Pollock he was beginning to consider the case hopeless. The first att ack of pain had been prolonged, and the symptoms were rather ominous, but after three days there had been a gradual recovery, though the horse was much worn with exhaustion. H e was offered n othing but bran mashes and other soft food, which he took freely when rid of pain. \Vhen Mr. Pollock told me of the case the horse had suffered five or six bad turns, and he thought there was some obstruction that was not removable. When I saw the horse that day the signs of abdominal pain were well-marked and characteristic, but the animal was not violent. At times he would stand for fifteen minutes on his hind feet while resting on his knees in front, and this position seemed. to afford greater relief than any other, and indicated the tilting forward of the obstruction Mr. . Pollock feared. On one or two occasions when the pain returned the patient sweated profusely from the very start . On the day I saw him his skin was steaming, the pulse was rather worn, and the temperature I03° F . H e strained when examined
The Veterinary Journal. p er rectum, and nothing abnormal could be felt within reach, so tha t suspicion attached to the small bowel. An unfavourable prognosis was given to the owners. From this time, until his death seven days later, the horse was m ore or less in constant pain. During the first three weeks recovery seem ed so nearly complete tha t h e was on the eve of going on duty o n two occasions, when pain again returned. Mr. P ollock m ade a post-mortem examina tion, a nd advised me that he had at his place a portion of the small bowel from which he h ad removed the composite stone which I have se nt to you. The ·s tone was m ore or less covered by inflammatory exuda te of the area ,of enteritis set up by its presence. The stone* was evidently a piece of the kiln-dried ornamental facing .of the stable wall , and but for its very rough borders might h ave occasioned very little trouble. I h ave, however, never known a horse to swallow an unchewable h a rd body so la rge as this; indeed, it has been my experience tha t all coins, stones, nails, a nd other m etallic substances that found their way into the chop bin were eventually .recovered in the h orses feeding trough .
INTERESTING CASE IN A MARE. By H. G. HEWETSON, M .R.e.V.s ., Southport.
THESE notes a re of an interesting case which I had under m y care for nearly three m onths, and which ultimately h ad to be destroyed owing to the subj ect proving incura ble. The history of the case is as follows :- The mare in question was a four-year-old vanner, bred by the owner, brought up on the farm , and never had a day 's sickness in h er life until attacked by this illness which proved fatal. The first time the owner noticed that there was anything wrong with the mare was on or about July I 6, I 920, and the four subsequent d ays, when he observed t hat the m are was isola ting herself from the other horses at pasture in the same fi eld , was not feeding, and would remain standing in one position for some time, but if approached by .anyone she would move away a nd commence to pasture. The other a nimals, two young colts, remained healthy. The owner though t very little of this for three days, but on the fourth day he decided t o h ave the ma re caught a nd brought up in to the farmya rd to be examined. H e kept her up, and on July 24 he called m e in to attend to her, and I was in regular a ttendance on her until October I4 last, when ' the
* Th e portion of stoneware sent by Mr. Begg measured zt x 2 x of inch es, a most unu sua lly la rge foreign body for a horse to s wallow.- (Editor VETERI NAR Y J OURNAL.)