A position so unnatural as that of sitting on the haunches may denote something very wrong to be present; but it gives no definite direction to our ideas. Animals are known to have assumed it, and subsequently to have recovered. The diaphragm when it yields generally gives way upon the tendinous portion. Through the opening the peristaltic action soon causes the bowels to obtrude; and death is produced by displacement and strangulation of the intestine. The posture previously delineated is common to all injuries of the abdomen; so is the opposite peculiarity—or the horse remaining upon its chest. The last attitude may not, to most persons, appear so strange, seeing that the creature assumes it whenever it rises or lies down. Then, however, it is only momentary. When it denotes abdominal injury, it is comparatively of long continuance. At the same time the breathing and the countenance bespeak the greatest internal anguish.
TEST FOR HEMORRHAGE FROM THE SPLEEN.
Ruptured spleen is the gentlest death of all those which spring from abdominal injury. The spleen is at present a mystery to veterinary science. It has been discovered after death of enormous size; but the symptoms during life had not led to the expectation of any very serious disorder. Ruptured spleen and ruptured liver are both productive of similar symptoms; both answer to the same tests, and the termination of each is alike.
A RUPTURED STOMACH.
Ruptured stomach mostly happens with old and enfeebled horses. Night cab-horses are very liable to it; so also are animals of heavy draught. The drivers often neglect to take out the nose-bags. The horse's most urgent necessities always yield to man's passing convenience; so the creature has to journey far or to remain out till the empty stomach grows debilitated. It is then taken home and placed before abundance. Elsewhere this folly has been commented upon. It was shown that light food and perfect rest were the best restoratives for an exhausted frame. The drivers, however, refuse to be taught. The horse eats and eats. No contraction of the exhausted stomach warns the animal when to stop. The viscus is crammed. Then digestion endeavors to commence. With rest the organ recovers some tone. The muscular coat of the sac starts into action, and, encountering opposition, the vital powers exert themselves with the greater energy. The stomach is thus burst by its own inherent force; the largest division of its various structures always being exhibited by the elastic peritoneal covering—the lesser rent being left upon the inelastic mucous lining membrane. Excessive colic, followed by tympanitis, are the only general symptoms which attend ruptured stomach. The history of the case, if it can be obtained, is, however, a better guide; but there are too often interested motives for distorting the facts. Vomition through the nostrils has been thought to particularize ruptured stomach; but experience has ascertained that vomition may be induced by any lesion which is sufficiently great to cause revulsion of the system.
THE INTESTINE DIVIDED SO
AS TO CLEARLY SHOW THE
NATURE OF INTRO-SUSCEPTION.
Intro-susception is always preceded by colic. The last-named affection causes portions of the bowels to contract. Such contracted intestines become small, firm, and stiff. They are, while in that condition, by the peristaltic action readily pushed up other portions of the canal, which are of the natural size. The entrance of the contracted bowel acts upon the healthy tube as if it were a foreign substance. Contractibility is excited. The displaced and intruding bowel is grasped as by a vice, and the accident is of that kind which provokes its own continuance. Cure is hopeless, while consciousness remains; the only hope is the administration of chloroform in full and long-continued doses; thereby to arrest vitality and chance the release of the imprisoned gut. While intro-susception lasts, all passage is effectually stopped. Inflammation soon commences, and the symptoms of outrageous colic are exhibited. However, such is not always the case. Mr. Woodger, veterinary surgeon of Bishop's Mews, Paddington, attended a case of this description, in which the symptoms present seemed to denote congestion of the lungs.