The symptoms are very marked. Through the wound, the rumen, the abomasum, or the intestine protrudes more or less. Generally it is the small intestine which becomes displaced, because it is the most mobile of the abdominal viscera. These organs soon become dried by contact with the air, and may become infected, soiled, congested, thickened, torn, or gangrenous. The successive development of these changes causes serious and violent colic, accompanied by expulsive efforts; the animals throw themselves on the ground, and may tear the mesentery, the intestines, etc. At an advanced stage the animal may stand motionless, looking at its viscera. Death may also be caused in a very short time by the intense pain.
Diagnosis and Prognosis. The diagnosis is evident. The prognosis is always very grave, although, of course, it depends on the condition of the displaced viscera.
Treatment. It is often useless to attempt anything, and if the animal is in suitable condition it is best, as a rule, to slaughter it.
If the accident is quite recent, and the viscera only slightly injured, surgical treatment may be attempted. With this object, the displaced organs are carefully and thoroughly washed with lukewarm boiled water, or with some unirritating disinfectant, to guard against peritonitis, and are then reduced.
The abdominal wound must afterwards be carefully sutured. This is performed in two stages. The musculo-serous layer is first brought together with catgut, or better still with silk, and the skin joined by means of deep and closely placed stitches. To prevent these sutures being torn out, and to support them, the abdomen is swathed in a broad cloth bandage, tightly applied.
FISTULÆ OF THE DIGESTIVE APPARATUS.
Fistulæ of the digestive apparatus are of accidental origin and of relatively small practical interest. In most cases they necessitate surgical and other treatment of too delicate a kind and too prolonged a character to justify the necessary expense. Their nature and origin sufficiently suggest the course to be adopted.
Fig. 225.—Fistula of the rumen.
These fistulæ are divisible into two varieties, gastric fistulæ and intestinal fistulæ. Gastric fistulæ comprise fistulæ of the rumen, reticulum, and abomasum. They may be of external origin, but in the majority of cases they are produced by foreign objects accidentally swallowed and eliminated through the medium of an abscess of the abdominal walls. Their position and direction indicate their point of origin. (Fistulæ of the rumen appear on the left side of the reticulum, near the ensiform cartilage and middle line; those of the abomasum on the right side, near the middle line.) In doubtful cases, chemical analysis of the liquid which escapes will afford valuable information. Acidity alone is a sufficient indication in fistula of the abomasum.