Cæcum. From its position on the lower part of the abdomen and from its habitual plenitude with food or water, this organ is especially exposed to direct mechanical injuries and ruptures. A sudden fall, more especially if the umbilical region strikes on a stone or other projecting solid body, kicks with heavy boots or with the feet of other animals, blows with a cow’s horn or a boar’s tusks, and violent contact with stumps, poles and other objects may be the occasion of the rupture. These are usually found near the base of the viscus and across its longitudinal direction.
Inflammations, connected with punctures, calculi, parasites, etc., may render the walls so friable that they give way under slight strain or injury. Abscesses have been found in the walls of the viscus leading to perforation, and extension of inflammation from an umbilicus cauterized for hernia has determined adhesion and perforation.
Colon. The loaded colon is even more liable to mechanical injury than the cæcum. Occupying as it does the more lateral parts of the abdominal floor, it is even more exposed to kicks and blows, and extending as it does back toward the inguinal regions, it is especially in the way of blows of horns so often delivered in this region. From the solid nature of its contents the presence of calculi, the presence of blood sucking worms, and its implication in the congestions and extravasations of verminous thrombosis, this organ is especially liable to degenerations and inflammations which render its walls particularly friable. Neoplasms of various kinds, cancerous, tubercular, etc., have been found on its walls as occasions of rupture. Abscesses of strangles have ruptured into the viscus. Overdistensions in front of an obstruction in the pelvic flexure, floating colon or rectum are the most frequent causes of rupture. Again, cases have been seen as the result of violent exertions, as during straining in dystokia. It has been a complication of phrenic hernia, of volvulus of the double colon, and of ulceration caused by the prolonged ingestion of arsenic. In severe impaction the necrosis of the intestinal walls has proved a direct cause of laceration. The seat of these ruptures may be at any point, but it is most frequent in front of the pelvic flexure, or in the floating colon, or directly in the seat of impaction.
Symptoms. The attack comes on suddenly, perhaps in connection with some special accident or injury, and is manifested by violent colicy pains which show no complete intermission. In many respects the symptoms resemble those of complete obstruction of the bowel, there is a suspension of peristalsis, rumbling, and defecation, a tendency to roll on the back and sit on the haunches, an oblivion of his surroundings and pain on pressing the abdomen. Usually the shock is marked in the dilated pupil, the weak or imperceptible pulse, the short, rapid breathing, cold ears, nose and limbs and the free perspirations. Tympany is usually present as the result of fermentation. Signs of infective peritonitis and auto-intoxication are shown in the extreme prostration, unsteady gait, dullness and stupor, and general symptoms of collapse. The temperature, at first normal, may rise to 105° or 106° as inflammation sets in, and may drop again prior to death.
Termination is fatal either by shock or by the resulting peritonitis and auto-intoxication. Exceptions may exist in case of adhesion of the diseased intestine to the walls of the abdomen and the formation of a fistula without implication of the peritoneum.
RUPTURE OF THE INTESTINES IN RUMINANTS.
From blows of horns, tusks, etc., from rectal abscess. Symptoms: colic, resulting in septic peritonitis and sinking. Treatment.
Lesions of this kind usually come from blows with the horns of others. They may lead to artificial anus as in a case reported by Rey, or the formation of a connecting sac as in that of Walley. In a case seen by the author a large abscess formed above the rectum, from injuries sustained in parturition. This ruptured into the gut leaving an immense empty cavity in which the hand could be moved about freely, but which gradually contracted so that the cow made a good recovery.
André furnishes an extraordinary record of rupture of the colon, blocked by a potato. It seems incredible that a potato could have traversed the stomachs and intestine without digestion.
The symptoms are those of violent colic suddenly appearing in connection with some manifest cause of injury, and going on to septic peritonitis and gradual sinking.