Obstruction and overdistension, necrosis, ulceration, feculent
impaction, kicks, parasites, caustics, abscess, tubercle, cancer.
Symptoms: peritonitis following accident, vomiting, no defecation.
Treatment: laparotomy.
The most common cause of intestinal rupture is obstruction by foreign
bodies, with overdistension of the bowel immediately in front, or
necrosis and ulceration of the portion of the bowel pressed upon.
Feculent impaction acts in a similar way. Kicks and other external
injuries sustained on a full intestine will lead to rupture. Perforation
by parasites, by caustic agents swallowed, by abscesses, and by tubercle
or cancer is also to be met with.
The _symptoms_ are those of sudden peritonitis, with marked abdominal
tenderness, tucking up of the abdomen, bringing the legs together under
the body, vomiting, suspension of defecation and peristalsis. Rabiform
symptoms have been noted.
_Treatment._ As in swine there is every hope of success by suture of the
intestinal wound if done early. The same general method may be followed
as in closing the wound after extraction of a foreign body.