In solipeds, ruminants, swine, carnivora. Injuries to loins and croup.
Palsy of tail and sphincters. Nerve centres in end of cord. Fractures
and dislocations of the pelvis. Hæmoglobinuria. Advanced gestation.
Sclerosis. Ovariotomy by vagina. Impaction of rectum. Neoplasms.
Thrombosis of internal iliac artery. Ptomaines and toxins in fevers.
Symptoms: tardy defecation, impaction, over distension, fæces firm,
dry, roller like, liquid oozing, excoriation, foul tail and thighs,
bulging of anus, incontinence of urine. Paresis and wasting of
quarter. Treatment: remove cause, for sprains and fractures sling,
treat myelitis, debility, poisoning, unload rectum often, oily or
soapy enemata, strychnia, eserine, ergot, barium chloride,
derivations.
This is much more common in the horse than in ruminants, swine or
carnivora, mainly because the soliped is more exposed to traumatic
injuries of the loins, croup, and pelvic bones. It is noticeable that in
the majority of cases the paralysis of the rectum is connected with
palsy of the tail, anus, and sphincter vesicæ. This comes from the
anatomical fact that the centres presiding over the motions of these
different parts are situated close to each other in the terminal portion
of the spinal cord, and any lesion of that part by traumatism or disease
is likely to affect all of these parts alike.
The condition has been especially noticed in fractures or severe sprains
of the loins causing pressure on the spinal cord. In some cases injury
to the nerves supplied by this part of the cord, leads to an extension
of inflammation to the nerve centres, thus paralysis of the rectum has
followed on fracture of the ischium, dislocation of the sacro-iliac
joint, or even of the first bone of the coccyx. Again, congestions and
effusions on the terminal part of the cord, which occur in certain cases
of hæmoglobinuria and in old hard worked horses is a cause of these
local paralyses. Advanced gestation appears at times to produce the
disease through pressure on the nerves, though it has also been noticed
in non-breeding animals, and is doubtless traceable to sclerosis or
other degenerations of the cord. It sometimes follows vaginal
ovariotomy.
Sometimes the condition is traceable to local lesions as over distension
of the rectum in horse or dog or in rectitis, but the result in such
cases is usually partial, a paresis rather than a paralysis. The same
may at times result from the growth of the neoplasms, and from the
debility of old age. In other cases thrombosis of the aorta or internal
iliac artery, implicates the hemorrhoidal vessels and paresis occurs as
a result of the limited blood supply.
It may further result from the action of toxins and ptomaines on the
spinal cord as when it supervenes in the course of debilitating fevers.
This usually shows itself first as paresis of the sphincter ani, and
later implicates the rectum as well.
_Symptoms._ In the slighter forms defecation is retarded, the fæces
accumulate and overdistend the organ, adding to the paresis; they escape
only under violent straining and apparently by the peristaltic
contractions of the anterior portion of the rectum; the ejected matters
are discharged usually in the form of a cylindroid mass; and they are
dry, and firmly compressed. In some cases the irritation caused by the
impaction leads to a free secretion, which escapes through the widely
open anus and runs down the thighs, leading to excoriation of the skin.
In the more severe cases the accumulation is more complete, the
expulsion still more difficult, and as the tail is often implicated, it
lies flaccid between the thighs, and is smeared with the discharges. The
peristalsis in front and the forcible compression by the abdominal
muscles may be entirely inadequate to effect defecation so that the
fæces have to be removed by the hand. The pressure on the bladder often
leads to incontinence of urine, if the paralysis of the vesical
sphincter has not already brought this about.
The trouble is not unfrequently associated with paresis and wasting of
the muscles of the quarter.
_Treatment._ The first consideration is the removal of the cause. If
fracture of the loins or pelvic bones, or severe sprain of the lumbar
region, slings are usually requisite to obviate renewed injury in lying
down and rising. Simple inflammation of the cord or its membranes may be
met by laxatives, blisters and perhaps bromides. In the old and
debilitated, tonics, rich food, open air, and sunshine, with locally,
blisters or stimulating embrocations, will be demanded. In case of
poisoning by ptomaines or toxins the disease which produces them must be
attended to, and elimination favored as far as compatible with existing
weakness. In all cases the rectum must be frequently unloaded with the
hand or soapy injections, and its walls may be stimulated by giving of
nux vomica, or by the hypodermic use of eserine, ergotin or barium
chloride. Blisters or stimulating embrocations may be applied over the
croup or between the thighs, or mustard or tobacco may be added to the
injections.