Anus

“ In the more advanced and violent cases defecation becomes absolutely impossible, though the animal strains violently and frequently. The anus and rectum bulge as a rounded swelling and the congested and bleeding mucous membrane may be exposed, but nothing is passed. The anus is hot and tender to the touch and the anal glands swollen. Manipulation of the abdomen between the two hands can detect the impacted gut extended forward for a considerable distance, and even implicating the colon. The oiled finger in the rectum may detect the impacted matter as a conglomerate mass of gritty materials. ”

“ The muscle of the bowel is in a state of fatty degeneration, and atony and dilatation of the gut follow.
10. Painful affections about the rectum and anus deter persons from yielding to the desire for defecation. Fissure of the anus is the principal one of these, but fistula, hemorrhoids, and local eczema have a similar influence. A simple rigidity or spasmodic stricture of the anal sphincter creates constipation.4
4 Kunemann, De la Constipation compliqués de Contraction du Sphincter anal, et de son Traitement par la Dilatation de l'Anus, Paris, 1851. ”

“ Operations for Artificial Anus.—In children the condition known as imperforate anus may sometimes be remedied by exploratory operations in the perineum, guided by the protrusion caused by the distended intestine. There are other cases, however, in which the rectum, as well as the anus, seems to be deficient, and in which, from the want of protrusion, there is no warrant for attempting an operation there; in these the only chance of life that remains is in an attempt to open the bowel higher up. ”

“ In the second the rectum is incomplete or non-existent, the floating colon terminating in a blind end at the entrance to the pelvis.
In calves, lambs, and young pigs very often imperforate anus is not diagnosed until the second or third day after birth. Defæcation cannot occur, and death is inevitable unless an artificial anus be established.
First Degree.—The patient loses appetite, the abdomen remains distended, and on examination of the anal region a doughy swelling is felt, which projects backwards when the animal strains. The operation is quite elementary, and always proves successful. ”

“ It is longitudinally plaited; the ends of the folds forming a sort of valve where joined on to the stomach. It is coated by circular, transverse muscular fibres: judging from the movements, the anus itself is surrounded by a strong sphincter muscle. The anus opens on the dorsal surface of the thorax (fig. 8, b) ; but as in the genera, in which caudal appendages occur, it opens under them, the orifice, I believe, is homologically terminal, and owes its dorsal aspect to the aborted state of the whole abdomen, and to the great development of the probosciformed penis ”

“ Persons often suffer from pruritus or itching of the anus, or in the parts immediately around. The affection is most common in old people, and in such as are of a weakly constitution. Women who have recently ceased to menstruate are also prone to it. The exciting causes are generally ascarides, hemorrhoidal excrescences, and a morbid state of the alvine secretions. Sometimes the skin around the anus is covered with an eruption of papulæ, or even tubercles, the former of which are often attended with vesication and the discharge of a thin, watery, irritating humour. ”

“ In cases in which there is a fistula of the bladder the subject may live for some time, in some cases passing excrement through the urethra, in others, urine by the anus. These cases seem to have been of particular interest to the older writers, and we find the literature of the last century full of examples. Benivenius, Borellus, the Ephemerides, Tulpius, Zacutus Lusitanus, and others speak of excrement passing through the penis; and there are many cases of vaginal anus recorded. Langlet cites an instance in which the intestine terminated in the bladder. ”

“ The body is elongated and vermiform; it bears a number of paired appendages, each terminating in a pair of claws, and all very much alike. The number varies in the different species. The anus is always at the posterior end of the body, and the generative opening is on the ventral surface, just in front of the anus; it may be between the legs of the penultimate pair, or between the legs of the last pair, or it may be subterminal. The colour varies considerably in the different species, and even in different individuals of the same species. ”

“ Greater onions, which are greater more sharp, you will purge and break into pieces about five and put in the anus and it should walk and it should urinate. It is helpful and with hot water to wash the kidneys. There were however many which are said to be useful, in order that the hand they send through the anus, since [in both it is against] and they harm the bladder and the passage itself they wound with ointment. If it should make urine more slowly, canine shit with salt of ammonia having been mixed together with wine you will give. ”

“ Are scales characteristic of mammals? In what groups of vertebrates are scales usually found?
The anus, or opening through which the residual materials (feces) from the digestive tube pass, is immediately ventral to the base of the tail. The conspicuous swelling ventral to the anus of the male rat is the scrotum, which contains the two testes. Sometimes the testes lie up in the body cavity instead of in the scrotum, in which case the size of the latter is very much reduced. The external opening of the male's urogenital system is located mid-ventrally near the anterior end of the scrotum. ”

“ I think there is no need for disgust concerning the urinary organs, though I feel that the anus can never be attractive to the normal mind; but the anus is quite separate from the genitals. I would suggest that the proximity serves a good end in making the organs more or less secret except at times of sexual emotion or to those in love. The result is some degree of repulsion at ordinary times and a strong attraction at times of sexual activity. ”

“ But it is never too late to learn things that will benefit mankind.
Don’t for a moment think that all of the structural changes on the mucous membrane and about the anus mentioned above indicate an affliction only skin deep, or even the depth of the mucous membrane. They are far worse than that. You will find all the muscular structure of the anal organ and that of the rectum sigmoid flexure severely invaded by the inflammatory process and its fibrinous exudation, and also the external tissues that surround and support the organs. ”

“ A diseased action is set up which results in enlargement and hardening. It is felt as a hard body just anterior to the anus, and becomes by pressure the source of much additional mischief. Sometimes the disease progresses to dangerous ulceration. It is attended by heat, pressure, and pain between the anus and the root of the penis.
Urinary Diseases.—The same congestion and irritability extend to the bladder and thence to the kidneys, producing irritation and inflammation of those organs. Mucus is often formed in large quantities; sometimes much is retained in the bladder. ”

“ Galen remarks that diseases of the anus are difficult to cure, because the part is possessed of great sensibility, and is exposed to be irritated by the alvine discharges, which contain bile, ichor, and the like. ”

“ There are patients who, because of years of neglect of their local ailments, are taken with severe attacks of inflammation of the anus and rectum, involving considerable prolapse, much swelling around the anus, and general local soreness and pain; all of which is often accompanied by a general disrelish of life. ”

“ Anal Glands, Congestion and Irritation of:
Symptoms: Dragging themselves along the ground, which is often supposed to be due to worms, frequently licking the anus, suddenly looking round behind and tucking the tail in as if there was something pricking. In these cases there is a small swelling on each side of the anus due to an accumulation of the natural secretion of these glands. Occasionally a painful abscess forms. ”

“ In the cavities and along the channels the areolar tissue is of a mahogany color, and no channel is traced to its end so long as the tissues present a bruised, inflamed appearance. In some cases the inflammatory product has destroyed the areolar tissue attached to the integument at and near the anus, frequently to the extent of leaving a hollow space or cavity of surprising dimensions. I have met only a few cases in which the channels were opened by pus forming in them. Those that are very shallow, the walls being friable, may break and form a fissure of the anus ”

“ Further, it must be taken into account that a well-developed anus infundibuliformis, as we have already observed, loses its specific character and changes into a slit- shaped hollow, when the nates are forcibly separated and there is contraction of the muscles of the anus. ”

“ Muco-serous exudations under one or more layers of the recto-anal mucous membrane finds its way down to the integument around the anus, and being of a very irritating character, greatly increases the inflammatory process in the tissues it comes in contact with. Thus the increased inflammation and blood stasis and the augmented serum unite in hurrying the development of skinny tabs and the more or less capacious muco-cutaneous rugæ and sacs. ”

“ The stopping of the anus, is attended with no less inconvenience, as it prevents the action of the parts in which life still subsists; for the Abbé Spalanzani has proved, that digestion continues for some time after a person’s death. If these parts could afterwards recover force, and irritability enough to reanimate the other organs, the closing the anus would necessarily become an obstacle to their salutary action. ”

“ When a portion of small intestine has been lost by mortification or otherwise, and the patient has recovered with an unnaturally situated or artificial anus, the intestine, although at first in contact with the wall of the abdomen, is gradually, in many cases though not in all, retracted into the cavity—it has been supposed by the dragging of the mesentery upon it at the point of union of the divided extremities outside where the eperon or valve is formed ”

“ Causes: house life, neglect of call to defecate, lack of exercise, overdistension, atony, watch dogs, over feeding, obesity, ill health, debility, loss of teeth, paraplegia, spiced and sweet food, matting of hair over anus, tumors round anus. Symptoms: small, hard, white, glazed stools, straining, no stools, hot, tender, swollen, bulging anus, abdominal manipulation, dullness, laziness, seeking seclusion, colics, tender abdomen, stiffness, arched back, drooping head and tail, vomiting—sometimes feculent, fever. ”

“ This disease is formed when bile and phlegm become seated in the parts. When the anus is inflamed, it should be anointed with the ointment, the ingredients of which are resin, oil, wax, plumbago, and suet, these being all melted and applied quite hot as a cataplasm. ”

“ Previously to disturbing the lower end of the rectum from its natural position in the perinaeum, its close relation to the prostate and base of the bladder should be noticed. While the anus remains connected with the deep perinaeal fascia in front, the fibres of the levator ani muscle of the left side may be divided; and by now inserting the finger between them and the rectum, the left lobe of the prostate can be felt in apposition with the forepart of the bowel, an inch or two above the anus. ”

“ In embryos of 25 mm. cervico-coccygeal measure (81⁄2-9 weeks) the intestine still ends in a blind pouch. The anus is, therefore, independent of the end-gut in its development. It is derived from the ectoderm and its production is analogous to the formation of the oral cavity by means of the ectodermal invagination called the stomadæum.
Finally the cloaca is converted into a ventral tube from which part of the urinary bladder, the urethra and genito-urinary sinus develop, and a dorsal tube from which the rectum is derived. ”

“ In dysentery the anus becomes bluish-red, and is even marked with cracks and rents; it is painful to the touch and tightly contracted. In the later stages of severe cases it becomes large and gaping; then the stools are generally discharged unconsciously, and the pain is slight, paralysis of the sphincter ani having occurred. These symptoms indicate generally that death is to be expected. In some of these cases the pathological lesions are limited to the rectum. ”

“ Or, if the patient be a child, let him be placed on the feet of a woman, with his back reclined to her knees, and when the bowels are evacuated, let the legs be extended. In this way the anus will be the least disposed to fall out. When a watery and ichorous discharge flows from the rectum, wash it out with burnt lees of wine, and water from myrtle, and having dried maiden-hair, pound and sift it, and apply as a cataplasm. ”

“ The anus guards the outlet of the bowel by its double sphincter muscle, which under normal circumstances affords voluntary control, within certain limits, over defecation. The well-known peculiarity of the vascular supply, a sort of erectile tissue being formed by the inferior hemorrhoidal plexus and the passage of some of the efferent veins through the sphincter muscle, by which they are subjected to pressure, is very favorable to the development of certain forms of disease which will be considered among the local disorders. ”

“ As the veins of the lining of the bowel become dilated they form definite bulgings within the bowel, and, at last increasing in size, escape through the anus when a motion is being passed. Growing still larger, they may come down spontaneously when the individual is standing or walking, and they are apt to be a grave source of pain or annoyance. Eventually they may remain constantly protruded—nevertheless, they are still internal piles because they arise from the interior of the bowel. Though a pile is sometimes solitary, there are usually several of them. ”