274 HEALTH AND DISEASE 



disturbance both in its severity and in the structural changes which result 

 from it. It may be acute or chronic. 



ACUTE GASTRITIS 



Causes. — Acute gastritis is not uncommonly associated with engorge- 

 ment of the stomach, and may result from the presence of a foreign body, 

 or from the action of irritant poison on the lining membrane. It is also 

 shown to arise sometimes in the course of one or another of the contagious 

 fevers. Of the irritant poisons inducing gastritis in a horse, only a few 

 are likely to be taken voluntarily in the food, or from a spirit of mischief 

 or curiosity, or to be given out of ignorance or malice by attendants. 

 These are the salts of copper, zinc, mercury, lead, and arsenic; the last 

 named being the most frequently met with, as it is easily obtained in 

 large quantities in the form of sheep " dips " despite the arsenic acts and 

 pharmacy laws, which afford altogether insufficient protection to the stock- 

 owner. Of the poisonous plants, the leaves and shoots of the yew and 

 rhododendron are not uncommonly the cause of gastritis. 



Symptoms. — In this disease acute abdominal pain continues without 

 intermission, and there is but slight diminution of intensity save for 

 short periods. The pulse is small and hard, the breathing quickened, 

 and the expression anxious and miserable. The mucous membranes of 

 the eyes and nose are intensely reddened, profuse sweats break out, and 

 the animal looks back towards the flank. These symptoms are common 

 to gastritis from any cause, but there are certain others special to inflam- 

 mation of the stomach when induced by irritant poisons. In the case of 

 arsenic, the most common are intense thirst and frothing at the mouth. 

 The lips are sometimes swollen and pendulous; there is restlessness and 

 excitement, hurried breathing, and a small and maybe imperceptible 

 pulse. The muscles quiver, and the body is suffused in sweat, and the 

 breath gives out a foetid odour. Paroxysms of pain recur again and again, 

 and death follows in great agony. 



When the disease is dependent upon yew poisoning it is usually 

 associated with great nervous prostration and collapse, and a fatal 

 termination quickly follows the ingestion of the poison. 



Treatment. — To arrive at the cause, if possible, should be our first 

 care, as upon this the treatment will greatly depend. If it is found to 

 result from engorgement of the stomach, or from irritation of foreign bodies 

 swallowed with the food, treatment will consist in the administration of 

 soothing and demulcent remedies, as linseed-tea, barley-water, or milk, 

 together with a mixture of powdered gum-arabic, bismuth, and hydrocyanic. 



