DIARRHCEA. G41 



cases resulting from the free use of potatoes tliere is often a 

 foul breath, with a furred and pasty state of the tongue and 

 buccal membrane — the latter, as well as the membrane of the 

 nose, unnaturally pale — a depressed and nauseated expression 

 of countenance, sometimes stupid, and rather insusceptible of 

 impressions from without. 



When diarrhoea appears as the result of causes originating 

 from within the animal, inducing irritation, or more frequently 

 extensive congestion of the intestinal mucous membrane, such 

 as has already been mentioned as likely to follow hepatic or 

 portal disturbance, the symptoms do not vary much from those 

 already noted. In this latter state the dietetic eiTor is not 

 usually a present operating cause so much as it has been for 

 a considerable time antecedent acting as a steadily preparing 

 or predisposing factor, inducing, through excess of nutriment, 

 an enfeebled and diseased condition of important organs and 

 structures. In these cases of much intestinal congestion, the 

 result of hepatic disturbance, Ave sometimes observe a distinct 

 icteric state of the system, recognised by a yellowish hue of 

 the visible mucous membranes and a changed physical and 

 chemical state of the urine. 



The condition of helminthiasis in some of its forms, as 

 exhibited in connection with the alimentary canal, is a source 

 of a troublesome and sometimes intractable diarrhoea. The 

 particular parasite which appears more liable than others to 

 act as an inducing factor in the production of this state is the 

 Strongylus tetracanthus, a very small nematode, of a flesh- 

 colour, a true blood-sucker, and found inhabiting the coats of 

 the large intestines, chiefly the colon and csecum. In addition 

 to other symptoms indicative of its existence in this situation — 

 as marasmus, steady but fitful, an unhealthy state of the skin, 

 irregular appetite, with the occasional appearance of a hel- 

 minth or two in the faeces — is intestinal irritability, with fitful 

 diarrhoea, not excessively watery, rather of the character of 

 ordinary fsecal matter, having associated with it an extra 

 amount of liquid. 



A rather common and sometimes serious form of diarrhoea 

 is encountered in the occasionally excessive or undue response 

 of the bowels to a dose of purgative medicine. We would 

 speak of it as an undue response to an ordinary purgative 



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