SYMPTOMS. C79 



The internal temperature, which in functional disturbance is 

 rarely altered, is in inflammatory action usually elevated, 

 although it may not be distinguished by a great rise. 



In those instances where the disturbance is more than 

 functional during the continuance of the pain, there is rarely 

 any evacuation from the bowel, with the exception of those 

 where the condition of congestive action is ushered in by the 

 distinct symptom of diarrhoea. 



In instances of the exhibition of abdominal pain, apart from 

 inflammation, there are ordinarily periods of remission, and 

 the return to normal conditions is accompHshed suddenly 

 and at once. When pain is the consequence of inflammatory 

 action it is usually continuous ; and in cases of recovery, 

 return to health is only reached after a rather tedious process, 

 and through depression or nausea. 



Of the different modes or phases of physical change of the 

 bowels which result in inflammatory action, there are probably 

 no certain or diagnostic symptoms which may lead us to 

 differentiate the one from the other. Occasionally we may be 

 able, by the occurrence of some fortuitous symptoms, to make 

 a happy guess ; the same data, however, not serving us equally 

 well on their next development in some other case. We may 

 be able to indicate whether the disturbance and pain are the 

 results of merely functional derangement, or of more serious 

 inflammatory action ; but we are usually unable to determine 

 whether this inflammation is the result of intussusception, 

 strangulation, or some other equally potent but less easily 

 understood operating agency. 



The tardiness of development and the prolonged existence 

 of symptoms may lead us to recognise the presence of the 

 more occult but steadily progressive morbid changes associated 

 with extensively distributed alterations of the more elementary 

 structures of the intestines, as contrasted with the occurrence 

 of those very destructive sero-sanguineous collections and 

 eff'usions immediately related to the vascular system. Further, 

 however, we are rarely permitted to go. 



If the great majority of cases of simple disturbed natural 

 activities of the intestinal canal in the horse rarely terminate 

 fatally, the very opposite may be regarded as true in every 

 form of inflammatory action. 



