Pseudo-Membranous {Croupous) Enteritis in Solipeds. 221 



It ought to be borne in mind that the habitual microbes of the 

 healthy bowel may become pathogenic when brought in contact 

 with a mucosa which is the seat of irritation, atony or any con- 

 dition of debility. 



Symptoms and Lesions. The verminous aneurisms and throm- 

 bosis aside, the symptoms and lesions of this form of congestion 

 so closely resemble those of the verminous affection that it seems 

 needless to repeat them. 



Diagnosis is difficult but the absence of worms in the affected 

 animals and their fellows, and the presence of some one of the 

 other recognized causes ma}' lead to a fair conclusion. 



Treatment of the affection is more hopeful than in the 

 verminous affection, and may be conducted on the same general 

 lines. 



PSEUDO-MEMBRANOUS (CROUPOUS) ENTERITIS 

 IN SOUPEDS. 



Definition. Causes : As in ordinary enteritis, with added infections or 

 toxins. Symptoms: As in enteritis, nervous symptoms, diarrhoea. Lesions: 

 Congested mucosa, whitish or grayish false membranes, in patches or 

 tubular casts, granular, mucous, albuminoid, fibrinous. Diagnosis : False 

 membranes in stools. Treatment : Glauber salts, calomel, alkahne car- 

 bonates or tartrates, oils, antiferments, demulcents, careful diet, bitters. 



Definition. An inflammatory affection of the bowels charac- 

 terized by the ejection with the faeces of false membranes. 



Causes. It has been long attributed to the causes which pro- 

 duce other forms of enteritis and indigestions, as youth, rich 

 .stimulating feeding, sudden change to green food in spring, 

 stidden chills, over-fatigue, confinement in-doors, and prolonged 

 costiveness. In man it is found as a sequel of infectious diseases 

 (pneumonia, pyaemia), in Bright' s di.sease, cirrhosis of the liver 

 and cancer, and in poisoning by lead, mercury or arsenic (Osier). 

 Cadeac, who found great numbers of streptococci in the false 

 membranes in animals, is certain it is a microbian disease, and 

 this is doubtless true, if qualified by the statement that the 

 microbe as is .so often the case with other intestinal affections. 



