Acute Catarrh of the Stomach. 285 



of the omasum. The cause of these necrotic processes is probably a 

 superficial invasion by the bacillus necrophorus. 



The inflammation of the fore-stomachs is usually a secondary affec- 

 tion, appearing during the course of certain infectious diseases (foot- 

 and-mouth disease, rinderpest, malignant catarrhal fever, sheep pox) ; 

 also after gastric atony (see page 265) or overfilling of the rumen 

 (see page 249). Tuberculous ulcers in the omasum have been described 

 by Johne and Weiser. 



The symptoms of inflammation of the fore-stomachs are very similar 

 to those of gastric atony, but with that difference that repeated vomiting 

 occurs; there is a ditt'use tenderness of the fore-stomachs, and from 

 the start a moderate fever. The rumen does not feel hard as in cases 

 of atony. Appetite and rumination are suppressed partially, or often 

 entirely, while thirst is increased. If there is a concomitant inflamma- 

 tion of the esophagus there is difficulty in deglutition. 



In the majority of cases the animals recover within eight to ten 

 days. But if the inflammation has penetrated more deeply, there is 

 diarrhea; the pulse-beat rises to from 80 to 100 and the animals succuml) 

 after two to three weeks from exhaustion or peritonitis. 



The treatment is similar to that in atony of the fore-stomachs 

 (see page 273) ; it is however not very promising in inflammations 

 which penetrate more deeply or in those of the diphtheritic type. 



Literature. Bunge, D. t. W., 1895, 173.— Dieckerlioff, Spec. Path., 1892, II, 

 105. — Goretowsky, Ueber die iiecrot. Schorfe in d., Vorniaegen des Eindes, Diss., 

 Bern, 1909 (Lit.).— Johne and Weiser, S. B., 1834, 38.— Guillard, W. f. Tk., 1908, 

 112. (Rev.).— Uhlich, S. B. 1881, 62. 



3. Acute Catarrh of the Stomach. Catarrhus ventriculi acutus. 



{Gasfricismus, Gastrosis, Status gastrictis, Dyspepsia acuta, 

 Fehris gastrica.) 



Etiology. Acute catarrh of the stomach, including catarrh 

 of the abomasum in ruminants, occurs either as a primary affec- 

 tion per se or as a secondary complication due to other organic 

 diseases or as part of the picture in the course of general 

 diseases. 



The most common cause of primary catarrh of the stomach 

 lies without doubt in errors of diet, if an otherwise unimpeach- 

 able food material gets into the stomach without the proper 

 preparation, in improper quantities or at irregular intervals. 

 Starved animals go greedily for feed and try to satisfy their 

 hunger rapidly; they do not masticate properly and do not 

 mix the food sufficiently with saliva, hence the feed enters the 

 stomach insufficiently broken up, in coarse masses and half dry. 

 This irritates the gastric mucosa mechanically and the digestion 

 of the food is insufficient. For these reasons dogs and swine 

 are more often affected than horses ; gastric catarrh is particu- 

 larly common in animals wdiich are fed only once a day. In 

 cattle, however, the excessive ingestion of water, especially in 

 summer, may cause catarrh of the abomasum. 



