294 Chronic Gastric Catarrh. 



stipation, polyuria, and paleness of the mucous membranes. Pulse and 

 respiration are increased and there is some fever (38.5-39.5° C). In 

 the further course constipation and diarrhea alternate, the feces are 

 grayish-green and very ill smelling. The emaciation progresses rapidly 

 and edematous infiltration of the subcutaneous connective tissue sets 

 in. The disease leads to a fatal issue within three to four weeks. 



In ruminants sand disease of the stomach often leads to 

 symptoms similar to those in the liorse. In other cases of pri- 

 mary catarrh of the abomasum, which is comparatively rare, one 

 sees diminished appetite, retarded mastication and morbid de- 

 sires. In conseqnence of the subsequent development of a 

 chronic intestinal catarrh there is occasionally diarrhea, alter- 

 nating at variable intervals with constipation; after several 

 weeks, how^ever, diarrhea is the more prominent sjanptom. The 

 secretion of milk becomes entirely suppressed, emaciation and 

 cachexia become more marked and the animal finally dies after 

 the disease has lasted several ^veeks or months. 



Chronic catarrh of carnivora hardly presents any other 

 symptoms except variability of appetite and nutritive disturb- 

 ances. The region of the stomach may be somewhat tender to 

 pressure ; vomiting is rare and usually occurs immediately after 

 the ingestion of food. The patients vomit a tenacious mucus 

 mixed with food particles. 



Course and Prognosis. The course of chronic gastric ca- 

 tarrh depends largely upon its cause. If it has developed in 

 connection with another chronic affection it is usually of grave 

 importance because it cannot be easily cured and causes in 

 itself a considerable ill effect upon the underlying condition. 

 Even in primary cases of chronic gastric catarrh the prognosis 

 is not favorable, because permanent tissue changes have usually 

 been produced and these cannot be made to disappear. The 

 prognosis also depends upon our ability to stop the detrimental 

 effects of gastric disturbances by the administration of easily 

 digestible food. 



Diagnosis. The diagnosis of chronic gastric catarrh is dif- 

 ficult since the symptoms are usually not characteristic and 

 since similar symptoms occur wdth or w^ithout gastric catarrh 

 in various chronic diseases (particularly in diseases of the 

 liver). A diagnosis of gastric catarrh may, therefore, be made 

 after the exclusion of other diseases which lead to similar dis- 

 turbances of nutrition. If it is justifiable to assume the pres- 

 ence of chronic gastric catarrh, it is next desirable to find out 

 whether the affection is primary or due to other diseases of the 

 stomach (tumor, ulcer, animal parasites). 



Among the s^anptoms, the most important are variability 

 of appetite without any apparent external cause, a morbidly 

 changed sense of taste, and in carnivora vomiting after the in- 



