Chronic Dilatation of the Stomach. Etiology. 309 



tube which is used must, of course, be much thinner. In ob- 

 struction of the abomasum in cattle, treatment with laxatives 

 (see page 254) has never been successful. 



Literature. Daseli, T. Z., 1907, 517.— Frasch, D. t. W., 1908, 109.— Giiekel, 

 Pr. Vb., 1905, II, 42.— Harms, Hanii, Jhb., 1879, 80, 79.— Joest, S. B., 1904, 243.— 

 Lindenberg, Mag., 1847, 179.— Micucci, Vet. Jhb., 1904, 156. (Eev.)— Noack, S. 

 B., 1896, 142.— Weisz, A. L., 1909, 489. 



6. Chronic Dilatation of the Stomach. Dilatatio ventriculi 



chronica. 



Chronic dilatation of the stomach is an enlargement of the 

 stomach which persists, at least for some time, eyen after the 

 removal of the cause or after evacuation of the gastric contents, 

 and which may be likened to chronic atony of the fore-stomachs 

 of ruminants. 



Etiology. Persistent dilatation of the stomach frequently 

 occurs after feeding, for a long time, non-nutritious feed, such 

 as chaff, coarse straw, coarse leguminosae. Such food is also 

 detrimental because the animals are forced to ingest larger 

 amounts in order to satisfy their requirements. Animals which 

 are excessive feeders are in particular danger. The gastric 

 muscularis is too weak in some individuals to propel a feed mash 

 of this kind, consequently the food remains too long in the stom- 

 ach ; it becomes decomposed and in the course of time causes a 

 chronic dilatation of the stomach. Dilatation of the stomach 

 on this basis has been observed by Trinchera in 2-3% of young 

 horses, mostly three to five years old, which had been imported 

 from the provinces of Carinthia, Salzburg and the Tyrol to 

 Italy, and it has also been observed in horses from the north of 

 France, from Croatia and Dalmatia. Sand and gravel swal- 

 lowed in large amounts exert a similar effect. (Dilatation of 

 the stomach due to an accumulation of sand combined with an 

 accumulation of sand in the intestines frequently occurs, ac- 

 cording to Wedernikow, in the Steppes of Kirgisia (Siberia) 

 and is known as Gata-disease (see page 292). 



Persistent obstruction at the pylorus (pyloric stenosis due 

 to tumor formation or to cicatricial contraction) or in the small 

 intestines (stenosis, frequent obstipation, intestinal calculi) 

 usually leads to chronic dilatation of the stomach. The cause 

 of this affection may also be found in atony of the gastric mus- 

 cularis due to chronic catarrh of the stomach, to tumors of the 

 stomach, to sclerosis of the muscularis (Lienaux), or to chronic 

 interstitial hepatitis of horses (socalled Schweinsberger dis- 

 ease) ; in the last named disease the ingestion of food which is 

 difficult of digestion plays an important role. Acute dilatation 

 of the stomach, occurring a number of times, may likewise be the 

 cause of chronic dilatation (especially in dogs) and continued 

 swallowing of air may also lead to this chronic affection. 



