328 Acute Intestinal Catarrh. 



the animals defecate the mucosa of the rectmu sometimes pro- 

 lapses and later there is a relaxation of the sphincter muscles 

 Avith gaping of the anal opening. Fowls ' droppings are at first 

 softer, light gray, later perfectly fluid, yellowish or greenish, 

 fetid and they soil or mat the feathers in the neighborhood of 

 the cloaca. 



The abdominal circumference either remains normal or is 

 diminished ; in other cases it becomes larger. Palpation some- 

 times elicits pain, especially upon pressure in the region of the 

 small intestines. The intestinal sounds are more lively; they 

 are often audible continually, very loud, rumbling, so that they 

 may be heard for a distance of several feet ; they are markedly 

 metallic. Fetid flatus sometimes escapes from the anus with 

 loud sounds. 



Convulsive contractions in the intestines of the horse, oc- 

 curring at short intervals, cause colicky pains which increase 

 after the ingestion of food or drink, and they manifest them- 

 selves differently in various animals. Horses may show milder 

 or more severe colicky pains. Cattle manifest pain by dull 

 roaring, groaning, kicking with their hind legs towards the ab- 

 domen; dogs hide themselves, lie curled up, howl loudly from 

 time to time, jump up suddenly and run liackward and forward ; 

 hogs hide in the straw, grunt loudly and frequently roll about ; 

 fowls do not show any manifestations of abdominal pain. 



The urine is diminished, dark in color, and in carnivora fur- 

 nishes a rich deposit of urates ; its reaction in herbivora is acid 

 even when the appetite is preserved ; indican is increased. 



The acid reaction of the urine in herbivora depends upon an increase in phos- 

 phates. If there is lack of appetite, the starving animals decompose their own 

 proteids. Frohuer believes that the acidity of the urine in herbivora with good 

 appetite depends upon the fact that the contents of the small intestines, which have 

 become acid in consequence of lively fermentation, dissolve a larger amount of the 

 earthy phosphates contained in vegetables, these are absorbed in increased amount 

 by the blood and have to be excreted in increased amount by the kidneys. 



The temperature is frequently somewhat elevated. In 

 more serious cases and in severe diarrhea the heat is un- 

 equally distributed at the periphery ; the pulse is accelerated and 

 the patients are listless. Thirst is usually increased. 



If the intestinal catarrh is severe and if diarrhea continues 

 for any length of time, prostration sets in rapidly. The ani- 

 mals now lie motionless on the floor or they are hardly able to 

 stand on their feet ; the eyes sink in, the glance becomes luster- 

 less, the hair rough ; fowls drop their wings, stand or sit long in 

 the same place ; the exhaled air is bad and the whole body has a 

 similar fetid smell. The abdomen is drawn in and tender to 

 pressure; the sphincter ani is strongly contracted or, on the 

 contrary, relaxed; the temperature and the pulse become sub- 

 normal, the heart beat becomes hammering, and death now soon 

 ensues. 



The clinical picture just described varies in some respects^ 

 according to the exact seat of the affection. 



