Symptoms. Course. Diagnosis. 329 



If the small intestines alone are affected (Ileitis et jejunitis 

 catarrlialis acuta) diarrhea may be absent and the feces may 

 appear fairly normal ; the intestinal sounds are more lively than 

 under normal conditions, especially in the region of the small 

 intestines ; violent pains may occur frequently. Disease of the 

 duodenum may be assumed if there is an icteric discoloration of 

 the mucosae and if bile pigment appears in the urine. 



In catarrh of the large intestines diarrhea is rarely absent ; 

 symptoms of colic, however, may be absent or quite mild; the 

 intestinal sounds are lively and loud flatus is abundantly dis- 

 charged from the rectum. 



Catarrh of the rectum is characterized by frequent, scanty 

 defecation with tenesmus ; the feces contain numerous shreds of 

 mucus, which coat the lumps and masses like membranes; the 

 feces are also frequently streaked with blood. On being intro- 

 duced into the rectum, the finger or hand feels convulsive con- 

 tractions of the sphincter muscle which later on relaxes, and this 

 leads to prolapse of the rectal mucosa which feels hot and slip- 

 pery; the introduced finger or hand becomes covered with mu- 

 cus or blood. By the rectal speculum a markedly reddened mu- 

 cosa becomes visible. 



Course. Mild cases last from two to three days, and then 

 the slight disturbances disappear. There are frequently short at- 

 tacks of restlessness ; after the expulsion of gases there are sev- 

 eral fluid stools, then marked improvement occurs leading to 

 rapid recovery. In a majority of cases, however, tlie disease is of 

 longer duration ; it lasts about a week and the animals are weak 

 for some time, even after the disappearance of the symptoms. 

 If the intestinal catarrh is more severe, the animals become 

 more and more exhausted in consequence of obstinate diarrhea 

 and a fatal issue may occur in the second or third week. If the 

 disease lasts still longer it terminates in chronic catarrh of the 

 intestines. There are also very grave cases which show pro- 

 found prostration and grave intestinal disturbances from the 

 start and w^liich end fatally within three to four days. Cases 

 of this kind are observed particularly after the ingestion of 

 spoiled feed or putrid meat and they must really be classified as 

 deeply penetrating inflammations. 



A frequent complication of intestinal catarrh is gastric ca- 

 tarrh; its s>miptoms generally precede, but occasionally follow, 

 those of intestinal catarrh. 



Diagnosis. The diagnosis meets wdth difficulties only in 

 the absence of diarrhea, but a correct diagnosis is suggested by 

 lively intestinal sounds, in connection Avith symptoms of colic, 

 possibly with icterus, and by the fact that the general disturb- 

 ances and those of the pulse are usually not considerable. In- 

 flammation of the intestines usually leads to grave disturbance 

 of the general condition from the start, weak and frequent pulse, 



