340 Abdominal Pain in Uterine Contractions. Chronic Intestinal Catarrh. 



Abdominal Pain in Uterine Contractions. Highly bred mares 

 frequently show symptoms of colic in the advanced stages of gestation, 

 especially al)0ut the 8th month of pregnancy and during the last weeks 

 before parturition, these depend upon a mechanical irritation of the 

 uterus by the moving embryo and upon uterine contractions caused 

 by it. Predisposing causes are changes in position of the embryo, 

 external dull force to the abdomen, overheating followed by the inges- 

 tion of cold water, the ingestion of spoiled feed. 



The symptoms are similar to those of catarrhal intestinal cramps, 

 but the hand placed upon the abdomen may feel the kicks of the embryo 

 and they may become visible on the abdominal wall. The affection 

 lasts from 1 to 3 hours and then disappears suddenly; in some mares 

 the painful attacks recur within short intervals, sometimes every second 

 day, even every 6 to 8 hours, especiallv shortlv before parturition ; 

 (Schleiifer Vet. 1894, 229). 



For treatment subcutaneous injections of morphine, also the inter- 

 nal administration of camomile tea are indicated. 



16. Chronic Intestinal Catarrh. Catarrhus intestinalis chron- 



icus. 



{Enteritis catarrhalis chronica.) 



Etiology. Primary chronic intestinal catarrh, whicli is com- 

 paratively rare, usually arises from an acute intestinal catarrh 

 if the latter has lasted for some time or if the inflannnatory in- 

 fluences have acted for a considerable period upon the intestinal 

 mucosa. The causative factors are the same as those of acute 

 intestinal catarrh (see page 325), the most common cause, how- 

 ever, is improper feeding- and the continued ingestion of im- 

 proper or spoiled food. 



According fo the statements of Dieckerhoff, there occurs in foals, 

 also in cattle, sheep, swine and goats, during the first two years of life, 

 a chronic disturbance of the function of the intestinal mucosa, which 

 leads to progressive emaciation and frequently to death. Dieckerhoff 

 has named this disease ''Darrsucht" (German) or Tabes intestinalis 

 (intestinal wasting away) and has separated it from the disease Tabes 

 mesaraica. (See Vol. I.) The etiology of the disease is unknown, its 

 causes are probably various emaciating internal diseases. According 

 to Glage, this Tabes intestinalis in foals is in reality an infectious sclero- 

 stomiasis (q. v.). 



Dawson has described a disease observed in the United States under 

 the name of Infectious Asthenia in chickens two to six months old, which 

 is caused by a bacterium of the colon group (bacterium asthenije) and 

 characterized by a profound duodenal catarrh. The same disease has 

 occasionally been observed in Germany by Kitt. 



Some of the cases described by Dieckerhoff and Harms as chronic 

 gastric catarrh of cattle, and a disease described in France as "diarrhee 

 chronique, " "boyau tendre, " "dysenteric," should more properly be 

 classified as "enteritis paratuberculosa (Bang). (See Vol. I.) 



More commonly chronic intestinal catarrh is a secondary 

 affection. Such secondary chronic intestinal catarrhs are seen 



