342 Chronic Intestinal Catarrh. 



of the urine under tliese conditions. Bauer found an increase 

 in indican. 



According to Dieekerhoff, the symptoms of intestinal tahes of young 

 animals, are diminution of appetite, partial constipation, occasionally 

 diarrhea. (Kronig), emaciation progressing to the point of cachexia, and 

 leading in three to six months to death unless something can be done by 

 a proper change of diet. 



In infectious asthenia of chickens one sees listlessness, depression, 

 progressive emaciation in spite of greedy feeding, pale discoloration of 

 the comb and of the wattles, of the throat and ears, and slight consti- 

 pation. In the further course of the disease the appetite becomes vari- 

 able. Finally, the cachectic animals succumb after the disease has 

 lasted about three months. 



Course. Chronic intestinal catarrh may last for months or 

 even years and it may lead to complete exhaustion of the sick 

 animals, after an edema has developed on the extremities and 

 in the lower abdominal region. Death takes place from mar- 

 asmus. The disease usually takes this course in old, poorly 

 nourished, hard worked animals. 



Diagnosis. Progressive emaciation, occasional attacks of 

 diarrhea, wdiicli rarely last continuously for w^eeks and months, 

 the presence of undigested particles of feed in the feces are 

 signs upon wdiich the diagnosis rests. As to the localization of 

 the affections the same rules hold good as are laid down for 

 acute intestinal catarrh (see page 329). Lumps of pus in the 

 feces point "with great probability to ulcerations. 



Considering the fact that chronic catarrh of the intestines 

 is usually a secondary affection, one should always carefully 

 examine all organs and look into the method of feeding in order 

 to find out the primary disease. As such, one must think of 

 chronic infectious diseases, metabolic diseases, helminthiasis, 

 chronic disease of the liver, chronic uremia, and in horses dis- 

 turbances of mastication in consequence of anomalies of teeth. 



The disease called "Darrsucht, " according to Dieekerhoff, may be 

 recognized from the fact that the improperly fed young animals of one 

 herd or flock all become more or less sick and emaciate progressively. 

 Tuberculosis has sometimes to be excluded by a properly conducted tu- 

 berculin test. 



A diagnosis of infectious asthenia of chickens is suggested by the fact 

 that the sick animals are all two to six months old. that cachexia de- 

 velops progressively in spite of a good appetite, that the course is (|uite 

 chronic and that there are no pronounced anatomical changes. The 

 differential diagnosis must always consider the possibility of helminthi- 

 asis. 



Prognosis. Chronic intestinal catarrh, whether primary 

 or secondary, must always be looked upon as a serious affection 

 wdiich wall often resist the most careful treatment for a long 



