346 Membranous Enteritis. Enteritis Pseudomembranacea of Cats. 



In horses, the disease likewise usually begins with restlessness; this 

 soon disappears and the animals then stand apathetically and stagger on 

 standing and walking. In other cases colicky symptoms are at first ab- 

 sent, the disease begins with a diminution of the appetite which soon 

 disappears completely. There is often fever (39.5°-41° C.) and always 

 an acceleration of the pulse. In the further course of the disease, colic 

 appears and the feces are profusely covered with mucus ; grayish-white, 

 or white opaque, structureless or curled-up long strands or membranes 

 of mucus may also be present free in the intestines or they may be 

 voided with the feces. The disease always ends in the recovery of the 

 animals after a few or several days. 



Course. The whole course usually lasts from 8 to 12 days, it 

 may be somewhat shorter or on the contrary longer ; in the lat- 

 ter case, exacerbations occur during the voiding of the pseudo- 

 membranes and remissions at other times. The disease usually 

 ends in recovery; a fatal issue occurs in only such cases as 

 are complicated with grave intestinal inflammation or intestinal 

 hemorrhages ; in these the animals may succumb after four or 

 five days. Very exceptionally there may be a fatal obstruction 

 of the intestines by the accumulated pseudomembranes. 



Diagnosis. The true character of the disease can be recog- 

 nized only after the appearance of the pseudomembranes ; before 

 this occurs it cannot be distinguished from other inflammatory 

 processes of the intestinal tract. The pseudomembranes have 

 a typical appearance and can easily be distinguished from pieces 

 of tendons that are accidentally taken up with the feed, from 

 tapeworms, loops of intestines and other objects. 



Treatment. The expulsion of the pseudomembranes and 

 of fetid feces may be hastened by the administration of alkalies, 

 especially the laxative salts (see page 331) ; later on mucilagin- 

 ous mixtures and astringents are indicated, similar to those 

 recommended in other forms of intestinal inflammation (see 

 page 331). The regidation of the diet must follow the same prin- 

 ciples as are laid down in the treatment of acute intestinal 

 catarrh (see page 330). 



Literature. Clavel, J. du Midi, 1860, 361.— Combe, Pr. vet., 1900, 157.— 

 Delafond, Eec, 1842, 217.— Graziadei, Clin, vet., 1901, 592.— Gnrlt, Mag., 1847, 80.— 

 Imminger, W. f. T., 1904, 55. — Keilgaard, Maanedsskr., 1907, XIX, 81.— Nothnagel, 

 Die Kiankh. d. Darmes, 1898, 139.— Eeynal, Diet., 1860, 87. 



Enteritis Pseudomembranacea of Cats (croupous enteritis of cats). 

 This is a disease evidently peculiar to cats. According to Zschokke, who 

 first described it, it is most common among young cats and appears epi- 

 zootically during winter and spring. Cases of enteritis pseudomem- 

 branacea have l)een observed also by Kitt, and more recently by Schmul, 

 who studied the histologic changes of the disease. 



Zschokke believes that the probable cause of the disease is a virulent 

 Tariety of the colon bacillus. This variety, when fed to a young cat, 



