404 THE PRACTICE OF VETERINARY MEDICINE. 



Treatment. — The treatment of enteritis is anything but 

 satisfactory — a cure being but very rarely effected. If the 

 case be subjected to treatment in the earliest stages, and the 

 animal is in a plethoric condition, a copious abstraction of 

 blood may be attended with benefit. Fleming's tincture of 

 aconite may be given frequently and in large-sized doses, 

 m^.x. — XV., every two hours. Experience teaches that the 

 horse will stand larger doses of aconite when suffering from 

 enteritis, than in any other disease. The most reliable 

 remedy in the treatment of enteritis is opium, which is justly 

 said to be the sheet-anchor in the treatment of this disease ; 

 opii pulv., 5i., may be given every two or three hours, 

 and serves the double purpose of keeping the bowels quiet 

 and relieving pain — two very important points. In some 

 cases the alkaloid may be given hypodermically. Some 

 practitioners recommend placing the patient under the in- 

 fluence of chloroform — but the efiicacy of chloroform in the 

 treatment of enteritis is, to say the least, very doubtful. 

 Enemas of tepid water may be given, but not nearly so 

 freely as in colic. Counter-irritation to the abdomen is of 

 undoubted value. Mustard, ammonia, hot water, etc., may 

 I)e applied, and a pretty good surface should be invested. 

 It is a point of the utmost importance that the patient be 

 Icept warm, especially during the winter, hence he should 

 \iQ judiciously clothed, and protected from draughts of cold 

 air, but at the same time allowed plenty of fresh air ; the 

 general comfort of the patient should also be attended to. As 

 a rule, purgatives are inadmissible; but occasionally a case 

 may be met with in which a good oleaginous purgative may 

 be productive of the greatest benefit. When the disease 

 has reached an advanced stage, and the inflammation has 

 relieved itself by a copious exudation, the only chance of 

 recovery depends upon the careful administration of opium 

 in some of its forms — the powder being the best. Mild 



