238 MANUAL OF EQUINE MEDICINE. 



sometimes voided with abdominal pain, and there is much 

 straining and irritation about the rectum and anus. 



If examined, the alvine discharges are observed to be 

 made up of mucus, blood in varying degrees of coagulation 

 and decomposition, small portions of indigestible matter, 

 shreds of sloughing mucous membrane, and but very little 

 true faecal matter. 



Prognosis. — In mild cases the prognosis is favourable, but 

 in severe ones there is very little hope of recovery. 



Morbid Anatomy. — Dysentery consists in inflammation of 

 a diphtheritic character, being characterized by the forma- 

 tion of a greyish fibrinous material on the surface of the 

 mucous membrane. 



The large intestine is generally involved, the small being 

 rarely affected. 



The inflammation is at first of a patchy character, and 

 may have a favourable termination, or ulceration follows, and 

 dark-coloured irregular sloughs of variable extent are formed. 



Treatment. — In the treatment of dysentery it is at first 

 necessary to attend to the sanitary conditions. 



The animal should be kept at rest, and the diet should 

 be of an easily digestible, fairly nutritious, moist kind. 



A small dose of oil may be given in the first instance, 

 and this should be followed up by the administration of 

 opium and antacids for a time. If the progress of the disease 

 is not arrested, astringents, such as tannic acid, alum, per- 

 chloride or sulphate of iron, catechu, and bael fruit, may be 

 tried. Nitrate of silver in solution, sulphate of copper, or 

 acetate of lead with opium in the form of a ball, are 

 recommended. 



In order to act as a deodorizer and antiseptic, carbolic acid 

 or hyposulphite of soda are indicated. Ipecacuanha"^ given 



/\ * Ipecacuanha is regarded as a specific in the treatment of dysentery 

 in man. 



