134 THE MODERN HORSE DOCTOR. 



the application of cold water to the surface ; also from the pres- 

 ence of some irritating substance within the alimentary canal. 

 Sudden change of diet, from dry to green feed, has often, appar- 

 ently, produced this malady. In each case the apparent cause is 

 somewhat different, and the disease may have had some common 

 antecedent ; as, for example, a congestion of the blood vessels of 

 the alimentary canal. Therefore it is very difficult to determine, 

 in every case of disease, what are the direct causes ; yet we may 

 safely conclude that in many such there previously existed in the 

 system a peculiar predisposition, or, in other words, loss of 

 vitality, ere the disease then present could have manifested itself. 



Mr. Percivall thus alludes to the causes : " The causes of 

 enteritis are both numerous and various. We have seen that colic 

 may give rise to it. Constipation may be viewed in the light 

 both of cause and effect in its relation to it. Collected hardened 

 fasces must naturally not only of themselves be irritative, but ob- 

 structive and subversive of the functions of the bowels, and in 

 either one or the other way may lay the foundation for an attack 

 of inflammation. Certain kinds of indigestible food, calculous 

 bodies, irritating matter of any sort, within the bowels, may 

 cause an inflammation of them. Obstruction of any of their 

 passages — whether it be from the lodgment and immovableness 

 of the matters they contain, or from entanglement of the intes- 

 tines, or intus-susception — must in the end occasion inflammation. 

 Over-fatigue, and consequent excessive irritation in the bowels, 

 will bring it on. * * * 



" Cold, from exposure, and skin wetted while hot, and so forth, 

 is commonly entered high up on the list of the causes of enteritis, 

 and, perhaps, with propriety. I must confess I have not met 

 with so many cases from this as from other causes." 



Symptoms. — There is some analogy between the symptoms of 

 this disease and colic ; there is, however, one marked feature of 

 the case which enables us to diagnose the disease with some degree 

 of certainty, for when inflammation has fairly set in, there is little, 

 if any, remission of pain ; whereas, in colic, the pains are of a spas- 

 modic character, so that the animal at times is quite easy. The 

 pulse, in inflammation of the bowels, is full, firm, and quick, in- 

 creasing in beat and volume as the disease increases in intensity. 



