158 CLINICAL DL\GXOSTICS. 



and is caused by feed, catarrh and inflammation. Psychic 

 disturbances may lead to diarrhea by reflex action. 



c. Volume of feces. Here we must distinguish be- 

 tween the amount passed at a single defecation and the total 

 for a day. Well fed horses (stable) pass 2 to 4 lbs. at each 

 act, 20 to 30 lbs. per day. In acute and in chronic hydro- 

 cephalus the volume of the evacuated masses as well as the 

 intervals between evacuations is increased. The evacuations 

 are increased in quantity in diarrhea following constipation, 

 they are diminished after the use of evacuants and after 

 [prolonged diarrhea], during constipation and when animals 

 are underfed. 



d. Consistency and form. Under normal and usual 

 conditions horses' dung is evacuated in balls of a regular 

 form, which on striking the ground usually break. In cattle 

 the dung is voided in the form of a semi-solid mass (porridge), 

 which flattens out upon striking the ground. Sheep and goats 

 pass small firm balls resembling the fruit of the bay-berry. 

 Swine and dogs pass feces somewhat more solid than those of 

 cattle and frequently quite hard. In all animals the character 

 of th& food has a great influence on the appearance of the 

 evacuations. In describing the dung of the horse we use the 

 terms hard, firm, or loose balls, very moist balls, thick ^s^riicl- 

 like mass, thin' gruel-like mass, Hiiid. zvatery. 



Increased firmness or hardness of the feces is observed 

 in all febrile diseases, in constipation, and in the first stages 

 of intestinal catarrhs. In severe febrile diseases of cattle 

 (malignant catarrhal fever) and in obstinate constipation the 

 feces are dry, hard and resemble peat in appearance. 



Decreased firmness or abnormal softness of the feces 

 occurs in all forms of diarrheas, intestinal catarrh, inflamma- 

 tion (mycotic and septic), dysentery of calves [hog cholera], 

 influenza of the horse, severe tubercular affections of the 

 mesenteric lymph glands. 



