CHAPTER V. 



ACUTE INFLAMMATION OF THE GASTRIC COM- 

 PARTMENTS. 



RUMENITIS-RE TICULITIS -GASTRITIS. 



Causation. Acute primary inflammation of the first gastric reser- 

 voirs, viz., the rumen and reticulum, is not common. It sometimes 

 accompanies such infectious disorders as foot-and-mouth disease, gan- 

 grenous coryza, etc., but then constitutes an added phenomenon which 

 should be studied along with the original disease itself. Eumenitis or 

 reticulitis may however follow the ingestion of irritant foods or plants, 

 of very hot liquids, and more frequently still of unskilfully compounded 

 medicines. In such cases the mucous membrane is directly attacked, 

 and pathological congestion, infiltration, and desquamation may follow, 

 or even vesicles and ulcerations may rapidly be formed. 



Symptoms. Inflammation of the rumen or reticulum is announced 

 by loss of appetite, suspension of rumination or of regular peristalsis, 

 slight tympanites, and particularly by excessive sensitiveness to palpa- 

 tion. This sensitiveness is general, but is more specially marked in 

 the left lower third of the abdominal cavity, and in the retro-ensiform 

 region which corresponds to the position of the reticulum. Moderate 

 fever is present. 



These symptoms, which indicate the gravity and intensity of the 

 inflammation, may persist, become aggravated, provoke vomiting from 

 the rumen, and leave as a legacy motor dyspepsia, or even more serious 

 consequences. On the other hand, they may progressively diminish 

 and disappear for good. 



Lesions. The lesions comprise hypersemia of the walls of the rumen 

 and of the mucous membrane, extensive local exfoliation of epithelium, 

 and sometimes true ulceration of the mucous membrane. 



Diagnosis. The diagnosis is based on the exceptional sensitiveness of 

 the gastric compartments on palpation, and also on the history, provided 

 reliable information can be obtained. 



Prognosis. The prognosis should be reserved, because it is never 

 possible to foretell whether acute lesions may not give place to chronic 



