196 CHRONIC INFLAMMATION OF THE GASTRIC COMPARTMENTS. 



development in consequence of disturbance in the gastric secretions and 

 of abnormal organic fermentation (secretory dyspepsia). 



This symptom of tympanites is always accompanied by irregularity, 

 diminution, and frequently also by depravity of appetite. 



Wasting occurs, but to a very varying degree, according to the 

 nature of the primary condition and the method of feeding. 



These general symjDtoms are accompanied either by constipation or 

 by diarrhoea ; and as stagnation of food leads to fermentation, which 

 always forms products differing from those of normal digestion — toxic 

 materials in fact — a chronic auto-intoxication results, which in its 

 turn, if not remedied, becomes a cause of irritation, and aggravates the 

 bad general condition. 



In many cases fever is absent, except during the final complica- 

 tions, in animals in the last stages of wasting; but some signs always 

 exist on which the diagnosis may be founded. 



The most frequent clinical type of these dyspeptic conditions is 

 motor dyspej)sia, consisting in relative atony of the rumen without 

 disturbance in the secretion of the gastric mucous membranes. 

 Luckily, this is the most easily curable form, and is only marked by 

 distension, dulness and constipation. 



Dyspeptic diseases of secretory origin are little understood. Their 

 essential causes have been badly described, and their clinical symptoms 

 are ill-recognised. 



We cannot prove whether the forms said to be due in man to excess 

 of hydrochloric acid and insufficiency of hydrochloric acid really occur 

 or are well defined in domestic animals : nor are w^e better informed as 

 to the exact part played by the organic acid of fermentation (lactic, 

 butyric, acetic acid, etc.) ; but the most complete investigations which 

 have yet been made justify our supposing there is some parallel. 



Moussu described primary ulcerative gastritis in 1895 ; and as this 

 form is almost certainly associated with excess of pepsine, the occur- 

 rence of an excess of hydrochloric acid also seems possible, the 

 more so as the symptoms noted resemble the general symptoms of 

 that condition — preservation of appetite and of the motor power of 

 the rumen, accumulation of food in the rumen as a consequence of 

 reflex intolerance of the abomasum, constipation, and vomiting. 



In addition to these two morbid conditions, a third occurs with 

 some frequency. It is characterised by chronic tympanites, alimen- 

 tary diarrhoea (the food being badly digested), and progressive wasting. 

 This condition seems due to an insufficiency of hydrochloric acid, 

 brought about by chronic gastritis, the ej^ithelial cells of the mucous 

 membrane appearing incapable of producing sufficient hydrochloric 

 acid for digestion. 



