206 ENTERITIS. 



Of drugs, sulphate of sodium in doses of 10 to 15 ounces is pro- 

 bably the best. It can gradually be replaced by 2 to 3 drachm doses of 

 bicarbonate of soda or of ordinary salt per day. Laudanum, camphor, 

 and bismuth relieve persistent colic and diarrhoea. Pilocarpine, veratrine 

 and eserine, though recommended by some authors, present no advantage 

 in our opinion. The first two of these substances certainly cause purga- 

 tion, but the action is quite temporary. The last induces violent con- 

 traction of the striped muscular tissue, and may produce grave lesions or 

 invagination when the bowel is diseased, thickened or infiltrated. 



HEMORRHAGIC ENTERITIS. 



This form of enteritis derives its name from the dominant symptom, 

 which consists in the passage of unaltered or clotted blood in the faeces. 

 In the former case the blood is bright in colour, as if it came directly 

 from an open vessel. In the second it is coagulated, and assumes the 

 form of fibrinous clots, which seem to result from the superposition, 

 in the intestinal tract of their constituent elements, viz., serum, blood 

 corpuscles, and fibrin. 



Causation. Haemorrhagic enteritis is rarely seen except during the 

 hottest days of summer, and in young animals which have previously 

 shown nothing abnormal. The high temperature seems to favour its 

 appearance, but is always supplemented by another cause, viz., the 

 ingestion of irritant food, particularly of weeds and toxic plants or 

 herbage of bad quality ; amongst such may be mentioned dog's mercury, 

 and plants of the order Papaveracese, Euphorbiaceae, etc. Otherwise 

 the often rapid manner in which the disease develops indicates toxic 

 enteritis. 



In other cases, more benign in appearance, but quite as grave in 

 reality, blood is passed continually, and the disease assumes a chronic 

 form. It is then of parasitic origin, and is due to intestinal psoro- 

 spermosis. 



Symptoms. The primary symptoms are similar to those of acute 

 enteritis, and consist of fever, dryness of the muzzle and of the mouth, 

 colic and constipation. This is soon followed by loose motions con- 

 taining blood or blood clots, according as the haemorrhage occurs at a 

 greater or less distance from the rectum. The faeces are then ejected 

 violently to a considerable distance, on account of the exaggerated 

 intestinal peristalsis. 



The disease may produce death in twenty-four hours, though usually 

 the end is deferred for several days, or, in cases due to sporozoa, for a 

 considerably longer time. In these cases there is some chance of 

 recovery, provided that treatment be prompt. 



The diagnosis is very easy. 



