54 DISEASES OF THE DIGESTIVE APPARATUS 



of the stomach; Init the appetite, while it may be very irregular, is not en- 

 tirely absent — one day very good and the next absent. Vomiting oc- 

 curs generally a short time after eating, and consists of undigested food 

 covered with quantities of tough, glassy mucus, sometimes streaked with 

 blood, and the tongue is more or less coated. There is pain on pressure in 

 the region of the stomach, especially after eating, although this is not a con- 

 stant symptom by any means. The animal becomes thin and shows every 

 S3^mptom of poor nutrition. 



We must always take into consideration that the mere loss of ap- 

 petite does not always mean acute or chronic catarrh of the stomach, but 

 is a symptom present in a number of pathological conditions, and every 

 symptom must be carefully examined before coming to a definite 

 conclusion. 



Therapeutics. — The washmg out of the stomach, so often resorted to in 

 man, is fully explained on page 21. This treatment is not to be employed 

 in all cases of this disorder; for in some cases it produces great irritation, 

 and if persisted in does more harm than good. Try to get the animal to 

 drink small portions of water, Avith some lime water in it, at frec|uent in- 

 tervals; if it will not drink, pour fresh water down its throat; in 

 anaemic animals, use tepid water, with a small ciuantity of a solution of 

 bicarbonate of sodium, a pinch or a teaspoonfid of Carlsbad salt, in warm 

 water, on an empty stomach. Hydrochloric acid well diluted can be 

 given after meals and the treatment described on page 53. In very 

 acute cases give naphthaline, salic3'lic acid, I'csorcin, menthol, or thymol. 

 As a rule, however, it is advisable not to do this unless you suspect some 

 irritant or poisonous material to be present. If the chronic catarrh 

 occurs as a result of other diseases, we must treat the original cause, 

 as very frequently when the other disease is treated successfully, the 

 gastric mucous membrane returns to its natural condition without any 

 other treatment. 



I> Extract! rhei; 2.0 



Sodii bicarhouatis, 100.0 



M. 

 Sig. — A small pinch twice daily. 



I^ Mentholis, 2.0 



Sacchari lactis, 



Guinmi arahic, aa 1.0 



M. Et fiat pulv., No. x. 

 Sig. — Give one twice daily. 



Other Disorders of the Stomach. 



Expansion or Dilatation of the Stomach (Gastrectasis , Dilatatio Ven- 

 tricuU) . — This condition may occur in the acute or chronic form. In acute 

 it is due to overloading the stomach with dry food and particularly when 



