INTESTINAL CATARRH 59 



frequently found also in the large intestines. The various classifications, 

 such as duodenitis, jejunitis, ileitis, typhlitis, colitis and proctitis, are 

 useful only to the anatomist, but not to the observer. Proctitis is fre- 

 quently seen in the dog in an isolated form. This is given with more 

 detail on page 25. 



Pathological Anatomy. — The effects of catarrh of the intestines are 

 practically the same as in all irritations of the mucous membranes. In 

 the acute form, the membranes may be swollen and reddened through the 

 entire intestine, or it may be confined to certain localities, where it is 

 reddened and congested, and the membrane raised and covered over its 

 surface with flaky, slimy epithelium. In very bad cases there is a large 

 number of these epithelial masses, with desquamation of the mucous 

 membrane. These masses of inflamed follicles become grayish-white 

 in color and project from the membrane or finally become ulcerated. In 

 some diseases, where there is severe catarrhal inflammation of the mucous 

 membranes, we find a sympathetic inflammation of the intestine, in 

 some cases even a necrosis from which follows ulceration of the bowel. 

 The writer had one case under his observation, where a young dog died 

 from a necrotic vdceration of the bowels. 



In the chronic form, the redness is less intense; the mucous mem- 

 brane may even be pale or livid, grayish-red or dark red in color. In rare 

 cases it is slate color. The swelling is more regular and covers a larger 

 area, forming a true hyperplasia of the membrane; the inner surface 

 of the bowel becomes irregular and uneven w'ith projections over the 

 entire surface. In some cases the membrane shows true polypous forma- 

 tions, due to circumscribed hyperplasia of the connective tissues. AVhere 

 there has been cystoid degeneration of the follicles, the intestinal secre- 

 tions are stopped entirely and the mucous membrane is thin and smooth. 



Clinical Symptoms. — The most prominent symptom of intestinal 

 catarrh is diarrhoea, especially if it is confined to the large intestine, 

 although there may l)e no diarrhoea whatever if the inflammation is con- 

 fined to the small intestine, as it is well known that the absorption of the 

 fluids and the formation of the faeces are confined to the large intestine, 

 and we often find intense inflammation of the small intestine with pro- 

 fuse diarrhoea without having the large intestine affected whatever. 

 On the other hand, we often find inflammation of the rectum and no 

 diarrhoea at all. 



In making a diagnosis it is well not to identify too closely diarrhoea 

 and catarrh of the intestines — that is, consider each case of diarrhoea as 

 being due to catarrh of the bowels — as there are many conditions that 

 increase the peristaltic action and cause diarrhoea that are not directly 

 due to inflammation, such as cold or a sudden chill, to an animal that has 

 been kept warm, to poisonous substances, from the administration of 



