GO DISEASES OF THE DIGESTIVE APPARATUS 



laxatives or cathartics, or great exertion in an animal, not accustomed to 

 it. It is, however, impossible to draw a distinct line between intestinal 

 catarrh and diarrhoea, but a conclusion can be arrived at by the number, 

 amount, and character of the diarrhoeic discharges. 



The number of stools varies, to a certain extent, and their consist- 

 ency, from pulpy to thin, water evacuations. At first the passages are 

 clearer than natural, and yellower, and as the condition goes on they 

 become gray; this color is due to the fact that the passages are so frequent 

 that the liver is not able to furnish sufficient bile to color them, and in a 

 number of cases, there is a certain amount of thick gelatinous mucus 

 mixed in the excremental matter. In some cases the mucus becomes 

 very copious, and sometimes the passages are nothing but mucus, fre- 

 quently frothy, the stool being filled with small bubbles of gas and an 

 intensely offensive odor, and in rare cases blood and pus are present; for 

 further details see page 27. 



In intestinal catarrh the animal is restless, changing its position 

 frequently, groans or cries, arches the back, or may rest the forepart of 

 the body on the ground and have the hind quarters elevated. This is an 

 indication of colicky pains. The examination of the abdomen externally 

 does not furnish much information. Sometimes the abdomen is drawn 

 up; in other cases it is distended. On applying the ear to the region of 

 the abdomen, a great amount of gurgling or rolling is heard in the cavity; 

 this may often be heard quite distinctly some distance from the animal. 

 This is due to the increased peristaltic action. On pressing the posterior 

 part of the abdomen, the animal often evinces pain. 



Tenesmus and relaxation of the rectum are generally present in the 

 later stages of this disease. The animal makes prolonged and repeated 

 efforts to pass the excremental matter, and finally passes only small 

 amounts of mucus and blood, after great exertion. In some cases these 

 prolonged exertions cause the lower bowel to be protruded. This, 

 however, is generally seen in young puppies and only in very rare in- 

 stances in older dogs. If the tenesmus is very great, it indicates that 

 there is great irritation of the lower bowel (as regards the examination of 

 the lower bowel, see page 28). 



The other symptoms of catarrh of the intestines are as follows: The 

 color of the urine becomes dark from the tinting of the bile pigment and 

 is lessened in quantity from the drain of fluids from the bowels. Fever 

 is present, but it is generally slight. There is loss of appetite, vomiting, 

 and yellow or icteric coloring of the mucous membranes, great thirst, and 

 the animal becomes weak very quickly and shows great depression. This 

 is specially noticeable when the inflammation is due to eating decayed 

 meat. 



Chronic catarrh of the bowels resonil)los the acute form in many 



