62 DISEASES OF THE DIGESTIVE APPARATUS 



is inserted in the rectum, as far as possible, and the fluid poured into the 

 funnel and allowed to gravitate slowly into the bowel. The best solu- 

 tions to use are a 1 to 2 per cent, solution of tannin, alum, or 1/2 to 1 

 per cent, solution of silver nitrate or one of the various synthetical silver 

 salts (argenol, argyrol, argentamine, picratol), the solution to be about 

 30 per cent. The amount to use is about 1 to 2 litres. If this amount 

 causes much irritation and straining, it must be discontinued; but it is 

 well to give the animal at least one injection by this method, as it helps 

 to clean out the lower bowel and facilitate the action of the medicinal 

 agent. 



The treatment of chronic catarrh of the bowel is practically the same 

 as the acute. Catarrh of the rectum may be caused by an extension of the 

 irritant from the intestines, but this condition is more apt to result from 

 mechanical irritants, very hard faeces, sharp splinters of bone or wood, 

 rectal parasites; in male puppies that are housed with other older animals, 

 particularly stud dogs, the rectum of the younger dog is frequently 

 greatly irritated by attempted copulation on the part of the older male. 

 Proctitis is recognized by difficult and painful defecation and the passage 

 of small quantities of fseces covered with mucus and frequently bloody. 

 When making a diagnosis, the rectum can be examined by means of the 

 fingers previously oiled and introduced into the rectum or by means of a 

 rectal speculum. After removing the cause, hard fseces or a foreign body, 

 inject into the rectum, by means of a clyster apparatus already described, 

 a thin mixture of starch with a small amount of opium in it or alum or 

 organic silver solution. Tincture of nux vomica is very useful as a tonic 

 in one or two-drop doses, before meals, twice daily. The quantity of 

 food requires special attention. Give easily digested food and of a 

 character that will not produce a large amount of fseces; bones, fat, tendi- 

 nous, fibrous meat must be avoided. In order to counteract the loss of 

 strength, give small quantities of rare or raw meat, finely chopped, milk, 

 egg, rice and also the various peptone preparations. In young puppies 

 the various infant foods so largely used in children practice are used as a 

 substitute for milk. In persistent diarrhoea, give bismuth subgallate 

 subnitrate or salicylate or the organic compounds of silver. In rare cases, 

 where we find constipation present use a saturated solution of Glauber 

 salt, in teaspoonful doses; Hunyadi, Apenta or other laxative waters may 

 also be given. Any complication of the stomach will have to be treated by 

 the method advised under Catarrh of the Stomach. 



The toxic and mycotic inflammations of the stomach will be 

 described separately. 



Gastro-intestinal Inflammation. — Gastro-enteritis is caused by the 

 absorption of various acids or irritating substances and also by the exces- 

 sive use of drastic purgatives, such as aloes, calomel, croton oil. If the 



