Diseases of the Digestive System 195 



facilitates passage of the mass to the rectum and 

 removed. A itvf days may be required for this purpose, 

 during which the animal should receive only fluid laxa- 

 tive aliment, with opiates or other antispasmodics. 



Enteritis, or Liflajnmation of the Intestines. — The 

 muscular coat of the tube is the seat of the malady, the 

 causes being impaction by indigestible substances, the 

 passage of one portion passing within another, or some 

 other form of strangulation ; exposure to excessive cold 

 and wet after removal of the coat ; exhibition of poison- 

 ous doses of medicine or deliberate poisoning. It is also 

 apt to arise from the absorption of local remedies used in 

 excess for the eradication of mange. 



.5;7////^>'//j-.— Continued pain and distress is evinced by 

 cries and the appearance also of the eyes, with severe 

 abdominal pain, high fever, and increase of temperature. 

 Pressure on the abdomen increases the suffering ; yet the 

 animal finds some comfort in stretching himself on the 

 ground, courting the coolness of the stones or earth to 

 counteract the heat of the abdominal muscles. As a rule 

 he seeks the quiet of a secluded corner, where he may be 

 found, lying in perfect agony on his side and uttering 

 piercing cries. The bowels are confined and the urine, 

 voided only in very small quantities, is highly coloured 

 and has a strong odour. The pulse is small, hard, and 

 rapid ; the nose is hot, thirst is considerable and the tail 

 is firmly contracted over the anus and forward upon the 

 abdomen. When the disease is due to poisons, vomiting 

 is constant, the ejected fluids being mixed with blood. 

 The mouth, ears, and legs become cold, the body smells 

 disagreeably, the abdomen enlarges, the pulse and heart- 

 beats becomes faint and at length imperceptible, and 

 convulsions terminate in death. A chronic form of the 

 disease may occur, which is indicated by intermittent 

 colic, alternate constipation and diarrhoea, with tense 

 abdomen, flatulence, «Sic., and more or less continuous 

 vomiting, terminating in weakness, collapse, and death. 



Treatfnent. — First learn the cause. If the disease 

 arises from impaction, foreign objects, worms, &c., 

 admiruster a ?nild dose of salad oil. Enemas of warm 



