Inflammation of Stomach and Bowels. 157 



adopted when inflammation attacks the neck of the blad- 

 der, and the spasm prevents its evacuation. The bladder 

 of a mare may be readily evacuated by means of a cath- 

 eter ; and, by the aid of the elastic and flexible catheter, 

 the bladder of the gelding can also be discharged, though 

 the operation requires some tact and skill. 



INFLAMMATION OF THE STOMACH AND BOWELS. 



There are two varieties of this malady. The first is 

 inflammation of the external coats of the intestines, called 

 peritonitis accompanied by considerable fever, and usually 

 costiveness. The second is that of the internal or mu- 

 cous coat, called enteritis. 



The muscular coat is that which is oftenest affected. 

 Inflammation of the external coats of the stomach, whether 

 the peritoneal or muscular, or both, is a very frequent 

 and fetal disease. It speedily runs its course, and it is of 

 great consequence that its early symptoms should be 

 known. 



The causes of 'peritonitis are both numerous and various. 

 We have seen that colic may give rise to it, Constipa- 

 tion may be viewed in the light, both of cause and effect, 

 in its relation to it. Collected hardened faeces must nat- 

 urally not only of themselves be irritative, but obstruct- 

 ive and subversive of the functions of the bowels, and in 

 either one or the other way may lay the foundation for 

 an attack of inflammation. Certain kinds of indigestible 

 food, calculous bodies, irritating matter of any sort, with- 

 in the bowels, may cause an inflammation of them. Ob- 

 struction of any of their passages — whether it be from 

 the lodgment and immovableness of the matters they con- 

 tain, or from entanglement of the intestines, or intussus- 

 ception — must in the end occasion inflammation. Over-fa- 

 tig ne, and consequent excessive irritation in the bowels, 

 will bring it on. 



Symptoms. — There is some analogy between the symp- 

 toms of this disease and colic ; there is, however, one 

 marked feature of the case which enables us to diagnose 



