ENTERITIS 



205 



Symptoms. — Unfortunately, these are too well known 

 to need any lengthy description. The history of the case 

 invariably points to the attack having been ushered in 

 with rigors. In the language of the stable, ' the animal 

 is taken with a shivering fit.' The appetite fails, the 

 breathing becomes quickened, and the bowels show signs 

 of commencing irritability by frequently ridding them- 

 selves of small quantities of faeces. 



Following this, the symptoms of abdominal pain com- 

 mence, and, gradually increasing in intensity, remain 

 until near the end of the case. All indications of the 

 most severe suffering are present. The animal strikes 

 at the belly with his feet, casts anxious and dolorous 

 looks towards the flanks, and commences alternately 

 rolling and rising to his feet, and sometimes biting madly 

 at his sides. The pulse is increased in number, hard, 

 wiry, and quick, up to 120 beats a minute, and often 

 scarcely to be felt, except at the radial. The belly is 

 usually normal in size — no tympanites — and appears 

 more or less tucked up, owing to the contraction of the 

 abdominal muscles, while pressure on it, in some cases, 

 appears to cause pain. Profuse perspirations bathe the 

 body, and the ears and legs grow deadly cold. 



All the time the pain has been continuous. No 

 moment's remission from suffering has eased the agonized 

 patient and relieved the veterinarian's mind. No second 

 of quiet has occurred to break the dread hurrying forward 

 of the fatal symptoms. The animal gradually grows 

 worse and worse, and every symptom here mentioned 

 appears to become aggravated. The countenance 

 becomes pinched and haggard in the extreme ; the 

 sweats become slowly colder, suggesting to the touch 

 the nearness of dissolution, and causing the hand to 

 be withdrawn with a shudder ; the visible mucous 



