SIMPLE AILMENTS 293 



Enteritis, or Inflammation of the Bowels. 



As the general symptoms much resemble those of colic, 

 it is well to be able to distinguish between them, for in a 

 case of enteritis a veterinary surgeon should be sent for 

 at once. Colic commences suddenly, and there are intervals 

 between the attacks, when pain is not felt, while enteritis 

 generally comes on by degrees, and the pain never ceases 

 for a moment. Hand-rubbing the belly relieves the pain in 

 cases of colic, but increases it in enteritis ; and whilst a 

 little gentle exercise is sometimes efficacious in colic, it has 

 the opposite effect in enteritis. Until the advent of the 

 veterinary surgeon, if the case is believed to be one of 

 enteritis, the wisest course to pursue is to give every hour, 

 until the practitioner's arrival — 



Bicarbonate of Soda 2 teaspoonfuls 



Common Salt ... ... ... ... 1 tables'poonful 



in a pint of warm water. 



Since the faeces will necessarily become very hard if they 

 remain in the intestine, and difficult to pass, it will be well 

 at the commencement to inject two or three clysters of 

 soap and warm water, to clear the bowel as far as possible, 

 and if this does not have the desired effect, linseed, or castor 

 oil, may be employed as well. 



The intestines are divided into small and large, and 

 extend in length to about 90 feet. Though the lines of 

 demarcation are imaginary, for convenience of description 

 they are subdivided into three small and three large ones, 

 the small ones being situated nearest to the stomach. The 

 first receives the secretions formed by two important glands, 

 which cause a change to take place in the food after 

 quitting the stomach, which then passes quickly through 

 the second into the third, whence it passes on into the 

 first large intestine, the coecum. The entrance to this 

 is guarded by a valve which prevents any attempt at 

 regurgitation. When any substance, fluid or solid, once 

 passes the valve it makes its way to the terminal portion, 

 but in the course of time it turns backwards towards the 

 valvular opening again, only to be there stopped, and turned 



