732 DISEASES AXD ABNORMALITIES OF THE YOUXG AXIMAL. 



injurious foreign matters, and the presence of entozoa in the digestive 

 canal. 



Of course, the occurrence of the disease is favoured by general pre- 

 disposing causes — such as innate weakness or great sensibility of the 

 digestive organs, disease of the mesenteric glands, etc. 



Pathological Anatomy. 



The changes observed after death in fatal cases, are not unlike those 

 seen in the same malady in adults ; though in some instances in which the 

 morbid process has been very intense, the alterations do not always 

 correspond with the symptoms observed during life. The stomach 

 usually contains large masses of dense clotted milk (casein) in sucking 

 animals, and in those which are weaned there are similar masses of 

 undigested matters. The mucous membrane of the stomach and intes- 

 tines presents variable appearances — redness, tumefaction, follicular 

 catarrh, acute ulceration ; with atrophy, thickening, granulation, pig- 

 mentation, etc., in the chronic form ; the mesenteric glands are enlarged. 

 Emaciation is marked, and all the signs of anaemia or hydraemia are 

 present. 



Prognosis. 



The prognosis must always be carefully given, and will be based on 

 the cause or causes of the attack. It is generally unfavourable when the 

 diarrhoea and tympanitis have continued for a considerable time. 



Treatment. 



If possible the exciting cause should be removed ; and with sucking 

 animals the condition of the parent should be more particularly attended 

 to, in the direction already indicated. The diet of the young animal 

 must be regulated according to circumstances, and especially in the 

 allowance of milk, w^hich ought to be given in small and frequent quan- 

 tities, and diluted with lime water. Calves should not be weaned until 

 they are from four to six months old, and Lambs not under three or 

 four months — the weaning being gradual, and the food given easily 

 digested and non-irritating. 



The diarrhoea is to be combated by gum or Hnseed mucilage, raw eggs, 

 gelatine water, decoction of malt, almond milk, rice pulp, etc. It may 

 be necessary to clear out the intestines by means of a mild laxative — as 

 castor-oil, or sulphate of soda, or magnesia in small doses. When the 

 diarrhoea is due to intestinal fermentation, the carbonates of soda or 

 magnesia may be advantageously administered, in addition to the castor- 

 oil. Three to five drops of creosote have been prescribed for the Calf, 

 and a half to one drop for the Lamb, in a mucilaginous excipient ; also 

 creolin, salicylic acid, and some other antiseptics. Should the diarrhoea 

 be due to worms, these will probably lead to their expulsion. 



When the diarrhoea is very intense, opium and rhubarb have rendered 

 good service, as well as Dover's powder, tincture of opium, or, perhaps 

 better still, chlorodyne. Styptics or astringents are likewise useful 

 when carefully given ; and astringent enemas — as solutions of alum or 

 tannin (1 per cent.), or nitrate of silver or lead (^ per cent.) have been 

 recommended. 1 Filliatre- has been particularly successful with enemas 

 of tar water, prepared by mixing a small quantity of vegetable tar 

 (150 grammes) in boiling water (6 litres) ; when tepid one-third of a 



1 Friedberger and Fruhner, o;?. cit., vol. ii., p. 389. 

 - Rfcueil de Midecine VeU'rivaire, 1886. 



