igo VETERIXARV HOMCEOPAfHY. 



INFLAMMATION OF INTESTINES. 



ENTERITIS. 



The difference between an infiamraatory condition of the in- 

 testine and that which takes place in simple colic, although from 

 the character of the pain there is nothing striking to enable one 

 to differentiate between them, is recognized in the fact, that while 

 in colic the pain is due to '"disturbance of fmid/'onal activity" 

 (Robertson), and in many instances is originated through some 

 defects in the ner\-ous system, in enteritis important changes in 

 the structure of the intestinal walls are taking place, affecting 

 either the lining mucous membrane or the more deeply-seated 

 muscular tissues of the walls; in connection with or rather as 

 the result of the inflammatory action there is a varying amount 

 of effusion of a jelly-like material which mixes with the faeces 

 when of an ordinary consistence, but when constipation is marked 

 the evacuations are coated with what is vulgarly described as 

 slime. The large bowel — double colon — is more often the seat of 

 inflammatory attack in the horse than are the smaller portions of the 

 intestinal canal; but unless the origin of the disorder arises from 

 irritation, such as may take place when a horse has received 

 - too large a quantity of Aloes and superpurgation supervenes, the 

 intestinal canal being more or less affected from one end to the 

 other, the morbid lesions are generally observed in patches. 



Symptoms. — Enteritis is invariably preceded by shivering; the 

 attack comes on suddenly; the temperature is exalted to 103 

 degrees or more ; the pulse is rapid and wiry in character; the 

 mouth generally dry and hot; the pain, though frequently less 

 severe than some bad cases of colic, is constant, and manipula- 

 tion of the abdomen with pressure is resisted; nausea and occa- 

 sionally retching are observed; the extremities are invariably 

 very cold; the animal will roll, drawing the legs up sharply and 

 thereafter stretching them out to the full extent, while at times a 

 distinct effort will be made to balance itself on the back; as the 

 disease advances, where not successfully checked, the pulse in- 

 creases in rapidity while the volume is distinctly lessened and the 

 the action of the heart becomes much weaker. As a rule con.sti- 



