86 VETERINARY MEDICINE AND SURGERY. 



INFLAMMATION OF THE STOMACH. 



Synonym. — Gastritis. 



Definition. — Inflammation of the mucous membrane of the stomach. 



Etiology. — It is probably due to irritation of the mucous membrane 

 caused by swallowing some poisonous substance. 



Symptoms. — True gastritis is rarely seen or recognized in the horse 

 except when it is suspected in consequence of some poison known to have 

 been eaten or swallowed, or medicine improperly administered. If due 

 to arsenious acid, the symptoms are great pain with uneasiness, the 

 animal alternately getting up and lying down, tympanitic abdomen, 

 faeces mixed with mucus, the saliva foetid, and its secretion increased; 

 mouth hot, extremities cold, nausea, purging, and great prostration 

 of strength, with delirium. When the irritation is caused by the 

 bichloride of mercury, there is, in addition to the above symptoms, a 

 profuse discharge of saliva from the mouth. 



Treatment. — Give at once the usual antidotes for the poisons. 



RUPTURE OF THE STOMACH. 



Is not fortunately a common accident. Robinson says of its 

 Symptoms. — " When an animal suffering from gastric engorgement 

 and distention with much abdominal pain, being very uneasy, tossing 

 himself about with violence, suddenly becomes quiet for a short time with 

 a distinct change in the expression of his countenance, in which is now 

 marked great anxiety, with short, quick respiration, regurgitation of 

 fluid or more solid ingesta from the mouth and nose, with attempts at 

 vomition, pulse becoming quicker and more feeble, the probability is that 

 the walls of the stomach have become torn. In some instances there are 

 additional symptoms, such as sudden fits of perspiration, a blanched state 

 of the mucous membranes, cold and clammy mouth, tottering or stagger- 

 ing gait on being moved, or a disposition to move feebly around the box 

 with his nose to the ground. 



When the lesion has taken place at once, and exists as the primary 

 affection, often occurring while at work, from which he has been removed 



