226 INTESTINAL DIGESTION. 



Symptoms. A hot nose, blood-shot eyes, and loss of appe- 

 tite, are associated with efforts to vomit, which are usually 

 ineffectual. Abdominal pain is sometimes severe, and there 

 is obstinate constipation. In the course of twenty-four hours, 

 the retching, which continues, is attended with the discharge 

 of an abundant and dense mucus, often tinged with bile. 

 The pulse becomes small, feeble, and very frequent; the bowels 

 may have responded to the action of a dose of physic, but 

 without relieving the gastric irritation, and straining accom- 

 panies the discharge of faeces. Blood is discharged both by 

 the mouth and anus, and, unless soon relieved, the animal 

 dies. 



Warm baths, a mustard poultice over the abdomen, and 

 the administration of dilute hydrocyanic acid, in doses of 

 from two to three drops, given in water or a little wine, 

 relieve the animal. In that stage of the disease, when con- 

 siderable prostration is observed, I have seen great good 

 from the occasional administration of wine and spirits of nitric 

 ether. 



INTESTINAL DIGESTION. 



When the food has undergone such changes as occur within 

 the true stomach, it is gradually forced through the pylorus, 

 and subjected to further processes within the intestine. 



Intestine. The term is applied to that portion of the 

 alimentary canal extending between the pylorus and anus, 

 destined for the temporary retention of the chymous 

 mass, so that its nutrient parts may be absorbed, whilst 

 its more solid indigestible constituents are collected for ex- 

 cretion. 



The intestine occupies by far the greatest part of the 

 abdominal cavity, but varies in size and length in different 

 domestic animals. It is always short in carnivorous animals, 



