288 DYSENTERY. 



symptoms of fever, and foetid black evacuations occur fre- 

 quently, and are accompanied or succeeded by much haemorr- 

 hage. There are griping pains, tucked-up appearance of 

 the belly, and the animal's strength fails rapidly. I have 

 observed that such cases are often fatal, and at all times diffi- 

 cult to treat. The abuse of tartar emetic, and exposure of 

 animals after severe treatment with this drug, are also causes 

 of dangerous forms of dysentery in the dog. 



In the ox we find the symptoms as follows : The acute 

 form is attended with severe symptoms of general disturbance, 

 often ushered in by shivering fits. The temperature of the 

 body is very variable ; the animal becomes hidebound and its 

 coat stares ; the back becomes slightly arched, and the loins 

 are sensitive. The eyes are dull and occasionally the seat of 

 discharge. The mouth is clammy, and the tongue furred 

 and dirty-looking. The animal yawns and grunts, and at 

 short intervals discharges a variable quantity of thin watery 

 excrement and mucus, often tinged with blood. The strain- 

 ing is generally violent and distressing. The animal draws 

 its limbs together, arches its back, extends its tail, and the 

 anus appears sore and red. The urine discharged is often of 

 a dark red colour. The amount of abdominal pain varies 

 considerably; sometimes there is severe colic, and at others 

 general tenderness. Gaseous distention of the paunch not 

 uncommonly complicates the disease. 



The constitutional symptoms are commonly those of a low 

 typhoid disease. The animal is dull, emaciated, and suffers 

 from thirst. An aphthous eruption in the mouth indicates 

 the condition of the intestinal surface, where, in some cases, 

 there are abscesses, and in others there is severe ulceration, 

 whence blood is discharged. Unless by judicious treatment 

 the symptoms are made to subside, they increase in severity, 

 and in a fortnight from the commencement of the disease the 



