114 THEORY AND PRACTICE 



In the dog the symptoms are as follows : vomiting — a dog will 

 drink large quantities of water and will go right off and throw 

 it up again, then come back and drink some more. This is one 

 of the most prominent symptoms of gastritis in the early stages. 

 Upon pressing on the stomach, pain is produced ; the dog lies 

 flat on his chest. The other symptoms are much the same as in 

 the horse. 



Post mortem. — The mucous membrane of the stomach will 

 show inflammation. If caused by long continued gastric flatu- 

 lence, the villus lining (near the pylorus) will be dark red and 

 swollen. If the inflammation is caused by caustic poisons, there 

 will be deep erosions. In some cases you will be puzzled to 

 account for the death, the lesions not seeming sufficient. In 

 case of lead poisoning the stomach at post should show redness 

 without erosion — this poison produces general collapse. If the 

 stomach has arsenic in it the mucous membranes will be dark. 



If death from poison is sudden, there will be no change in 

 the fecal matter, i. e. in arsenic poisoning; but if the case is 

 one of 24 hours standing, the fecal matter will be black; if 3-4 

 days, there will be black diarrhoea. 



Treatment. — First ascertain the cause. If gastritis occurs 

 from poisons give the proper antidote. If it occurs from a caus- 

 tic, give oil — the oil and the alkaH will form soap. Give moderate 

 doses of the oil and then repeat. A pint of the oil would be 

 sufficient. Repeat in half pint doses three times a day. To a 

 large horse give a pint at the time. Apply a mustard plaster over 

 the belly. Give aconite, alcohol and an anodyne such as fluid 

 extract canabis indica. Give a bland fluid to drink like linseed 

 tea. If the thirst is intense, restrict the water supply — put a 

 little bicarbonate of soda in the drinking water. As a special 

 regulator give subnitrate of bismuth, combining it with salol. 

 During convalescence give lime water, fluid extract gentian, 

 strychnine. 



As regards the poisons which case gastritis, it is essential 

 for a doctor to keep posted on the various antidotes. It is a 

 good plan to carry a dose book in one's pocket all the time. 



