Diseases of the Bowels. 79 



ENTERITIS, 



Or inflammation of the bowels, is a disease to which dogs, 

 from its ordinary causes, are fortunately not very subject. 

 Enteritis is rarely confined to one tissue, both peritoneal, 

 muscular, and mucous are generally involved in the inflam- 

 matory process. The latter is, however, in all instances, 

 more particularly the seat of inflammation, and from the 

 rapidity of its course seldom gives time for the others to be 

 equally involved. 



Causes. — Protracted colic, exposure to damp and cold, es- 

 pecially from lying on the earth or wet floor, intestinal 

 obstruction from faeces, foreign bodies, strangulation, or in- 

 tus-susception, local irritation, or irritant poisons. 



Symptoms. — It is highly essential, in enteritis, that the 

 practitioner should arrive at a correct diagnosis : in other 

 words, that he should be able to distinguish it from other 

 affections resembling it, more especially colic, with which 

 it is most likely to be confounded. The usual cordials and 

 stimulants given in the latter affection would be adding 

 fuel to fire in enteritis, and speedily effect a fatal termina- 

 tion. 



The pain in enteritis is continuous and extremely 

 severe, and pressure to the abdomen greatly aggravates it. 

 In colic the pain is intermittent, and pressure or friction to 

 the abdomen aff'ords considerable relief. 



In enteritis the visible mucous membranes are highly in- 

 jected, thermometrical insertion per rectum shows con- 

 siderable increase of temperature, and the pulse is increased 

 in frequency and small. 



In colic there is no injection of the mucous membranes, 

 no increase in temperature, and only slight acceleration of 

 pulse and breathing during the spasm. Such may be con- 

 sidered the leading diagnostic distinctions between the two 

 diseases. ' 



The General Symptoms of enteritis are as follows : Its 

 commencement is denoted by rigors, a dry hot nose, 



