Pseudo- Membranous {Croupous} Enteritis in Solipeds. 225 



It ought to be borne in mind that the habitual microbes of the 

 healthy bowel may become pathogenic when brought in contact 

 with a mucosa which is the seat of irritation, atony or any con- 

 dition of debility. 



Sy?nptoms and Lesions. The verminous aneurisms and throm- 

 bosis aside, the symptoms and lesions of this form of congestion 

 so closely resemble those of the verminous affections that it 

 seems needless to repeat them. 



Diagnosis, is difficult but the absence of worms in the affected 

 animals and their fellows, and the presence of some one of the 

 other recognized causes may lead to a fair conclusion. 



Treatment of the affection is more hopeful than in the vermi- 

 nous affection, and may be conducted on the same general lines. 



PSEUDO-MEMBRANOUS (CROUPOUS) ENTERITIS 

 IN SOIvIPEDS. 



Definition. Causes : As in ordinary enteritis, with added infections or 

 toxins. Symptoms : As in enteritis, nervous symptoms, diarrhoea. Lesions : 

 Congested mucosa, whitish or grayish false membranes, in patches or tubular 

 casts, granular, mucous, albuminoid, fibrinous. Diagnosis : False mem- 

 branes in stools. Treatment : Glauber salts, calomel, alkaline carbonates or 

 tartrates, oils, antiferments, demulcents, careful diet, bitters. 



Definition. An inflammatory infection of the bowels charac- 

 terized by the ejection with the faeces of false membranes. 



Causes. It has been long attributed to the causes which pro- 

 duce other forms of enteritis and indigestion, as youth, rich 

 stimulating feeding, sudden change to green food in spring, 

 sudden chills, over-fatigue, confinement in-doors, and prolonged 

 costiveness. In man it is found as a sequel of infectious diseases 

 (pneumonia, pyaemia), in Bright's disease, cirrhosis of the liver 

 and cancer, and in poisoning by lead, mercury or arsenic (Osier). 

 Cadaec, who found great numbers of streptococci in the false 

 membranes in animals, is certain it is a microbian disease, and 

 this is doubtless true, if qualified by the statement that the 

 microbe as is so often the case with other intestinal affections, 

 requires an occasion in the form of a diseased or debilitated con- 



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