236 Veterinary Medicine. 



duodenum, the effused liquid being reabsorbed from the caecum 

 and colon. If the diarrhoea should prove critical there is a re- 

 turn of appetite and spirit, the faecal discharges become firmer 

 and recovery takes place in a week. If, however, the diarrhoea- 

 becomes more profuse and bloody, the colics more intense, the 

 eyes more sunken and hopeless, the face more pinched and 

 anxious, and the temperature reduced to or below the normal,, 

 with great weakness and debility, the near approach of death 

 may be feared. This state of collapse may be further marked by 

 extreme coldness, or dropsy of the limbs, increased icterus, hur- 

 ried breathing and rapid loss of flesh. 



A prominent icterus indicates implication of the liver from the 

 ascent of the infecting germs through the bile ducts, or the pas- 

 sage of microbes or their products or both through the portal 

 vein. In either case it is a serious complication. 



Prognosis. In its uncomplicated form the disease is not very 

 fatal to vigorous, mature horses, though more trying to the 

 young. If infective germs or their products implicate the liver 

 producing marked jaundice, or if the general system is poisoned 

 by the microbes or their toxins, producing marked depression 

 and prostration the danger is enormously enhanced. 



Treatment. In the mildest- cases a limitation of the food to 

 moderate bran mashes, and a dose of J^ lb. of sodic sulphate, 

 with salicylate of soda (3-4 drs. ) or bismuth will usually suffice. 



In severe cases, at the outset, while constipation exists give 3 

 or 4 drs. of cape aloes, or % lb. Glauber salts or y 2 pint olive oil, 

 combined with 2 drs. of extract of hyoscyamus or belladonna 

 and 3 drs. salicylate of soda. This serves to deplete from the 

 inflamed vessels and the whole portal system, to sooth suffering, 

 to expel much of the offensive and infective matters from the 

 bowels, and to check fermentation in that which remains. They 

 should be given with, or followed by mucilaginous liquids like 

 solutions of slippery elm or gum arabic, flaxseed tea, or well 

 boiled farinaceous gruels. 



Pilocarpin, 3 grs., or eserine, 2 grs., or both have been recom- 

 mended and may be resorted to when action of the bowels is 

 urgently demanded. They need not supersede the other laxa- 

 tives. In manifest impaction of the large intestines, salts, aloes, 

 pilocarpin and eserine may form an effective combination. 



