Hemorrhagic Gastro- Enteritis of the Dog. 257 



stained material. The faeces are black, bloody, glairy, frothy, 

 and abundant, fouling the tail and the hips. The abdomen is at 

 first tense and extremely tender. The pulse is accelerated, the 

 heart beats tumultuous, the breathing slow and temperature 

 elevated. Redness of the visible mucosae, often tinged more or 

 less deeply with yellow, implies hepatic disorder or destruction of 

 blood globules. Death may occur in two or three days. 



The abruptness and violence of the attack, the violent vomiting 

 and purging and the staining of the discharges with blood are to 

 a large extent diagnostic. 



Lesions. These are most noticeable in the stomach and intes- 

 tines which are empty and of a dark blood red. The mucosa is 

 thickened, gorged with blood, and showing deeper shades here 

 and there where extravasation has occurred. The liver and kid- 

 neys are also deeply congested. 



Treatment has been almost constantly a failure. Cadeac 

 recommends disinfection of the intestinal canal, with salol, cresyl 

 or dinaphthol, but in the absence of contagious germs this seems 

 the less called for. The indications would seem to point to 

 elimination of the chemical poisons, the soothing of the irritation 

 and the tiding the animal over the period of weakness. Agents 

 that will at once eliminate the poisons and sustain the heart's, 

 action appear to be called for, hence digitalis 2 grs. or tincture of 

 strophanthus 10 drops are particularly indicated. Laxatives are 

 rather hopeless considering the congestion and paralysis of the 

 bowels, and yet if they can be made to operate on any compara- 

 tively healthy part of the intestine they will serve a good purpose 

 in eliminating the poisonous contents, in securing secretion and 

 elimination of poison from the blood, and in depleting from the 

 overcharged portal system. Glauber salts by mouth and anus, 

 or jalap, or castor oil may be resorted to. In the absence of 

 these a free use of watery enemata and the ingestion of water by 

 the mouth may be resorted to. A damp compress around ab- 

 domen and loins will be at once soothing and stimulating to the 

 secretions of both kidneys and bowels. 



To counteract congestion and extravasation Cadeac advocates 

 ergotine 2 grs. subcutem, or iron perchloride, 2 ozs. , to 1 quart 

 of water to be given in doses of two or three tablespoon fuls every 

 two hours. It might also be used in enema. Bismuth, pepsin, 

 muriatic acid, gentian and ammonia proved of no avail. 

 17 



