DISEASES OF THE INTESTIXES 



DIARRHEA. 



Definition.— This term is applied to a too frequent discharge 

 more or less fluid feces. The condition may vary greatly 

 small animals from a slight increase in the daily evacua- 

 ms to repeated evacuations of large quantities of liquid 

 ces. It is important to note that often repeated evacuations 

 small amounts of liquid feces may occur even when an 

 :tual obstruction of the bowels (fecal impaction) exists. 

 Etiology.— The essential condition in diarrhea is an abnor- 

 al increase of fluid in the feces. The causes, therefore, will 

 : found to be those which occasion a rapid evacuation of the 

 >wel contents, or a reduction in the absorption from the 

 )wels; or an oversupply of fluid in the bowels either from 

 ie ingestion of large quantities of water or any over- 

 >undant secretion from the mucous membrane. 

 Normally the contents of the small bowels are fluid. They 

 iss from the stomach to the large bowels in a few hours, 

 he contents of the large bowels become gradually hardened 

 om the absorption of the watar during their passage through 

 lis part of the intestinal tract, which requires in small 

 limals, from twelve to twenty hours. Any conditions 

 lerefore that hasten the movements of the contents through 

 Le large bowels would tend to make the feces softer or liquid, 

 he same result may occur from a variety of conditions which 

 sturb the process of absorption and keep the feces in a liquid 

 ate. Occasionally conditions that influence the absorption 

 om the mucous membrane, such as irritations of various 

 nds, at the same time excite the secretion of considerable 

 lantities of fluids. These same agents may also increase 

 ;ristalsis and thus hurry the contents through the bowels, 

 he most common causes of diarrhea therefore are: (a) 

 rinking excessive quantities of water or eating large quan- 

 ties of fat meat, lard, or butter will result in diarrhea. The 

 labsorbed fat or its decomposition in the intestinal tract 

 its as an irritant and greatly increases intestinal activity. 

 (b) Foods will sometimes produce diarrhea by their inci- 

 ting action on the mucous membrane. Such substances 

 : table scraps containing fruit stones, parings, or fish, 



