180 DISEASES OF THE INTESTINES 



(h) The normal contents of the bowels contain numerous 

 varieties of organisms, which under abnormal conditions 

 may multiply sufficiently or increase in virulence as to 

 bee me pathogenic, producing diarrhea. 



(i) Various specific organisms (coccidia, etc.) produce 

 diarrhea. They will be considered under the diseases caused 

 by them. 



Symptoms.— The clinical symptoms of diarrhea depend 

 largely upon the part of the intestine affected and the nature 

 of the causative agent. When due to errors in feeding and 

 the upper part of the intestine is involved, diarrhea may not 

 occur if the posterior bowels remain normal. In diarrhea the 

 discharges from the bowels consist of portions of undigested 

 food, mucus, etc., and are yellowish or greenish in color, 

 due in part to unchanged bile or to pigment derived from 

 fermentation. Excessive acidity, which has not been suffi- 

 ciently neutralized in the small intestines, may produce 

 inflammation in the lower bowel, due to its irritant action 

 upon the mucous membrane. In cases where both the small 

 and the large bowels are involved the discharges are more 

 abundant and liquid. The feces will be very thin and of a 

 yellowish or a dark brown color. When the large bowel is 

 particularly affected, the animal shows frequent attempts 

 at defecation, and only a small amount of feces and blood 

 mixed with quantities of mucus will be passed. 



In the more severe forms of diarrhea colicky pains are 

 often observed and in some cases the pain becomes intense. 

 There are frequent attempts at defecation, and tenesmus 

 is not unusual. When severe diarrhea is present it frequently 

 produces extreme prostration and in cats complete collapse. 

 The extremities become cold, the mucous membranes at 

 first pale, later cyanotic and every evidence of extreme 

 weakness appears. 



The temperature as a rule becomes subnormal; however, in 

 the very early stages it is often elevated one or two degrees. 



The severity of the symptoms and the course depend very 

 largely upon the causative agents producing the diarrhea. 

 In mild cases it lasts only a few hours; in the severe forms 

 several davs. 



