Chronic Gastritis in Ruminanti. 171 



Dilatation of the stomach is not uncommon especially in old 

 horses, and then the mucosa may be attenuated and smooth. 



Hyperthermia may be present, but is so sligiit that inflamma- 

 tion cannot be predicated from it and it is difficult to establish a 

 diagnosis from chronic dyspepsia. 



Treatment. It is important to first correct any curable predis- 

 posing disorder, in teeth, jaws, salivary glands, blood, or internal 

 organs, to carefully regulate feeding, watering and work, to se- 

 cure as far as possible an outdoor life, and to employ bitter and 

 other tonics. All overexertion or fatigue must be carefully 

 avoided. The food may be as advised for the more acute affec- 

 tion. Costiveness may be best met by boiled flaxseed, or in case 

 of necessity by bran mashes, or green food. The irritation of the 

 stomach may be benefited by nitrate of bismuth (3 to4drs.). and 

 pepsin, and dilute muriatic acid with each meal are often of value. 

 Nux Vomica (10 to 25 grs. twice daily) will help to restore the 

 lost tone, and a current of electricity may be sent through the 

 epigastrium daily. As alternatives, sulphate of quinia or gentian 

 may replace the nux, and salol or salicylate of bismuth may take 

 the place of the nitrate. Bicarbonate of soda in ^ dr. doses, 

 common salt in yi. oz. doses, alid fennel in ^ oz. doses are some- 

 times useful in re-establishing gastric functions. 



CHRONIC GASTRITIS IN RUMINANTS. 



Causes : As in acute form, parasites, gravid womb, insufficient ration, 

 overwork, exhaustive milking, chronic diseases. Symptoms : deranged 

 appetite, rumination, pica, eructations, regurgitations, tympanies, colics 

 after feeding, coated dung, diarrhoea, fever, hot clammy mouth, sunken 

 eyes, small weak pulse, palpitations, emaciation, weakness, tender hypo- 

 chondrium. Lesions : hypertrophy of gastric mucosa, granular epithelium. 

 Treatment : tonic regimen, diet, green food, roots, sunshine, bismuth, salol, 

 strychnia, pepsin, muriatic acid, common salt, counterirritants. 



Causes. These are in the main the causes of the acute affec- 

 tion. There may, however, be special persistent factors like 

 parasites (strongylus contortus and filicollis, spiroptera) in the 

 stomach, the pressure of a gravid womb, an alimentation deficient 



