324 



SASTEITIS. 



season. Eegarding the disease, however, in its broadest charac- 

 ter, that is without reference to it strictly as an epizootic, I 

 may describe it as consisting of an inflammation of the villus 

 membrane of the stomach, presenting three phases of develop- 

 ment, viz. — as acute, sub-acute, and chronic Gastritis. The 

 acute form may pass into the sub-acute ; or the disease may 

 commence as the sub-acute and become acute ; or either of 

 them may become chronic. 



Symptoms oi" Acute Q-asteitis. — This form of the disease 

 is generally present during the hot months of the year. The 

 attack is sudden, and often appears in animals at grass, as well 

 as amongst those which are at work and fed upon green food in 

 the stable. 



The earliest symptoms are unsteadiness of the gait : the 

 animal reels and staggers as though drunk ; the countenance is 

 dull and stupid looking, and the horse appears to those in 

 attendance as though only half conscious. As the disease 

 proceeds this unconsciousness becomes more marked ; the 

 ■ patient falls to the ground, and there remains, to all appear- 

 ance, completely powerless ; the eyes either present a staring, 

 fixed look, or the eyelids are closed ; the pulse is generally 

 slow and heaving ; and the breathing slow and deep. Some- 

 times, however, the pulse is quick and irritable, and the breath- 

 ing hurried ; the bowels are constipated, and the urine scanty. 

 In this state the patient may remain for several days, and then 

 (if properly treated) recover ; or the unconsciousness and ina- 

 bility to rise may not continue more than a few hours. 



Symptoms us the Sub-aoute State. — " The symptoms,'' 

 (to adopt the description given by Blaine,) " frequently first 

 observed, are of a lethargic character ; the horse dozes ; takes 

 little notice of anything around him ; and he will be found often 

 eating slowly, or alternately masticating and dozing. As the 



