Diseases of the Digestvve Organs^ 249 



the bowels inactive, accompanying this \>j hot fomentations 

 and counter-irritants. 



In case of improvement feed linseed or oatmeal gruels, 

 boiled linseed, or very sloppy bran mashes only, and in 

 small amount, for several days. If the bowels continue 

 confined give four or five ozs. olive-oil, or three or four ozs. 

 Glauber salts once or twice a day. 



l&vit pr'evention is especially to be sought in such a rapidly 

 fatal disease. Regularity and sufiicient frequency of feeding, 

 in moderate quantities at a time and of good quality, and a 

 gradual instead of a sudden change of diet, are important. 

 "When new hay or grain, or heating agents like maize or 

 wheat are fed, one feed daily should be replaced by a sloppy 

 bran mash, or one or two ounces of common or Glauber salts 

 added. Avoid full draughts of cold or iced water when 

 sweating and exhausted, and of any water after a meal of 

 grain. 



ACtTTE MUCO-ENTEEITIS. 



All the domestic animals are subject to this form of in- 

 flammation, chiefly of the mucous membrane of the bowels. 

 The causes ai-e mainly the same as those of hsemorrhagic 

 enteritis acting on a less susceptible subject, or with lessened 

 force. These may be named exposure, sudden extreme 

 changes of weather, coarse, drj^, fibrous, musty or otherwise 

 irritant indigestible food, abrupt changes of diet, impure, 

 stagnant or putrid water, too much water after feeding, or 

 iced water when fatigued and perspiring, drastic or oft- 

 I'epeated purgatives, suppressed perspiration, sand in the 

 food, parasites and the various mechanical obstructions (cal- 

 culi, impactions, invaginations, hernia). Cattle, sheep and 

 swine especially suffer during the vicissitudes and extremes 

 of spring, summer and autumn, and the latter from want 

 of water to drink and wallow in. Ewes in lamb in New 

 York perish in great numbers when fed grain. Best con- 

 fine to clover hay. Succulent roots or fruits may be 

 given judiciously. Among dogs the young sufPer most and 

 those kept on animal food, or that bathe in rivers when 



