GASTRO-INTESTINAL fiATARRH OF THE HORSE 105 



Symptoms. — Gastric Symptoms. — Impaired, lost or capri- 

 cious appetite. In some cases the appetite is vitiateci (eat 

 unnatural things). The patients drink little water. Ten- 

 dency to yawn and vomiting is rare. The mucous membranes 

 are "muddy," discolored, those of the mouth often coated 

 with soapsuds-like foam. The expirium is sweetish, nauseat- 

 ing. The pulse, respirations and temperatiu-e are usually 

 little affected in primary cases. The patient is languid, lazy, 

 sweats and tires easily when at work. 



Intestinal Symptoms. — If the stomach is not involved 

 appetite may be normal. If diarrhea exist there is great 

 thirst. The peristalsis is lively and the borborygmus may 

 be audible quite a distance from the patient. Colicky pains 

 especially after eating or drinking. Dung passed at first 

 in small, hard, mucus covered pellets, later softer (cow dung 

 consistency) and finally diarrhea, the discharges very fiuid 

 and fetid. Anal flatus is frequent, loud and fetid. Some 

 patients are sensitive to palpation over region of small 

 bowels. Icterus appears if duodenum is involved. Urine 

 is acid; indican increased. In chronic cases on account 

 of the irreparable connective tissue thickening of the bowel 

 mucous membrane and the atrophy of the glands the nutri- 

 tion of the organism suffers. The patient loses flesh, the 

 abdomen becomes "tucked up," the hair coat dull, long 

 and erect, the skin "scurfy," harsh, inelastic and leather- 

 like ("hide bound"). Anemia, emaciation, cachexia appear 

 toward the end. Vertigo and symptoms of immobility 

 appear in some cases. 



Course and Prognosis. — Acute gastro-intestinal catarrh 

 usually heals in three to seven days if the case is properly 

 handled. It rarely becomes chronic. Chronic cases, how- 

 ever, with frequent exacerbations and remissions, last for 

 months and finally lead to death from inanition. The prog- 

 nosis in acute cases in very young or very old patients is 

 less favorable. The mortaUty is about 1 per cent. Chronic 

 catarrhs are much more serious and especially in old horses 

 with bad teeth and where a prolonged treatment with 

 regulation of the diet is not feasible, usually end in death. 



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