GASTRO-ENTEBITIS 123 



symptoms appear. In isolated cases the disease may take a 

 subacute course, and end in recovery in one to six weeks. 

 In the ox an ordinary gastro-intestinal catarrh may after 

 one to two weeks suddenly assume the form of a gastro- 

 enteritis terminating fatally in forty-eight hours. Swine offer 

 more resistance than do horses or cattle. 



Prognosis.— Unfavorable to bad. Fully 90 per cent, of the 

 patients attacked die. 



Treatment. — ^No food should be given during the attack. 

 In subacute cases gruels (flaxseed tea) may be allowed. The 

 patient should be kept dry and warm by frequent skin rubs 

 and warm, dry blankets. Careful nursing is essential. 



The medicinal treatment is symptomatic and of secondary 

 importance. Mild laxatives may be used in the early stages 

 (calomel in horses 5j; and hogs grs. x; Glauber salts in 

 cattle, castor oil) . Strong purges should be avoided (arecalin 

 eserin, aloes) . Slimy, mucilaginous agents (linseed tea, gum 

 arabic) are indicated. They are usually used as vehicles for 

 opium (powdered opiima 5ij, tinct. opii 5ss to j) or bella- 

 donna (fluidextract 3j)- Opium (3ij) combined with calo- 

 mel (3ij), and powdered althea (giij) in the form of an 

 electuary is useful. Morphin (grs. iij to v) may be employed 

 subcutaneously to lessen pain. 



Gastro-intestinal disinfectants, creolin (Bj), therapogen 

 (gij to iv), sodium salicylate (3ij to iij) or " sulphocarbo- 

 lates," i. e., sodii phenolsulphonas (3ij to 5j), zinci phenol- 

 sulphonas (3j to iv) are often used, but are of little value 

 except when the bowel is still intact. They may be even 

 harmful in enteritis. 



In weakness and collapse, oil of camphor (Bj) subcuta- 

 neously, alcohol (Bij), ether (Bij), caffein (5ij)_are indicated. 



Subcutaneous, intravenous, or rectal injections of sterile 

 physiological salt solution to which 2 to 3 per cent, of grape 

 sugar has been added are reliable. The dose is H. & C. 

 Oviij to X. Calves and colts Oiv, swine Oij. 



Croupous Enteritis. Membranous Enteritis. — ^Definition. — 

 A subacute enteritis, usually of cattle, characterized patho- 

 logically by the formation of a fibrinous pseudomembrane 

 over the mucosa of the intestines. 



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