Diseases of the Bowels. 79 
ENTERITIS, 
Or inflammation of the bowels, is a disease to which dogs, 
from its ordinary causes, are fortunately not very subject. 
Enteritis is rarely confined to one tissue, both peritoneal, 
muscular, and mucous are generally involved in the inflam- 
matory process. The latter is, however, in all instances, 
more particularly the seat of inflammation, and from the 
rapidity of its course seldom gives time for the others to be 
equally involved. 
Causes.—Protracted colic,exposure to damp and cold, es- 
pecially from lying on the earth or wet floor, intestinal 
obstruction from fzeces, foreign bodies, strangulation, or in- 
tus-susception, local irritation, or irritant poisons. 
Symptoms.—lIt is highly essential, in enteritis, that the 
practitioner should arrive at a correct diagnosis: in other 
words, that he should be able to distinguish it from other 
affections resembling it, more especially colic, with which 
it is most likely to be confounded. The usual cordials and 
stimulants given in the latter affection would be adding 
fuel to fire in enteritis, and speedily effect a fatal termina- 
tion. 
The pain in enteritis is continuous and extremely 
severe, and pressure to the abdomen greatly aggravates it, 
In colic the pain is intermittent, and pressure or friction to 
the abdomen affords considerable relief. 
In enteritis the visible mucous membranes are highly in- 
jected, thermometrical insertion per rectum shows con- 
siderable increase of temperature, and the pulse is increased 
in frequency and small. 
In colic there is no injection of the mucous membranes, 
no increase in temperature, and only slight acceleration of 
pulse and breathing during the spasm. Such may be con- 
sidered the leading diagnostic distinctions between the two 
diseases. 
The General Symptoms of enteritis are as follows: Its 
commencement is denoted by rigors, a dry hot nose, 
