ACUTE CATARRH OF THE STOMACH. 55 



is sewa up at oace. The external wound is to be left open and filled up 

 with a tampon of oakum and a bandage carried around the neck to keep it 

 in place, and to be changed daily (see treatment of wounds) ; the bandage 

 must be carefully fixed so that the animal will not injure the wound by 

 scratching it, and must be kept from all food for at least thirty-six hours. 

 These wounds heal up very rapidly, and it is seldom that there is any con- 

 sequent stricture of the oesophagus or a fistulse. 



We have also ia very rare instaaces an inflammation of the 

 oesophagus (oesophagitis), with or without any ulceration. In the 

 latter case it is due to the irritation of caustic poisons or the lacera- 

 tion of foreign bodies going down the tube. This is best treated 

 with lubricating oils, almond or sweet oil. We may see occasion- 

 ally a constriction of the oesophagus (stenosis oesophagi) or a dila- 

 tation (ektasie and divertikel), but these conditions are impossible 

 to improve by any surgical means that we know of at present. 



DISEASES OP THE STOMACH. 



Acute Catarrh of the Stomach. 

 {Gastritis Catarrhalis Acuta; Gastrieismus ; Acute Dyspepsia.) 



Etiology. The following are generally the causes of this dis- 

 ease : hot, fermenting, or decaying alimentary matter; overfeed- 

 ing ; foreign bodies, such as sand, stones, buttons, splinters of 

 wood ; and indigestible food, and also parasites. As regards toxic 

 gastritis, that will be taken up later on. We find also that some 

 diseases, such as distemper and some affections of the liver, have 

 acute gastritis accompanying them. It is a (question if acute 

 catarrh of the stomach is developed from simple cold. 



Pathological Anatomy. The mucous membranes of the 

 stomach are hyperaemic and swollen ; the folds of the membrane 

 are distended and covered with a thick, tenacious mucus. At 

 times there are seen small, hemorrhagic erosions, but often the 

 acute symptoms of intense catarrh are not seeu on post-mortem. 



Clinical Symptoms. The first symptom of acute catarrh is 

 loss of appetite. The animal will be very dainty or pick out cer- 

 tain pieces, generally meat, and eat them very slowly, or, as is gen- 

 erally seen, refuse food altogether. The animal is always very 

 thirsty, drinking large quantities of water. The animal vomits 



