174 CLINICAL DIAGNOSTICS. 



Acute Intestinal Catarrh. Usually febrile and attended with 

 diarrhea; feces of bad odor and frequently fermenting. Icterus 

 and bile pigments in urine common symptoms. 



Constipation. Cause, as a rule, in the rectum. Defecation 

 retarded, animals make frequent unsuccessful attempts, tail 

 elevated. Abdomen frequently bloated; palpation reveals impac- 

 tion of rectum, painful upon pressure. Digital exploration reveal- 

 ing presence of hard fecal masses. 



Foreign Bodies in the Intestines. Frequently situated anterior 

 to the ileo-cecal valve. Vomiting, complete loss of appetite, ab- 

 sence of fever. Object can usually be located by careful palpation 

 of pelvic region. Caution: Do not confuse with kidneys, especially 

 in cat. 



e. Diseases of the Peritoneum, 



Acute Peritonitis. Usually secondary, following rupture or 

 perforation of intestine, perforation of abscesses or extension of 

 inflammation of adjacent organs; symptoms therefore not charac- 

 teristic. Symptoms of colic, stiff gait, looking at the flank, groan- 

 ing. Marked depression, staring look, moderate to high fever. Mu- 

 cous membranes reddened. Pulse, rapid, small, soft. Respiration 

 short, superficial, frequent. No appetite for food or water, ab- 

 dominal muscles contracted, painful; peristalsis suspended, some- 

 times diarrhea as death approaches. Defecation and urination 

 retarded, painful. Death often following after a few hours. 



Chronic Peritonitis. In horses, symptoms of colic and fever, 

 irregular appetite and emaciation. In cattle and dogs colic symp- 

 toms absent, but pain upon palpation, presence of exudates. 



Traumatic Inflammation of Stomach and Diaphragm in Cattle. 

 Indigestion of sudden appearance without apparent cause. Ani- 

 mals show disinclination to lie down, stand in stiff position, are 

 very careful when rising and don't stretch. Expression of eyes 

 indicating pain. Surface temperature irregularly distributed, bod- 

 ily temperature elevated. Pulse accelerated and hard. Respira- 

 tion rather retarded, groaning and manifestations of pain. No 

 appetite for food or drink, rumination suspended. Pressure on the 

 right side, sixth and seventh ribs, painful. Milk secretion de- 

 creased. 



f. Infectious Diseases with Localization 

 in the Digestive Tract. 



Rinderpest is a readily transmissible, acute infectious disease, 

 of cattle. It usually takes a fatal course. Period of incubation 

 6-7 days. High temperature is the first symptom. Eyelids swol- 

 len, conjunctiva very red, respiration difficult, dirty yellowish nasal 

 discharge, nasal mucous membrane reddened in spots, cough, 

 moist rales, frequently interstitial pulmonary emphysema and cu- 

 taneous emphysema; complete loss of appetite, feces fluid, discol- 



