DIGESTIVE SY8TBJI 109 



2'oxic Gastritis, Gastro-Enteritis, Enteritis 



A variety of conditions have been grouped under this heading, 

 but this number fortunately is becoming less as more exact investi- 

 gations are being concluded. It is difficult to clearly distinguish 

 between toxic gastric, toxic gastro-intestinal, and toxic intestinal 

 conditions, and as a matter of common observation it has been found 

 that substances that ordinarily produce toxic gastritis have not 

 spent their entire force in the stomach, and thus continue their 

 action in the intestines. On the other hand, few if any substances 

 are toxic in the intestine that are not also toxic in the stomach. It 

 is convenient to discuss these conditions under poisoning. 



POISONING 



Sodium CMorid {Common Salt) 



Posioning from common salt is rather common. Swine may obtain 

 salt in cattle yards, or it may be incorporated in garbage. Meat 

 brine is a frequent source of salt poisoning and is very destructive, 

 as, unfortunately, swine appear to relish it. Brine poisoning is 

 not only due to the contained salt, but also to other ingredients. 

 Poisoning by herring brine produces, in addition to toxic gastro- 

 enteritis, cerebral disturbances very similar to ptomaine poisoning. It 

 has been found that from two to eight ounces of salt produce pois- 

 oning in swine, and in some instances much smaller quantities are 

 fatal. 



Lesions. — Sodium chlorid is an intense gastro-intestinal irritant, 

 particularly when in a concentrated solution. In the beginning the 

 mucous membrane of the stomach will be intensely congested. This 

 is followed by hemorrhages upon the mucous membrane, and in- 

 flammatory disturbances. If absorption is retarded the stomach and 

 bowel content will contain large quantities of blood. The mucous 

 membrane of the bladder will be engorged, and similar lesions may 

 be observed in the meninges. 



Symptoms. — Intense thirst, inappetence, restlessness, and vomition 

 are usually the first symptoms evidenced. Later there will be watery 

 diarrhea, frequent urination, depressed heart action, muscular weak- 

 ness, and paralysis. The animals may die within five or six hours 

 after ingesting the salt, or they may not die until the second or 

 third day; if the quantity consumed has been small, they may 

 survive. 



