GASTROINTESTINAL CATARRH OF THE OX 117 



duration), traumatic indigestion (pain over region of dia- 

 phragm, Evidence of peritonitis, heart symptoms), and such 

 other diseases to which catarrh of the stomach and bowel 

 is secondary (Johne's disease, tuberculosis, tumors, adhesions, 

 chronic metritis, pyelonephritis, rabies). 



Course. — Mild acute attacks usually last only three or 

 four days. More severe cases persist for one or two weeks, 

 recovery following a copious discharge of feces. Or death 

 from gastric enteritis may ensue. Chronic cases hang on, as 

 a rule, for several weeks. There may be exacerbations and 

 remissions but generally the disease makes persistent progress 

 toward a fatal termination. 



Prognosis. — The prognosis depends upon the possibility 

 of removing the cause and the severity of the case. If the 

 rumen is filled with indigestible food which is solidly impacted 

 or if serious inflammation of the walls of the digestive tract 

 has developed, the prognosis is grave. While acute cases, 

 provided gastro-enteritis does not set in, usually recover, 

 chronic cases usually die. 



Treatment.— The task confronting the practitioner is to : 



1. Promote the movements of the paunch and stimulate 

 rumination. 



2. To arrest the fermentation of the stagnant food masses. 



3. To relieve the resulting impaction of the omasum and 

 the constipation of the bowels. 



Hygienic. — Food should be withheld or restricted (muzzle) 

 for a few days in acute cases. Kneading the walls of the 

 abdomen five to ten minutes every three hours or three times 

 daily is helpful. Keep salt and plenty of water accessible. 

 If food is given it should be easily digestable and laxative 

 (fresh grass, bran gruels, fine hay, root crops). 



Medicinal. — To stimulate paunch movements and to 

 relieve constipation laxative drugs are indicated. The rule 

 should be to employ the milder drugs of this sort first; at 

 any rate, drastic purges should be avoided. As physics, 

 oil and salts do little good in obstinate cases. In mild attacks 

 Glauber salts (g xxiv) and raw linseed oil (Oiss) are effective. 

 More active is castor oil (5 xxiv) in equal volume of warm 

 water. Ether (gij) may be added to the mixture. The 



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