GASTRO-ENTERITIS 123 



G astro-enteritis may be secondary to many disorders of 

 the stomach and bowels, such as colic, helminthiasis (Strongy- 

 lus armatus inducing thrombi and emboli), latent bowel 

 ulcers following an attack of influenza or strangles, and more 

 rarely may be due to enteroliths. In the above-cited in- 

 stances usually the grave symptoms of severe inflammation 

 are preceded by milder symptoms of digestive disorder. 



Course. — The course is usually rapid, death occurring in 

 one to three days. Some patients die in a few hours after the 

 symptoms appear. In isolated cases the disease may take a 

 subacute course, and end in recovery in one to 1 six weeks. 

 In the ox an ordinary gastro-intestinal catarrh may after 

 one to two weeks suddenly assume the form of a gastro- 

 enteritis terminating fatally in forty-eight hours. Swine offer 

 more resistance than do horses or cattle. 



Prognosis.- — Unfavorable to bad. Fully 90 per cent, of the 

 patients attacked die. 



Treatment. — No food should be given during the attack. 

 In subacute cases gruels (flaxseed tea) may be allowed. The 

 patient should be kept dry and warm by frequent skin rubs 

 and warm, dry blankets. Careful nursing is essential. 



The medicinal treatment is symptomatic and of secondary 

 importance. Mild laxatives may be used in the early stages 

 (calomel in horses (3j) and hogs (gr. x), Glauber salts in 

 cattle, castor oil). Strong, purges should be avoided (arecalin 

 eserin, aloes) . Slimy, mucilaginous agents (linseed tea, gum 

 arabic) are indicated. They are usually used as vehicles for 

 opium (powdered opium 3ij, tinct. opii 5ss-j) or belladonna 

 (fluidextract 3j). Opium (3ij) combined with calomel (3ij), 

 and powdered althea (giij) in the form of an electuary is 

 useful. Morphin (gr. iij-v) may be employed subcutaneously 

 to lessen pain. 



Gastro-intestinal disinfectants, creolin (gj), therapogen 

 (gij-iv), sodium salicylate. (5 ij-iij) or "sulphocarbolates," 

 i. e., sodii phenolsulphonas (5ij— g j), zinci phenolsulphonas 

 (3 j-iv) are often used, but are of little value except when the 

 bowel is still intact. They may be even harmful in enteritis. 



In weakness and collapse, oil of camphor (Bj) subcuta- 

 neously, alcohol (gij), ether (gij), caffein (5ij).are indicated. 



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