ON THE DISORDERS OF THE DIGESTIVE APPARATUS. 119 



matters for which it is not naturally adapted, but to which 

 it has become habituated. But this perversion of func- 

 tion predisposes to disease, generally, however, of the 

 lining membrane only. Symptoms develope gradually as 

 those of indigestion, such as depraved appetite, a ten- 

 dency to lick cool things, thirst, and frequent vomition. 

 Fever subsequently sets in and the sickness is persistent. 

 The animal tries to find a cool place to lie down on, pants 

 severely, moans or whines frequently, and stretches him- 

 self out so that he can lie with his belly against the 

 ground. There is pain on pressure over the stomach, 

 and heat is distinctly perceptible. The tongue is espe- 

 cially dirty and foul in this disorder, and occasionally 

 there is vomiting of blood (haematemesis) . Treatment. — 

 Good nursing is urgently required, frequent draughts of 

 cool mucilaginous drinks with small doses of alkalies and 

 sedatives. Poultices and free fomentation, or mustard 

 plasters to the belly, and a free access to cold water for 

 drinking. We shall hereafter mention some of the more 

 frequent poisons and the manner in which their special 

 effects may be counteracted. After resolution has set in, 

 a course of alkalies and tonics will prove beneficial, and 

 the greatest care must be exercised with a view to giving 

 the animal's food only in small quantities at a time, and 

 in a readily digestible form. 



Ulcer in the Stomach is occasionally seen as an indica- 

 tion of malnutrition, and thus it may be a sequela of dis- 

 temper or may depend on starvation and imprisonment in 

 a dark, damp, unhealthy place. I have several times 

 observed it under the latter conditions, and it is sometimes 

 associated with ulceration of the cornea, identical in nature 

 and causes. 



Gastric Fistula. — It is rather a favourite operation 

 with physiologists to artificially induce a direct communi- 

 cation between the stomach cavity and the surface. It 

 can be done in most cases with impunity, and valuable 

 conclusions as to the physiology of gastric digestion have 

 thus been arrived at. The patient lives and enjoys him- 

 self with the trochar extending through the abdominal' 



