ACUTE GASTRO-INTESTINAL CATARRH IN THE HORSE. 



71 



a diminution in the absorption of certain salts is a consequence of 

 this acidity. Fever diminishes the quantity of the intestinal secre- 

 tions, the qualities of which are also changed ; these modifications 

 give occasion to digestive troubles. 



13. Certain gases are formed in the csecum of the horse, provoked 

 by cellulose fermentation (CH^, CO2, SH2, H); these and also the 

 products of albumin decomposition (phenol, indol, skatol) are often 

 produced in excess in intestinal catarrh, colics, etc., and determine 

 symptoms of poisoning, or they are more abundantly eliminated 

 through the urine. 



14. The normal stay of alimentary matters in the intestines of 

 the horse is from three to four days. 



Etiology. Acute gastro-intestinal catarrh is a very frequent 

 disease in all our domestic species, and particularly in the horse ; 

 it may result from causes exerting a direct or an indirect action 

 upon the mucous membrane. Certain individuals have a predis- 

 position to it. These are weak, anemic, poorly fed and emaciated 

 subjects, very young and also old horses, animals recovering from 

 a serious disease, also those in poor condition from debilitating diet 

 consisting of a poor quality of food, and such as have previously 

 suffered from this disease, etc. In very fine and delicate thorough- 

 bred horses an attack may sometimes occur through the most trivial 

 causes. 



Among the direct irritations the action of which, influencing the 

 mucous membrane, may provoke catarrh may be mentioned : green 

 food, food and drinks that are very hot or that are covered with 

 frost or entirely frozen, soups, very hot malt and slops ; unclean 

 or decayed food and drinks, mouldy or slimy hay or oats, damp 

 straw and sour bread ; also alimentary matters going through any 

 description of fermentation or decomposition, such as potatoes, 

 turnips, fruit, grass, and germinating grains; finally, acid milk 

 in young sucklings. All irritating alimentary substances may 

 have the same bad influence, especially those containing poisonous 

 plants (colchicum, tobacco, digitalis, etc.). The abuse of acrid 

 medicines and purgatives, again, is harmful. Gastro-intestinal 

 catarrh may also be produced through substances hard to digest, 

 or altogether indigestible, as foreign bodies, ligneous fibres, elastic 

 tissue; exclusive alimentation of grain, or of leguminous grains, 

 which are of difficult digestion and frequently provoke a great 

 swelling of the stomach ; this- is also the case in poor mastication 



