88 



DISEASES OF THE DIGESTIVE APPARATUS. 



localization of the catarrh. In a few cases it is altogether normal,, 

 but ordinarily it is clearer and more transparent, as in acute in- 

 testinal catarrh. It is almost always of an alkaline reaction ; we 

 have often witnessed this fact, which is pointed out by Albrecht. 

 Siedamgrotzky and Hofmeister^ have found it of acid reaction, 

 which must without doubt be ascribed to the exacerbations of the 

 chronic process, or to a special affection of the small intestine. The 

 proportion of indican and phosphates is sometimes increased. In 

 some cases we have observed albuminuria. 



Albrecht has found crystals of oxalate of calcium in the urine of 

 horses having intestinal catarrh for a long time, which disappeared 

 with the chronic catarrh ; he has wrongly considered this fact as a 

 valuable data from a therapeutic standpoint ; these crystals belong, 

 in fact, to the composition of normal urine, and their appearance in 

 more considerable quantities is sometimes the result of trifling ex- 

 terior conditions (such as standing for some time in any receptacle 

 or vessel, etc.). 



When the disease is old we find serious interference with nutri- 

 tion. The animals lose flesh and perspire easily, even in the stable; 

 the mucous membranes are pale and of a yellowish color ; the hair 

 is dull and bristly ; the puL'^e small, the contractions of the heart 

 muscle are weak, irregular, and often intermittent. According to 

 Roll, the existence of follicular ulceration is commonly produced by 

 the symptoms just mentioned, but mainly by refractory diarrhea, 

 or by constipation with meteorism, both accompanied by colics ; at 

 times symptoms of acute enteritis and fever complicate the trouble. 

 However, as the Vienna professor observes, these symptoms are far 

 from beino; characteristic of chronic follicular ulceration. 



Duration and termination. The duration of catarrh varies 

 with the causes which have provoked it, the possibility of removing 

 them, and the extent and intensity of the disease. When it is 

 caused by coarse, improper alimentation, it is easy to obtain a cure. 

 When there are ulcerations of the mucous membrane, which are 

 of themselves serious enough to maintain the catarrh, the disease 

 is always of long duration. We see horses attacked by chronic 

 gastro-intestinal catarrh continue to perform their work for y^ars, 

 but their strength and weight decrease progressively, and exacerba- 

 tions are not rare when the morbid condition is thus prolonged. 

 These animals are generally brought to the veterinarian at the time 



1 Siedamgrotzky and Hofmeister: Sachs. Jahresber., 1876. 



