CHRONIC OASTBO-INTESTINAL CATARRH IN THE HORSE. 89' 



of one of these exacerbations, for the disease characterized by these 

 common symptoms almost always. remain unobserved. There are 

 cases where the weakness and emaciation progress much more rapidly ; 

 the patients become almost incapable of performing any service, and 

 they die in a condition of marasmus in a relatively short time. 



Chronic embolic catarrh, the course of which is often interrupted 

 by attacks of colic, produces in the end circumscribed necrosis of the 

 intestine and death (see Enteritis). 



Treatment. The most important indications for the treatment 

 of this disease are, in the main, the same as given for acute gastro- 

 intestiual catarrh. The cause has to be sought, and a proper 

 dietetic regimen has to be observed; this is the basis of the rational 

 treatment. Deteriorated or indigestible aliment must be avoided ; 

 only food of good quality should be given ; it must be administered 

 often and in small quantities at a time ; the work of the animals 

 must be carefully regulated ; the dental surfaces must be attended 

 to; old animals should receive crushed oats, etc. Unfortunately, in 

 the majority of cases, circumstances render the application of these 

 measures extremely difficult. 



[The best results are to be obtained in these cases by a strict 

 regulation of the diet and the administration of easily-digested food. 

 The oats should be prepared by scalding, boiling, or steaming, and 

 allowing them to stand for twelve hours before feeding ; the 

 ration to consist of two parts of steamed oats, one part of bran, 

 and one part of malted barley. Care must be taken to prevent the 

 patient from obtaining such food as would be irritating and indi- 

 gestible. Therapeutic treatment by the administration of drugs is 

 always unsatisfactory. — w. L. z.] 



Medication occupies only a second place in the therapeutics of 

 chronic catarrh. Hydrochloric acid in moderate doses (10 to 15 

 grammes) has rendered good service. 



Alkalines play the principal part. We may give either table 

 salt (sodium chloride) in small doses for a long time (half a table- 

 spoonful at every meal), or carbonate or bicarbonate of soda in 

 doses of 5 grammes. Sulphate of soda is equally good (30 to 50 

 grammes). We prescribe ordinarily these three agents in the shape 

 of artificial Carlsbad salts : 



R. — Sulphate of soda 100 grammes. 



Chloride of sodium 50 



BicarboBate of soda ....... 10 " 



Make a watery solution. Dose, a dessertspoonful at each meal. 



