100 DISEASES OF THE DIGESTIVE APPARATUS 



stomach and intestine. Some tiave even gone so far as to apply 

 this name to bovine pest/' because so-called obstruction of the 

 third gastric compartment is often observed in this disease. The 

 third stomach is exceptionally the seat of a true obstruction — that 

 is to say, as far as presenting a material obstacle to the progress of 

 the alimentary matter. Harms has observed but one case. We 

 must, therefore, discard the old expression, obstruction of the third 

 stomach.'' Localized chronic catarrh has sometimes been found 

 upon the mucous membrane of the third stomach ; but, limited to 

 this organ, it is extremely rare, if compared with the same affection 

 relating to the rumen, the abomasum, or the intestine, and even 

 catarrh of the stomach is in most cases but a complication of catarrh 

 of the rumen. It would be absolutely illusory to attempt to de- 

 scribe separately catarrh of the rumen, of the reticulum, of the 

 third stomach (omasum), of the rennet (abomasum), or of the intes- 

 tine, and we have preferred to comprise them under one designation 

 only, that of chronic gastro-intestinal catarrh. 



Btiolog-y. All causes apt to provoke acute catarrh may also 

 determine chronic catarrh when acting in a lessened degree for a 

 long time. This may also be the result of defective or neglected 

 treatment in acute catarrh. 



Among the most common causes which produce it are : 



1. Imperfect mastication of the food due to the irregularity of 

 the dental tables. 



2. Adhesions of the paunch and reticulum consecutive to a cir- 

 cumscribed peritonitis. 



3. Compression of the œsophagus by neoplasms interfering with 

 rumination. 



4. The tumors of the various gastric compartments (scirrhus, 

 sarcoma of the abomasum, papillary vegetations of the orifice of 

 communication of the reticulum with the third stomach, etc.). 



5. Diaphragmatic hernia of the abomasum. 



6. The foreign bodies introduced into the stomach or intestine 

 (pointed bodies, segagropilse, stercoral balls, etc.) ; contractions of the 

 intestine. 



7. Blood-stasis in the intestinal mucous membrane, caused by 

 chronic diseases of the liver, lungs, or heart. 



8. Pressure of the gravid uterus upon the rumen, and weakness 

 of the peristaltic movements of the rumen (Anacker). 



Chronic gastro-intestinal catarrh may also be the result of deep- 



