CHRONIC GASTRO-INTESTINAL CATARRH OF THE OX. 103 



tains stercoral matters which are quite dry and dark-colored ; its 

 mucous membrane is much coated. When chronic catarrh is com- 

 plicated with phlegmonous enteritis or peritonitis, we observe alter- 

 ations which are proper to the latter diseases. 



The biliary vesicle as a rule is swollen by thickened bile. The 

 liver presents various conditions of icterus by resorption. 



All the secondary alterations — as those of the lungs, the brain, 

 the right heart, and the venous system — are the results of blood 

 stagnation. 



Differential diagnosis. Chronic gastro-intestinal catarrh may 

 be confounded with acute catarrh or with enteritis; the progress of 

 the disease, however, gives one exact information. Chronic peri- 

 tonitis caused by foreign bodies is hard to distinguish from chronic 

 catarrh ; but these two morbid conditions frequently coexist ; one 

 happens as a complication of the other. If in certain cases the 

 diagnosis can be made by taking the evolution of the disease into 

 consideration as well as the accidents accompanying it (such as 

 symptoms of heart disease, or the existence of a foreign body that 

 has perforated the stomach), there are others where the nature of 

 the disease is only discovered at the autopsy. The intermittent 

 swellings which are observed in chronic catarrh may lead us to 

 diagnosticate a chronic or acute tympanites; but meteorism, what- 

 ever may be its form, does not produce the symptoms observed in 

 catarrh. 



Lastly, chronic gastro- intestinal catarrh may be confounded with 

 contagious pleuro-pneumonia of slow evolution ; here also we find 

 emaciation, digestive and nutritive troubles, etc. However, the 

 careful examination of the chest, and exploration of the abdominal 

 cavities, permit us to make the diagnosis in the great majority of 

 cases. 



Prognosis. The prognosis varies with the intensity, extent, and 

 duration of the catarrh, also with the nature of the causes which 

 have produced it and the possibility of removing them. In gen- 

 eral, it must be formulated with reserve. It is of a very serious 

 nature when the disease lasts more than two or three weeks, when 

 constipation persists obstinately for several days, also when the 

 peristaltic movements and rumination have stopped altogether. In 

 all these cases, killing the animal is often preferable to treatment. 



Treatment. The number of recognized remedies is considerable. 

 We shall only speak of the most useful. 



