138 



DISEASES OF THE DIGESTIVE APPARATUS. 



•extraction of the foreign body, intestinal suture, then simple suture 

 of the external wound), must encourage practitioners in undertaking 

 -this operation.^ 



GASTRO-INTESTINAL CATARRH OF THE PIG. 



Etiology. Gastro-intestinal catarrh of the pig is derived from 

 the same causes as that of the dog. Being an omnivorous animal, 

 the pig is often given food of bad quality, which is spoiled or poorly 

 prepared, which may determine gastro-intestinal catarrh in them as 

 well as in our other domestic animals. At certain seasons the dis- 

 ease takes an epizootic form ; it has been defined under the name 

 of infectious gastritis." As described by Busch, this affection is 

 frequent during rainy years and in all pigs going to the fields. It 

 has been ascribed to dampness, colds, and to the neglect to which 

 these animals are subjected ; also to the ingestion of excessive quan- 

 tities of snails, worms, etc. 



Symptoms. The principal symptoms are inappétence, vomit- 

 ings, colics, constipation or diarrhea, a more or less intense fever, 

 the chilled condition of the extremities — mainly of the ears — dry- 

 ness and increased heat of the groin, the injected condition of the 

 mucous membranes ; the walk is painful and the tail hanging. If 

 the patients are kept inside they remain constantly lying down ; 

 they seek the corners and bury themselves in the litter. 



The affection ends in resolution or continues in a chronic form. 

 In this latter case it may lead to marasmus and death. 



Treatment. This is the same as for the dog ; we must, however, 

 select certain ways of giving the medicines in preference to others, 

 and use larger doses. In the pig drenches are very dangerous ; 

 they often produce pneumonia through a foreign body. We must 

 give the therapeutic agents as much as possible in the food, or in an 

 electuary form ; also in clysters, or in hypodermatic injections. 



In cases of overloading of the stomach we must, prior to any 

 other treatment, administer an emetic. We. have often resorted to 

 veratrine (0.03 gramme dissolved in 3 c.cm. of alcohol, with equal 

 parts of water) in hypodermatic injections ; vomiting is produced 

 within an hour. According to Feser the hydrochlorate of apomor- 

 phine is without effect. It is hard to administer white hellebore 



1 Félizet has twice practised successfully the operation of extraction of a foreign 

 body (a cork) which obstructed the intestine (Eevue Vét., 1877). — N. d. t. 



