196 DISEASES OF THE DIGESTIVE APPARATUS 



the agglomerated follicles constitute enlarged swellings of irregular 

 surface. When these cellulo-purulent infiltrations are disintegrated 

 follicular ulcerations are formed in their place, infundibuliform in 

 the case of the solitary follicles, which are net-like or areolar-shaped 

 at Peyer's patches. 



The submucous connective tissue is ordinarily injected or œdem- 

 atous ; we sometimes find a gelatinous or hemorrhagic infiltra- 

 tion which makes the mucous membrane appear considerably 

 thickened. In the csecum and colon of the horse this membrane 

 may have acquired the thickness of two or three inches. In some 

 cases the muscular wall is simply infiltrated with serum, in others 

 it is partially destroyed by the ulcerations. The serous membrane 

 is injected in varying degrees, and is covered up by an exudate. 

 The intestinal contents are of a variable consistence ; they may be 

 watery, serous, mucous, purulent, transparent, of a milky appear- 

 ance, or grayish, tinted red, mixed with epithelial flakes, with 

 fibrinous, bloody, or purulent clots ; sometimes they are almost 

 exclusively composed of blood. The mesenteric ganglions are 

 tumefied ; on section their tissue presents a marbled infiltration. 

 The liver and spleen are more or less markedly hyperemic. 



Symptoms. The manifestations of sporadic gastro-enteritis 

 succeed those of acute gastro-intestinal catarrh or are developed 

 from the onset. As soon as the disease is well established the 

 appetite is suppressed ; the pig and dog vomit frequently, the horse 

 and ox are affected by nausea. The buccal mucous membrane is 

 injected, dry, and rough ; thirst is intense, the ingestion of liquids 

 by the dog is ordinarily followed by vomiting. In all animals we 

 detect persistent colics, and at times rabiform symptoms in the dog. 

 Palpation of the stomach and abdomen is painful ; the abdominal 

 walls are distended, with or without swelling. The peristaltic 

 movements are suppressed. At the beginning constipation is ob- 

 stinate ; the patients make frequent and violent expulsive efforts • 

 the excrementitious matters are hard, of the shape of large chest- 

 nuts, and covered with mucus and blood ; later they become liquid, 

 they are sometimes mixed with pure blood (hemorrhagic enteritis) ; 

 in some exceptional cases they contain sloughs which are of a fetid 

 odor. In very serious cases a short time before death constipation 

 is replaced by an abundant diarrhea, and paralysis of the anal 

 sphincter is added to the intestinal complication. The urine con- 

 tains albumin ; that of the herbivora is acid (phosphates). 



