INTESTINAL IRRITATION. 
393 
and have been surprised to find that the contents of the 
whole of the alimentary canal were completely fluid, although 
constipation existed during life. 
The treatment consists of the administration of powerful 
diffusible stimulants, such as Spts. Eth. Nit. or Ether. Rectif. 
and Spt. Ammon. Aromat. with Ol. Lini and Extract of 
Belladonna, in the form of draught, which seldom fails to 
give relief. I, however, generally throw up an enema of 
warm water, and if the pain should continue, I find great 
benefit from tobacco-smoke enemas. If required, a second 
draught is given in about half an hour. 
From frequent observations, I am quite persuaded that 
this abdominal irritation is purely sympathetic, and consists of 
a spasmodic action of the peritoneal coat of the intestines ; 
and I am further persuaded of the fact, that, in most cases, 
the pleura is involved, more or less, constituting influenza. 
I do not offer these few imperfect remarks as being some- 
thing new, for I believe other practitioners see similar cases 
frequently ; but with what success they are treated by them 
I am not aware. 
I commenced the treatment of these cases as ordinary 
spasmodic colic, giving Tinct. Opii, and Solution of Aloes 
with Nitric Ether, but I soon found that the aloes, although 
in small doses, together with the opium, was productive of 
more harm than good, not causing the least mitigation of 
the symptoms. Contrariwise, the pulse increased in number, 
and became weaker, coma soon came on, the pain subsided, 
and the animal dropped down lifeless. I have been greatly 
astonished to see the manner in which the pulse has risen, 
and become quite imperceptible, in so short a time. 
In the cases I have seen, the following were the post-mortem 
appearances. The abdominal viscera, in most instances, espe- 
cially the peritoneal covering, quite black and congested, the 
blood having escaped without the walls of some of the vessels 
in the mesentery ; the contents of the intestines mostly fluid 
throughout their whole extent ; the liver congested, and the 
kidneys softened and easily broken down. The blood-vessels 
contain black coagulated blood ; black patches are observed 
on the external surface of the stomach ; the lungs are con- 
gested, and sometimes portions are hepatized, showing the 
length of time the disease has been going on. The lining 
membrane of the chest and the covering of the lungs are 
often thickened, opaque, and rough, with effusion of water 
within the cavity of the chest to a greater or less extent, and 
sometimes within the pericardium; the lining membrane of the 
trachea is black and congested, and in some so much so as 
