Enteritis

Categories: Diseases and their Remedies

This is an inflammation of the external or internal coat of the

intestines, sometimes attended with violent purging, especially when it

is confined to the internal coats. Oxen in good condition are more

subject to this disease than are cows. It most frequently occurs in dry,

hot weather. It is sudden in its attacks, and often fatal in its

termination.



Symptoms.--The animal is dull, and not disposed to mov about; the

muzzle is dry, and the coat staring; the animal yields, on pressure of

the loins; a weak, staggering gait, when forced to move; respiration

hurried; pulse accelerated but small; eyes red, full and fiery; head

protruding; mouth, ears, and horns hot; appetite bad; rumination ceases;

the bowels become constipated; the animal moans continually, and froths

at the mouth. These symptoms violently increase as the disease advances.

The animal becomes more depressed and feeble, grinds his teeth, and

appears half unconscious, and dies in convulsions.



Of the causes of this disease, Youatt, who is almost the only authority

we have upon this subject, says: "It seems occasionally to be epidemic;

for several instances of it occur, of the same character, and in the

same district. M. Cruzel gives an illustration of this in his

description of the disease that destroyed so many cattle, in the years

1826 to 1827, in the Department de la Nievre. Out of two hundred and

eighteen cattle belonging to three farmers, one hundred and thirteen

were attacked by this disease, and eighty-three of them died. One farmer

in a neighboring district had nineteen head of cattle, all of which

sickened, but only three were lost. These were unusually hot summers.

The upland pasture was burnt up, or what remained of it was rendered

unusually stimulating; and the acrid plants of the marshes and low

grounds acquired additional deleterious agency.



"When isolated cases occur, they may generally be attributed to

mismanagement. Exposure to cold, or the drinking of cold water when

overheated with work; too hard work in sultry weather; the use of water

stagnant, impure, or containing any considerable quantity of metallic

salts; the sudden revulsion of some cutaneous eruption; the crowding of

animals into a confined place; too luxuriant and stimulating food

generally; and the mildewed and unwholesome food on which cattle are too

often kept, are fruitful sources of this complaint."



Treatment.--In the early stage of the disease, give an active purge,

and follow it with ten drops of Fleming's tincture of aconite, four

times daily, for two days; then give drachm doses of the extract of

belladonna; give no food for twenty-four or forty-eight hours, according

to circumstances. Bleeding, if done early, is often beneficial.

Counter-irritants to the belly are also recommended; the best are

mustard, hartshorn, and water, mixed together--or tincture of

cantharides, with one drachm of croton-oil added to every ounce.