ENTERITIS. Inflammation of the bowels. In the article Colic, is presented the difference in symptoms between colic and inflammation of the bowels, and for the reason that the latter is often mistaken for the former. In fact, ignorant stablemen seem fond of calling any difficulty of the internal system belly-ache, if attended with pain and, to cure it, commence drenching with the most alarming mixtures, not good for colic, and, in some cases, absolutely fatal in connection with the real disease.- In nine cases out of ten most diseases of animals, not malignant in their nature, will be treated more properly by means of simple medicines, attended with good nursing, than by the more heroic of the old system of purging and bleeding. In the case of inflamma tion of the bowels, this treatment is about sure to kill. To relieve the pain, give two drachm doses of opium every hour or two until the pain is relieved. Use a hot fomentation to the belly. This is applied by folding a blanket inside a a rubber sheet, held in its place by the ends being brought up to the sides and fastened over the back; thus the blanket may easily be kept saturated with warm water. Do not take trouble
about the bowels not moving. The pain being relieved, if the bowels do not move in two or three days, injections of warm water may be given. The diet should be attended to. Boiled food should be given, if the animal will eat it; and, whatever the food, whether of bran or meal mashes, it should always be mixed either with flax seed, or slippery elm tea. Skim milk is excellent food, in addition, if the animal will take it, especially in chronic cases. In chronic cases, where there is pain, tenderness, and a hard, drum-like feeling (tympany) of the bowels, and low fever, a ball, composed of five grains of nitrate of silver, and half a drachm of opium, made up with linseed meal or crumbs of bread, given twice a day, will be good. Increase the dose gradually to double the quantity, if the disease proves obstinate.