ENTERI'TIS (Gr. enteron, the intestines), inflammation of the bowels, and especially of their muscular and serous coat, leading to constipation (q.v.) and pain, with colic (q.v.), and sometimes ileus (q.v.). E. is distinguished from these last affections, indeed, only by the presence of inflammatory symptoms—i.e., pain, tenderness, fever, etc., from a very early stage of the disease, and in so decided a form as to require special attention. If E. does not depend upon mechanical obstruction, it may be combated by hot fomen tations, with moderate leeching and counter-irritation, and the internal administration of opium. Injections of warm water, or of asafmtida and turpentine (see CLYSTER), should be at the same time given to clear the lower bowel; and all purgatives, except in some cases castor oil, should be avoided. The disease is, however, one of great dan ger, and should never be incautiously treated with domestic remedies. It is closely allied to peritonitis (q.v.), and often depends upon internal mechanical causes, or on external injury.
In the Lower of the bowels, among the heavier breeds of horses, generally results from some error of diet, such as a long fast, followed by a large, hastily-devoured meal, indigestible or easily fermentible food, or large draughts of water at improper times. When thus produced, it is frequently preceded by stomach staggers or colic, affects chiefly the mucous coat of the large intestines, and often runs its course in from eight to twelve hours. With increasing fever and restlessness, the pulse soon rises to 70 or upwards, and, unlike what obtains in colic, continues throughout consid erably above the natural standard of 40 beats per minute. The pain is great, but the animal, instead of recklessly throwing himself about, as in colic, gets up and lies down cautiously. Respiration is quickened, the bowels torpid. Cold sweats, stupor, and occasionally delirium, precede death. When connected with, or occurring as a sequel to influenza, laminitis, and other complaints, the small intestines are as much affected as the large, and the peritoneal as well as the mucous coat of the bowels. This form is more common in the lighter breeds. When the patient is seen early, whilst the pulse is
still clear and distinct, and not above 60, and the legs and ears warm, blood-letting is useful, as it relieves the overloaded vessels, and prevents that exudation of blood which speedily becomes poured out in the interior of the bowels. This disease should be treated as follows: In a pint of, oil, or an infusion of two drams of aloes in hot water, give a scruple of calomel and an ounce of laudanum, and repeat the calomel and laud anum every hour in gruel until the bowels are opened, or five or six doses are given. Encourage the action of the bowels by using every half-hour soap and water clysters, to which add laudanum so long as pain and straining continue. If the animal is nause ated and stupid, with a cold skin, weak quick pulse, bleeding and reducing remedies are very injurious; and the only hope lies in following up one dose of the calomel and aloes with small doses of laudanum and sweet spirit of niter, or other stimulants, repeated every forty minutes. In all stages, woolen cloths wrung out of hot water and applied to the belly encourage the action of the bowels, and relieve the pain.
E. in cattle is mostly produced by coarse wet pasture, acrid or poisonous plants, bad water, and overdriving. The symptoms are fever and thirst, a quick but rather weak pulse, restless twitching up of the hind limbs, tenderness of the belly, and torpidity of the bowels. Calves generally die in three or four days, other cattle in a week or nine days. Bleed early, open the bowels with a pint of oil and a dram of calomel, which may be repeated in eight or ten hours, if no effect is produced. Give every hour fifteen drops of Fleming's tincture of aconite in water, until six or seven doses are given. Allow only sloppy and laxative food, such as treacle, gruel, or a thin bran mash:, employ clysters and hot cloths to the belly, and use two ounce doses of laudanum if the pain is great. E. in sheep mostly occurs in cold exposed localities, and where flocks are sub jected to great privations or improper feeding. The symptoms and treatment resemble those of cattle.