ENTERITIS, an inflammation of the small intestine, the most important symptom of which is diarrhcea. Different varieties of enteritis are described as catarrhal enteritis, the acute entero colitis of children, or cholera infantum, croup ous enteritis, and enteritis due to tuberculosis, carcinoma, and other malignant diseases. In primary enteritis the symptoms may be acute or chronic, the most important single symptom being diarrhcea. The stools are thin and watery, and particles of undigested food may be found in them. There is usually colicky pain with gas, and occasional vomiting. Loss of appetite, thirst and dry tongue are usually present, but fever is not common. The general causes of catarrhal enteritis are improper food, particu larly in children, unripe fruit, toxic substances, changes in the weather, and nervous influences bringing about changes in the character of the secretions and in the muscular activities of the walls of the intestines: Infectious diseases may also be the cause of acute enteritis. Rest in bed,
following a mild laxative such as calomel or castor oil, together with milk diet, will usually be sufficient treatment for the simple cases.
Acute enteritis of infants, known as cholera infantum (q.v.), is a much more serious disease. This is a form of dysentery, in which not only the small intentine but the large intestine also is involved, and the most active cause of this dis ease is a specific micro-organism called the bacil lus of Shiga. Treatment of acute enteritis of infants requires trained medical advice. The most important feature, however, in infants is to cut down the feeding, giving practically nothing but water for at least 24 to 36 hours. Horses, cattle and sheep, too, are subject to enteritis, and, unless properly and promptly treated, are apt to succumb to it. See CHOLERA I NI, A NTU ; CAI ITIS ; DYSENTERY ; INTESTINES - Diseases of.