IN THE LOWER ANIMALS. Inflammation of the bowels, among the heavier breeds of horses, gen erally results from some error of diet, such as a long fast, followed by a large, hastily devoured meal, indigestible or easily fermentable 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 rums its course in from eight to twelve hours. With increasing fever and restlessness, the pulse soon rises to 70 or upward, and in this respect, unlike colic, continues throughout. considerably 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, arises and lies down cautiously. When standing, the horse frequently turns his head backward and looks at his flanks. Respira tion is quickened, the bowels are torpid. Cold sweats, stupor, and occasionally delirium, pre cede 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 'a the mucous coat of the bowels. This form is ore common in the lighter breeds. When the patient is seen early, while 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 becotues poured out in the interior of the bowels in eases of hemorrhagic enteritis. This disease should be treated as follows: In a pint of oil, or au infu sion of two drams of aloes in hot water, give a scruple of calomel and an ounce of laudanum, and repeat the calomel and laudanum every hour in gruel until the bowels are opened, or until live or six doses arc 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 ths animal is nau seated 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 nitre, or other stimulants, repeated every 40 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.
Enteritis in cattle is mostly produced by coarse, wet pasture, acrid or poisonous plants, bad water, and over-driving. The symptoms are fever and thirst, a quick but rather weak pulse, rest less twitching up of the hind limbs, tenderness of the belly, torpidity of the bowels, and cessa tion of rumination. 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, 15 drops of Flem ing's tincture of aconite in water, until six or seven doses are given. Allow only sloppy and laxative food, such as molasses, 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. Enteritis in sheep mostly occurs in cold, exposed. localities, and where flocks are subjected to great privations or improper feeding.