GAVTRO-EN'TERIITIS (Neo-Lat., from Gk. yacrrhp, pester, stomach grrepov, enteron, in testine). An inflammatory disease of the stomach and small intestine resulting in disordered func tion, vomiting, and diarrhoea. In children the disease is called cholera infantum (q.v.). It is the 'summer diarrhoea' which proves fatal to so many infants fed on cow's milk from unclean bottles. In children it is ushered in by slight fever, fretfulness, diarrhoea, coated tongue, and loss of appetite. In a few days the diarrhoea be comes worse, the stools are thin, green, yellow, or brown, and contain undigested food and mucus, and their odor is very offensive. The infant be comes pale, and rapidly emaciates. It may im prove from this point and recover in a week; or it may suddenly suffer from a rise of tempera ture to 103° or 105° F., cry much, evince great thirst, and exhibit a weak pulse. Stupor, sunken eyes, general relaxation, and even convulsions may follow. Vomiting supervenes on taking any food or water, and death results from exhaustion.
The treatment includes: change of air to a cooler climate, or an excursion into the country, or on the salt water three times a week; out-of door life, in hammock or carriage, sponge bath ing to allay restlessness and fever, scrupulous cleanliness, withholding all food for twelve to twenty-four hours, allaying thirst with small quantities of barley water, followed by nursing every four hours, for two or three minutes at a time, washing out the stomach once, in the worst cases, and irrigation of the large intestine by means of a tube, after giving a laxative, repeat ing the irrigation two or three times a day. A of one ounce to the gallon, at 80° F., is preferable. Subgallate or subnitrate of bismuth, calomel, salicylate of sodium, salol, hydrochloric acid, opium with great care in se lected cases, and stimulants, all have their value.
Gastro-enteritis of adults is discussed under CHOLERA. See also ENTERITIS.