ACUTE ENTERITIS.
As acute enteritis, whether localised in one portion of the intestine or involving the whole intestinal tube, is produced by varying causes, and assumes very varying degrees of intensity, its clinical symptoms are equally diverse.
Causation. The various forms of enteritis result from two great series of causes: infections and intoxications. Normally the intestine contains an extremely large number of different microbes, which may prove of service so long as circulation, secretion, and peristalsis continue normal; but as soon as any perturbation occurs, either in the blood supply or in the movement of the bowel, normal secretion is impeded; abnormal organic fermentation commences, producing irritant principles or toxins which at once set up local irritation, or, being absorbed, produce that complex of symptoms which we recognise as enteritis, intoxication of intestinal origin, or even infection.
Bearing in mind these facts, we are better able to understand the part played by cold, by damaged fodder, by intense, stimulating feeding, or sudden changes in the food, as well as by the action of drastic purgatives, which modify beyond physiological limits the condition of the glands, or even cause local desquamation of epithelium.
Toxic substances or plants act similarly by modifying either the circulatory, secretory, or motor systems.
Symptoms. The first appreciable external symptoms appear to result from fever—loss of appetite, suspension of rumination, dryness of the muzzle and of the mouth, earthy-red colour of the conjunctival mucous membrane, etc.
On manipulating the left flank one notes neither tympanites nor sensitiveness—in a word, there is no indication of functional disturbance of the rumen.
On the right side, on the contrary, palpation causes the animal to resist and to show signs of pain. According as this sensitiveness is more marked in the middle or upper region or towards the hypochondriac circle, we infer that the inflammation is most acute in the large or small intestine, either in the middle portions or, again, in the most anterior portion. The temperature always rises at the commencement, attaining 103° to 104° Fahr. (39·5° or 40° C.), but rarely a higher point, a fact which negatives the idea of a rapidly progressive infectious disease. Slight colic appears, and is accompanied by constipation; the fæces are covered with mucus, or false membranes, or are completely enclosed in fibrinous tubes. After four or five days the fæces change in character. Constipation gives place to a liquid, blackish, very fœtid diarrhœa. Finally the mouth exhales a stercoraceous odour, resulting from fœtid eructation.
The passage of flat or tubular false membranes continues for a certain time.
When false membranes constitute the chief symptom, the condition is termed “pseudo-membranous, croupal, or diphtheritic enteritis.” This form is only a variety of acute enteritis, but is grave, because complications due to hæmorrhage or infection are very liable to occur.