Causes: as in solipeds, youth, overfeeding, plethora, dietetic
blunders, temperament, over-exertion, chill when heated, gestation,
foul water, irritants, drastics, infections. Symptoms: as in enteritis
with false membranes, complications. Duration. Lesions: false
membranes, extent, color, structure, composition, congested mucosa.
Treatment: Glauber and other salts, pilocarpin, potassium iodide,
antiseptics, sulphites, sulphides, borax, bismuth, naphthol, creolin,
muriatic acid, bitters.
_Causes._ The same causes are quoted as in solipeds, youth, extra high
condition, rich feeding, sudden change to the green food of spring,
climatic vicissitudes of the same season, a sanguineous (Reynal) or
lymphatic (Friedberger and Fröhner) temperament, overwork, exhausting
travel, suppressed perspiration, gestation, plethora, foul drinking
water, special irritant plants (chicory, Huzard), and drastic
purgatives. Cadeac suggests bacteria, quoting instances of a fifth or a
fourth of a herd suffering at once. The same would come from any other
cause acting on the whole herd and it seems probable that a microbian
factor is present but can find occasion for its pathogenesis only in
given morbid conditions of the mucous membrane. This would explain the
failure of the affection to propagate itself like a plague, and at the
same time its tendency to manifest itself extensively in given herds
with a common predisposing condition.
_Symptoms._ There are indications of enteric inflammation and fever,
rigors, slight hyperthermia, drying up of the milk secretion, impaired
or suspended appetite and rumination, constipation, colicy pains,
increasing dullness and prostration. As the disease advances the
excrements become soft, pultaceous or watery, with floating hard baked
pieces, dark and even glistening on the surface and more or less false
membranes. These are sometimes stained with blood, which may also be
mingled with the liquid debris. As in solipeds these membranes
constitute the only true diagnostic symptom. They may appear as shreds,
bands or complete cylindroid casts of the intestine.
Other complications, like pseudomembranous exudate on wounds, abortions
and profound weakness are sometimes noted. The disease may last eight
days before ending in recovery. When death takes place it is about the
fourth or sixth day.
_Lesions._ The false membranes are found on the ilium and colon, in thin
films or in thick masses, or tubular casts. In extreme cases the
membrane has covered an extent of 24 feet in length, and if recent it is
soft and friable. If older it may be firm, consistent and yellow or
stained by the blood or ingesta. As in solipeds it shows a reticulated
network and a fine granular structure, and is composed mainly of
inspissated mucus with albuminoids and fibrine. The exudate covers a
surface of extreme redness, with points of darker blood-staining and
even abrasion or ulceration. The surrounding mucosa is also congested,
the villi hypertrophied, the mucous follicles swollen.
_Treatment._ In the early stages a laxative of soda sulphate is of
especial value in depleting from the inflamed mucosa, liquefying the
secretions and dissolving and loosening the false membranes. Epsom
salts, cream of tartar, Rochelle salts, calomel, and pilocarpin are more
or less valuable substitutes. Iodide of potassium is most valuable in
dissolving the exudate and acting as a microbicide (dose 3–4 drs.).
Other alkaline salts may be substituted or as antiseptics the sulphites,
hyposulphites, or sulphides of potash or soda. Borax, bismuth, naphthol
and creolin have also been recommended. Enemata of warm water are
desirable.
In very adynamic conditions, muriatic acid (½ dr. doses) may be given
with vegetable bitters and the same may be allowed during convalescence.