Definition. Causes: Spring, toxins, irritants, inflammation. Symptoms:
Vomiting, diarrhœa, pendent head, arched back, retracted belly, black,
bloody glairy frothing fæces, circulation excited, mucosæ red, yellow,
or brown, death in two or three days. Diagnosis. Lesions: Stomach and
intestines empty, mucosa of a dark blood red, thickened, liver and
kidneys congested. Treatment: Little successful, intestinal
disinfection, elimination, laxatives, wet compresses, enemata, heart
stimulants, ergot, iron chloride.
_Definition._ A special form of septic enteritis, occurring as an
epizootic and not transmissible by ingestion.
_Causes._ These are not well known. Occurring in a few dogs at one time
in the same place, and time (by preference in spring) and then
disappearing for months, and not being appreciably communicable by
contagion or ingestion, it has the aspect of being caused by poisons,
probably of the nature of toxins taken in with the food or water.
Preëxisting inflammation has been alleged as a predisposing cause, the
attack having followed superpurgation, or the administration of a
handful of salt. Guinard found that the intravenous injection of
tuberculin, mallein and other products of microbian growth produced
lesions analogous to those of this disease.
_Symptoms._ The attack is usually sudden. The dog is seized with
vomiting and diarrhœa and stands with head depressed, back arched and
belly tucked up. The vomit is at first of alimentary matters, then of
glairy mucus, or black and bloodstained material. The fæces are black,
bloody, glairy, frothy, and abundant, fouling the tail and the hips. The
abdomen is at first tense and extremely tender. The pulse is
accelerated, the heart beats tumultuous, the breathing slow and
temperature elevated. Redness of the visible mucosæ, often tinged more
or less deeply with yellow, implies hepatic disorder or destruction of
blood globules. Death may occur in two or three days.
The abruptness and violence of the attack, the violent vomiting and
purging and the staining of the discharges with blood are to a large
extent diagnostic.
_Lesions._ These are most noticeable in the stomach and intestines which
are empty and of a dark blood red. The mucosa is thickened, gorged with
blood, and showing deeper shades here and there where extravasation has
occurred. The liver and kidneys are also deeply congested.
_Treatment_ has been almost constantly a failure. Cadeac recommends
disinfection of the intestinal canal, with salol, cresyl or dinaphthol,
but in the absence of contagious germs this seems the less called for.
The indications would seem to point to elimination of the chemical
poisons, the soothing of the irritation and the tiding the animal over
the period of weakness. Agents that will at once eliminate the poisons
and sustain the heart’s action appear to be called for, hence digitalis
2 grs. or tincture of strophanthus 10 drops are particularly indicated.
Laxatives are rather hopeless considering the congestion and paralysis
of the bowels, and yet if they can be made to operate on any
comparatively healthy part of the intestine they will serve a good
purpose in eliminating the poisonous contents, in securing secretion and
elimination of poison from the blood, and in depleting from the
overcharged portal system. Glauber salts by mouth and anus, or jalap, or
castor oil may be resorted to. In the absence of these a free use of
watery enemata and the ingestion of water by the mouth may be resorted
to. A damp compress around abdomen and loins will be at once soothing
and stimulating to the secretions of both kidneys and bowels.
To counteract congestion and extravasation Cadeac advocates ergotine 2
grs. subcutem, or iron perchloride, 2 ozs., to 1 quart of water to be
given in doses of two or three tablespoonfuls every two hours. It might
also be used in enema.