CAUSES.- Anything which depresses the nervous system, such as extreme heat, or fever of a low typhoid character, may produce Dysentery; as also exposure to wet and cold and sudden chill. To low, marshy pastures, bad or insufficient food; to diseases of the skin and respiratory organs, may be traced most cases of Dysentery which occur in the horse. It occurs among cattle and sheep from eating damp, rank grass; feeding on marshy meadows; drinking impure water, especially in hot weather, or when over- driven; exposure to sudden changes of weather. It follows Hoose, Diarrhoea, Murrain, Consumption, and the retrocession of some skin eruptions. Among dogs it is due to exposure to cold;food of bad quality; worms; damp lodgings. It sometimes assumes the form of an epidemic, attaching all the dogs in a kennel in a short time. It may be caused by impure stagnant water close to the kennel, it the dogs are allowed to ever lap it.
SYMPTOMS.- Idiopathic Dysentery, which is very rare among horses in this country, commences with shivering and febrile symptoms, loss of spirits and appetite, thirst, occasional slight griping pains, and frequent straining or tenesmus, passing each time a quantity of flatus and mucus, usually mixed with blood, or with shreds of lymph. In other cases the discharges, which are primarily faecal and watery – in fact, ordinary Diarrhoea – soon become sanguineo-mucous, attended with distressing tenesmus and rapid prostration of strength. The body is tucked up; the loins are arched; the head is turned towards the flanks; the fundament is sometimes thrust out, and appears of a deepened colour, hot and swollen.
TREATMENT.- Aconitum.- Useful at the commencement of acute cases, when ushered in or attended by febrile symptoms. Should dysenteric Diarrhoea be present it should be given every hour alternately. But should the faeces be passed in small hard balls, and covered with mucus or blood, attended with griping, hot, dry skin, and thirst, Aconite should be given in alternation with Nux.
Nux Vom. – As genuine Dysentery is nearly always attended by Constipation, Nux vomica, either in alternation with Aconite in the early stage, or alone after the febrile symptoms have been removed, has proved most successful. Its indications are the frequent passing of one or two small feculent balls, accompanied by tenesmus, and fruitless efforts to void urine and flatulency. It is seldom advisable to continue it beyond the first day, when a dose should be given every two hours.
Mercurius Cor.- This is our sheet-anchor in the treatment of such cases as have not been relieved by the early administration of Aconite and Nux. The symptoms requiring it are, frequent discharge of mucus tinged with blood, or thin bloody and foetid stools, which in the day are sometimes nearly black and mixed with tough strings of lymph or hardened pieces of faeces; frequently urging to stool, tenesmus, with redness and swollen appearance of the anus, and sometimes protrusion of the bowel, probably accompanied by slight dripping pains and flatulency. A dose every third hour.
Colocynthis. Nausea, severe Colicky pains, slimy evacuations, or mucus tinged with blood, distention of the bowels, and pain on pressure, tenesmus, thirst, and variable temperature of the body, being at one time shivering and soon after very hot; sedimentous or red urine. It is applicable to almost every kind of Dysentery, and may be used after Mercurius has been tried without affording relief. A dose every third hour.
Hydrastis.- Required in cases of ulceration of the rectum, where the discharges are muco-purulent, and no feculent matter passes, especially in those cases which are complicated with disease of the liver. A dose of the mother tincture should be given internally every four hours, and an enema, composed as follows, thrown up the rectum morning and evening;Hydrastis 3ss, water 3iv..
Arsenicum.- Dysentery produced by any cause of a debilitating character, such as bleeding, purging, or previous disease. In acute idiopathic Dysentery it is of no service. The discharges are loose, passed almost involuntarily, foetid and bloody; greenish, or nearly black. Great rumbling in the bowels, and flatulence; pulse small and frequent; total loss of appetite, and marked prostration of strength; skin and extremities cold; frequent eructations; passing of flatus and straining; griping pains may also be occasionally noticed. A dose every two hours.
Sulphur.- Often serviceable where other remedies have failed to give relief; but seldom, if ever, necessary, except in cases which have become chronic, or in mangy animals, where it should be given in alternation with Mercurius Co.
ACCESSORY MEANS. – The cause of the disorder should of course be removed. The diet should be mashes, gruel, and a little hay. For dogs, milk, arrowroot and milk, or rice and milk, all cold, form the best food. The bed should be ample, dry and warm. The tail and thighs should be washed frequently with warm water and soap to remove the slimy mucus, and sand or fine earth applied to prevent the adherence of the tail and the irritation of flies.
Enteritis – Inflammation of the Bowels.
As the symptoms of this violent complaint resemble, in many respects, those of colic, it may be well to point out the distinctions between the one and the other. This will be best done by quoting the remarks of the author of the “Veterinary Homoeopathy.” “In colic the attack begins suddenly; in enteritis it comes on generally by degrees. In colic the pain is not constant, and there are times during which it is not felt; in enteritis the pain never ceases for a moment, by becomes gradually worse as the disease goes on. In colic the pain is relieved by rubbing the belly and moving about; in enteritis it is greatly increased by such means. In colic the strength is not much weakened unless the disease be near the end; in enteritis the weakness is very marked.”
CAUSES.- Improper food; sudden change from poor to rich food; colds; injuries inflicted upon the abdomen; the presence of a large number of worms in the intestines; badly-managed colic, continuing more than twenty hours, and ending in enteritis; animals afflicted with colic may so injure themselves by falling or rolling over, that this compliant may be the consequence.
SYMPTOMS.- Extreme restlessness; frequent lying down and rising again, with signs of pain in the bowels; hard and rapid pulse; quickened breathing; hot mouth and violent thirst; red and protruding eyes; pawing and kicking; frequent efforts to stale, but no water, or only a few drops, are discharged; the pain, which is most intense and constant, is increased by pressure and moving about. Hogs chew and grunt almost continually; dogs show signs of increased pain when their bowels are pressed upon; pressure causes a vomiting in both kinds of animals. If the disease lasts a few days, and there is a sudden cessation of pain, this is a sign that gangrene (mortification) has set in; the feet and ears become quite cold; and after a while the animal falls heavily, struggles convulsively for a brief period and dies.
TREATMENT.- Aconitum.- This is the first and chief remedy in the complaint. A dose every fifteen minutes for several times; afterwards, if improvement follow its use, every three or four hours, till the animal is well.
Arsenicum.- The sufferings are very intense, the pulse nearly gone, cold mouth, the animal appearing to be sinking under the disease. A dose every half-hour for several times; or administer this remedy alternately, every half-hour, with Aconitum.
Nux Vomica.- Confined state of the bowels, or only believed with much difficulty, and the urgings to urinate are attended with the discharge of only a few drops of water. A dose every thirty minutes, for several times; when relieved, less often.
Other remedies are : Cantharis, for great urinary difficulties; Ipecacuanha or Pulsatilla, for diarrhoea.
ACCESSORY MEANS.- Hot water is a valuable adjunct in the treatment of this disease. It may be applied externally by steeping cloths in the water, and closely and compactly, but not too tightly, applying them to the body, and securing them by belts. Hot water may also be given either as a drench or as an injection. The water must not be so hot as to scald the animal. The administration of Aconitum, as stated above, and hot water applied copiously to the body of the animal locally, and occasionally in doses of from a half-pint to a pint internally, will constitute the principle features of the treatment at the commencement of an attack.
If discovered in time, an inflammation of the digestive organs will generally yield to the prompt use of the above remedies. Linseed tea, or oatmeal gruel, will form the most suitable diet.
Fatigue – Excessive Exertion
After excessive and prolonged exercise, the greatest benefit will result from bandaging the legs with cloths saturated in Arnica lotion, and at the same time administering Arnica as prepared for internal use. These measures will generally prevent the swelling, stiffness, and other consequences resulting from severe exertion.
LICENTIATE OF THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS; MEMBER OF THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS; LICENTIATE IN MIDWIFERY, LONDON AND EDINBURGH, ETC. PHYSICIAN TO THE READING AND BERKSHIRE HOMOEOPATHIC DISPENSARY.
Author of "The Stepping Stone to Homeopathy and Health,"
"Manual of Homoeopathic Treatment". Editor of "The Homoeopathic World."