Summary The effects of slow intravenous (iv) infusion of a very low dosage of endotoxin (a cumulative dosage of 0.03 μg/kg bodyweight [bwt] infused over 60 mins) were evaluated in six conscious healthy horses. Duodenal, right ventral colon, and caecal contractions were detected with strain gauge force transducers. Lateral caecal arterial blood flow was measured using transit time ultrasonic blood flow probes. Duodenal contractile activity was not significantly altered by infusion of endotoxin. In contrast, the contractile activity of the right ventral colon 90 and 270 mins after infusion of endotoxin was less than after infusion of saline solution (control). The contractile activity of the caecal body 30, 60, 90, 120 and 240 mins after infusion of endotoxin was significantly less than control. The contractile activity of the caecal apex 60, 90, 120, 240 and 270 mins after termination of endotoxin infusion was significantly less than control. Lateral caecal arterial blood flow was significantly less than control at the end of endotoxin infusion and at 30, 45, 60, 90, 105 and 120 mins afterwards. Average carotid arterial pressure was significantly greater than control at 210, 225, 240, 255 and 270 mins after endotoxin infusion. Infusion of endotoxin increased heart rate, respiratory rate and body temperature significantly. The decrease in caecal contractile activity occurred before the increase in body temperature. All horses became depressed and developed injected mucous membranes. Signs of abdominal pain (including stretching, pawing, kicking at abdomen) were seen in four of the six horses.

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Sulfolane is a colorless, polar, water‐soluble, 4‐carbon, cyclic sulfone having exceptional chemical and thermal stability. Applications for sulfolane derive mainly from its polar solvent characteristics. It is used as a solvent or solvent component for aromatics extraction, gas treating, and extractive distillation processes, as well as a solvent for polymerizations and chemical reactions. It is also useful in plasticizer, electronic, and textile‐related specialty applications. Sulfolane is relatively chemically inert and exhibits low toxicity by all modes of administration. The chemical is available commercially in the anhydrous form or containing 3 wt % deionized water as a freezing point depressant. Other sulfones of commercial significance are also discussed. These include sulfolene, dimethyl sulfone, diiodomethyl p ‐tolylsulfone, 4,4′‐dihydroxydiphenyl sulfone, and bis( p ‐chlorophenyl) sulfone.

Secondary adrenal insufficiency and panhypophysitis have not been previously reported in the cat. This report should raise awareness of this rare but potentially treatable disease process.