The membrauo lining' ilir alxlumiual cavity soiii.' 

 limes becomes inflamed as ilie result of exteiual injii 

 lies oi' severe irritation of tlie intestinal canal or tlu' 

 penetration of a foreign body tliiO'Ugh tlie intestinal 

 wall. Sometimes this condition is caused by parasites. 

 Usually tlie disease is of a severe type and cannot be 

 treated successfully. It may produce death within a 

 very short time. But sometimes it follows a chronic 

 course, causing prolonged illness, and in these eases, 

 fluid usually collects in the abdominal cavity consti- 

 tuting the c(;ndition known as ascites or abdominal 

 dropsy. The evidence of this condition consists in an 

 enlargement of the abdom.en ; it is distended in all di- 

 rections but particularly downward and sometimes to 

 such an extent that the lower part of the belly reaches 

 the ground. It is hardly necessary to say that in these 

 cases the fowl is f^piritiess and disinclined to moveaboul 

 actively; when it is caught and the swelling is ex- 

 amined by (he touch it will be noticed lliat it is soft 

 and that by pressing upon oue side waves can lie felt 

 oil tlie oilier side indicatinsr that it contains lluid. 



s. j.vrxnicE ok the yellows 



When tlu action of the liver is interfered with the 

 bile may not be poured out into tli(» intestine in a nor 

 iiial luauTer and its retention leads to a vellow discol 



