ANIMAL CASTKATION. 101 



one of the most serious. It is generally the result of 

 exposure to cold, especially when its occurrence ac- 

 companies the suppurative fever. But it also de- 

 velops itself in animals which have received the best 

 hygienic care, its appearance being attributed to an 

 excessive dragging of the <*>rd, or to the extension 

 of the local inflammation by continuity of tissues. 

 It manifests itself generally between the second and 

 third day following the operation, except when it 

 becomes symptomatic, as of gangrene of the cord, 

 when we have seen it making its appearance towards 

 the tenth day. 



The symptoms of this traumatic peritonitis differ 

 somewhat from those of the acute inflammatory type. 

 According to Gourdon, "the animal is dull and 

 refuses all food the suppuration of the wound of 

 the scrotum has ceased, the bags and surrounding 

 parts become the seat of a warm, hard and painful 

 swelling. The animal stands with his four legs 

 brought close together, the back is stiff and arched, 

 the flanks are cordy, the abdomen painful, the pulse 

 hard, small and increased. As the disease progresses, 

 the symptoms are more marked, the enlargement 

 of the envelopes increases and is more diffuse, it ex- 

 tends down to the abdomen, and even under the 

 chest, passes along the thighs, is less warm, less hard, 

 less painful, and pits under pressure. There are 

 slight colics, the pulse gets smaller, intermittent, the 

 respiration is increased, and the animal dies towards 

 the fifth or sixth day." 



The treatment to be recommended varies accord- 



