THE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM 71 



tion to the outflow of pancreatic juice. Sarcomas 

 involving the pancreas in swine have been observed, 

 but they were evidently not primary in that organ. 



PERITONEUM 



Defects in the formation of the peritoneum are not 

 common. Rarely cystic inclusions or exclusions may be 

 observed. 



Injuries 



The peritoneum is occasionally injured in swine. 

 The injuries may be inflicted during a surgical operation 

 or they may be produced accidentally. The result of 

 injury of the peritoneum varies with the location and 

 the extent and nature of the injury; which may consist 

 of a bruise of the peritoneum, in which case there is a 

 local inflammatory disturbance; a puncture of the peri- 

 toneum, resulting in general peritonitis; or a laceration 

 of the peritoneum, permitting eventration. 



The results of violence from the external surface are 

 self-evident, but the injuries may be inflicted by foreign 

 bodies in the alimentary canal. In such cases there is 

 more or less of digestive derangement and local or general 

 peritonitis. 



Treatment. Medicinal treatment may be applicable 

 when the peritoneum is intact, but in lacerations of the 

 peritoneum surgical interference alone is of value. 



Ascites 



Ascites is a condition resulting from the accumulation 

 and retention of excessive quantities of lymph or diluted 

 lymph in the peritoneal cavity. The peritoneal cavity 

 is in reality a large lymph space. 



Ascites is very rare in swine. 



Etiology. Ascites is caused by an excessive out- 

 pouring of lymph into or a diminished absorption of 

 lymph from the peritoneal cavity. The lymph escapes 

 from the blood capillaries in the subserosa on to the 

 surface of the peritoneum. The usual causes are 



