THE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM * 73 



Symptoms, Acute peritonitis is associated with 

 abdominal pain, the severity of which depends upon the 

 extent and intensity of the inflammation. The pain may 

 be manifested on palpation of the abdomen. The 

 affected animals have a "tucked up" appearance; the 

 appetite is diminished or perhaps wanting. There is a 

 rise of temperature and a rapid, wiry pulse. The animals 

 are uneasy and restless. 



Animals affected with chronic peritonitis may show 

 some digestive derangement or there may be no evidence 

 of disease. 



Treatment. Remove the cause, and the further 

 treatment will depend upon the cause and nature of the 

 lesions. In all cases the bowel movement should be 

 diminished or inhibited by the use of opiates. If the 

 disease is the result of injury, surgical interference and 

 the rational application of antiseptics is indicated. If 

 the animals eat they should receive only liquid foods 

 easy of digestion. 



Tumors 



Some cases of peritoneal tumors in swine have been 

 reported. The fibroma of swine is usually benign; it 

 may be tabular or pedunculated. Sarcoma, endothe- 

 lioma, and carcinoma also have been observed, the first 

 being the most common. 



The above-mentioned tumors are pathologically iden- 

 tical to the same type of tumors observed elsewhere in 

 swine or in other animals, and they produce practically 

 the same results, with the possible exception that the 

 malignant tumors are not so fatal as in some other 

 animals, particularly in the human. 



Parasites 



The cystic form of the Tsenia echinococcus (echin- 

 ococcosis) is probably the most common parasitic invader 

 of the peritoneum of swine. The description of these 

 cysts will be found under the consideration of parasites 

 of the liver. 



