ABDOMINAL ASCITES— DROPSY 311 



the abdominal organs. In the liver and the kidneys it follows upon 

 degenerative changes in their structure. Moreover, any pressure upon or 

 obstruction in the vessels of the liver by which the blood is interrupted 

 in its onward flow may become a cause of abdominal ascites. In old 

 brood-mares it is said to be due to the continued pressure of the gravid 

 uterus upon the large veins of the abdomen. 



Symptoms. — Until enlargement of the abdomen is apparent, there 

 is little that is diagnostic of fluid accumulating within. The first indi- 

 cation of existing disease has reference to the animal's general condition, 

 the decline of which is marked by dulness, a want of animation, a 

 staring coat, tightness of the skin, and general debility. There will be 

 wasting of the muscles, particularly those along the back, and a diffused 

 swelling may appear beneath the belly. At this time the latter may 

 show more or less general enlargement, and a tendency to drop and 

 become pendulous. On a more minute examination we find the pulse 

 to be small and weak, and a blanching of the visible membranes. 



With the progress of abdominal dropsy the limbs not infrequently 

 become enlarged, but vary in size from time to time. Palpitation of the 

 heart may exist either as a sign of great weakness or of heart disease; 

 too much importance, therefore, must not be attached to tins symptom 

 until its cause has been satisfactorily made out. We are directed to the 

 liver when the urine becomes loaded with biliary matter and the visible 

 mucous membranes present a yellow discoloration. Indigestion, inappe- 

 tence, a clammy mouth, and bad-smelling faeces are also prominent among 

 the symptoms of dropsy resulting from changes in the liver. The presence 

 of albumen in the urine suggests changes in the kidney. Some idea of 

 the extent of the dropsy or quantity of fluid within the abdominal parietes 

 may be obtained by palpation. We cannot take our patient, unless it 

 is a very small pony, as we would a dog, and with hands on either 

 flank feel the impact of a wave set in motion on one side by a blow 

 on the other, but this test can be applied in a more or less satisfactory 

 manner when an assistant is directed to push the right flank smartly 

 towards the left, on which our own hand is placed, or vice versa. 



Treatment. — From the previous remarks, in which we have endea- 

 voured to state some of the many causes of abdominal ascites, it will be 

 apparent that without a correct diagnosis as to the causation of the 

 malady we cannot hope to benefit our patient, only so far as may result 

 from placing him under favourable hygienic conditions. 



The half-starved colt will profit by a more liberal dietary, which will 

 restore to the blood its solid constituents, and to this may be added pre- 

 parations of iron and diuretics. The former help to build up red blood 



