39© Veterinary Medichie. 



the inflammation. The still older treatment by calomel and 

 opium has essentially the same foundation. To the bacteriologist 

 the latter has the recommendation of being to some extent antiseptic 

 and of tending to secure depletion from the intestinal mucosa. 

 Another cardinal principle of the old practitioner was to hail the 

 liquid exudate as tending to .separate the inflamed and painful 

 surfaces, and as allowing them to move pa.st each other without 

 aggravating the suffering and inflammation. In short, tlie prac- 

 titioner of the past had an especial dread of mechanical injury, 

 and treated all other mea.sures as secondary to this though b}' no 

 means unes.sential. 



Bacteriological considerations direct attention rather to the vital 

 properties of the cau.sative bacteria and seek to check the disease 

 by checking this its most effective cause. 



In simple local peritonitis, as in the infection following ca.stra- 

 tion, the washing out of the infected wound with boiled water 

 and application of an anti.septic (iodoform, iodoform or carbolic 

 acid guaze), and the free use of carbolic acid solution ( i : 50) to 

 the .skin is of great value. If the sheath or inguinal region is 

 swollen to any extent, puncturing it at intervals with a lancet to 

 the depth of half an inch so as to drain it speedily and thus 

 reduce the swelling and culture fluid, and to restore the vitality 

 of the parts, and the frequent bathing with the carbolic acid 

 lotion, will usually succeed in bringing about a healthy action. 



The question of medical treatment comes forward mainly in 

 cases that have invaded the abdominal peritoneum, and which are 

 not alread)' completely generalized, nor the result of extensive 

 escape of gastric nor intestinal contents. In such forms and 

 above all in the early stages of surgical ca.ses sulphate of soda 

 given to the extent of causing free purgation has been found to 

 be incomparably more effective than the opium treatment. The 

 explanation of its action may rest in part (i ) on the expulsion 

 from the bowel of a large proportion of the dangerous microbes 

 which are simply waiting for that opportunity to pass into the 

 peritoneum, which will be furnished by the inflammation of the 

 intestinal walls ; (2). On the elimination from the blood and 

 .system of much of the deleterious ptomaines and toxins which have 

 already been ab.sorbed from the inflamed surface and the presence 

 of which robs the tissues of their vitality and resisting power ; 



