PERITONITIS IN BIRDvS. 



From caponizing, accidental traumas, ruptured oviduct, perforations 

 of bowels by foreign bodies or worms, pyogenic susceptibility slight. 

 Symptoms : inappetence, drooping head, wings, tail, erect plumage, stiff- 

 ness, straining, tense, tender, pendent belly. Treatment : unload cloaca, 

 puncture and irrigate abdomen, laxatives. Prophylaxis, by laxative food, 

 expulsion of worms, antisepsis in operations, unloading cloaca, etc. 



Causes. Male birds contract peritonitis from caponizing, and 

 other penetrating wounds of the abdomen, from rupture of the 

 oviduct impacted with ^%^ matter, from perforations of the in- 

 testines hy foreign bodies, and from perforations by worms. 



Tlie danger from ordinary pyogenic germs is, however, at its 

 minimum, since birds stand at the opposite extreme from the 

 horse, and their wounds rarely suppurate. 



Symptoms The bird loses appetite, droops head, wings and 

 tail, ruffles its feathers, walks .stiffly and heavily, and expels 

 faeces with much effort and even with cries. When caught the 

 abdomen is found to be full, tense and pendent and very tender 

 to the touch. There is more or less hyperthermia (108° and up- 

 ward), and the subject becomes more and more dull, stupid and 

 feeble until death. 



Treatment. In certain ca.ses relief may be had by the unload- 

 ing of the cloaca, or the evacuation of peritoneal fluid, followed 

 by antiseptic, irrigation of the cavity. Laxatives may also be 

 resorted to. The mo.st important measures are however prophy- 

 lactic, and run in the direction of careful manipulation and anti- 

 sepsis in caponizing, the unloading of impacted cloaca, before it 

 has developed serious disease, the maintenance of a suitably 

 laxative diet, and the prevention and treatment of worms. 

 In case of tumors causing chronic peritonitis, laparotomy can be 

 resorted to with great confidence. 



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