DISEASES OF CATTLE 103 



false ribs on the right side to 6 inches in front of the last one, and 

 from the backbone to 12 inches on the right side of it. 

 The Fluke Disease. [See pages 368, 370.] 



INFLAMMATION OF THE SPLEEN (SPLENITIS). 



This disease occurs almost solely as a result of the existence of 



some infectious disease, and the symptoms caused by it merge with 



the symptoms of the accompanying causative disease. The spleen 



is seriously involved, and becomes enlarged and soft in Texas fever, 



.anthrax, and blood poisoning. 



DISEASES OF THE PERITONEUM. 



Peritonitis. Peritonitis consists in an inflammation of the 

 peritoneum, which is the thin, delicate membrane that lines the 

 abdomen and covers the abdominal organs. 



Causes. Wounds are the usual cause in cattle. The wound 

 may be of the abdominal wall or of the intestines, stomach, or 

 uterus ; or inflammation may extend from one of the organs of the 

 abdominal cavity to the peritoneum ; so this disease may complicate 

 enteritis or inflamed womb. A sharp metal body may perforate the 

 second stomach and allow the gastric contents to escape, irritating 

 the peritoneum. This disease may follow castration or operation 

 for hernia. 



Symptoms. A continuous or occasional shivering; the ani- 

 mal lies down, but appears uneasy; it frequently turns its head 

 toward its belly and lows plaintively; pressure on the flanks pro- 

 duces pain ; has no appetite ; muzzle is dry and no rumination ; 

 while standing its legs are placed well under its body; pulse small 

 and hard. The evacuations from the bowels are dry and hard. If 

 this disease is complicated by the presence of inflammation of the 

 bowels, the pain is more severe and the animal is more restless. 

 The skin is cold and dry in the early stage of this disease, but in a 

 more advanced stage this condition may be succeeded by heat of 

 the skin and quick breathing. The fits of trembling, uneasiness, 

 small and hard puke, and tension of the left flank are symptoms 

 the presence of which should enable one to reach the conclusion 

 that peritonitis exists. 



Post-Mortem Appearance. The membrane lining the abdo- 

 men and covering the surface of the bowels is reddened to a greater 

 or less extent, and there is usually considerable serous, or watery, 

 fluid collected in the abdomen. 



Treatment. When we have to do with the form of periton- 

 itis resulting from an injury, as when the horn of another animal 

 has been thrust through the abdominal walls, this lesion must be 

 treated in accordance with directions before given, but the general 

 treatment must be similar to that which follows. Peritonitis re- 

 sulting from castration or from parturition fever must also be 

 treated in connection with the special conditions which give rise 

 to it, as the general treatment of this disease must be modified to 

 some extent by the exciting cause. 



