484 PERITONITIS. 



hydraemia) is the development of certain chronic wasting diseases or 

 chronic lesions of the heart, liver, and kidney, which act and react upon 

 each other. 



Symptoms. True ascites is unaccompanied hy fever. The condition 

 develops slowly, insidiously, and therefore escapes notice at first. Only 

 when the exuded liquid is present in considerable quantities is the 

 condition apparent. The symptoms are similar to those of ascites 

 following chronic peritonitis. 



The transuded liquid progressively accumulates in the peritoneal 

 cavity, the lower portion of which it distends. When the animal is 

 viewed from behind the enlargement appears symmetrical, despite the 

 position of the rumen. The intestinal contents float on the liquid and 

 are thrust upwards towards the lumbar region. On palpation, the ab- 

 dominal cavity seems unusually full, the tension differing in proportion 

 to the quantity of liquid. The accumulation of liquid may become con- 

 siderable and interfere with respiration, circulation, and movement. 

 Very marked anaemia always exists, the mucous membranes are ex- 

 tremely pale, the respiration is rapid, the pulse feeble, all these 

 symptoms being consequent on the primary disease of the heart or 

 liver. Percussion of the lower part of the belly produces a dull sound. 

 On the left side this dulness often extends from the linea alba as high 

 as a horizontal line, uniting the external angle of the ilium and the 

 hypochondriac circle. On the right it is bounded by a horizontal line. 

 Percussion or, better still, palpation provokes on one side of the abdomen 

 a wave or impulse of the liquid, perceptible to the touch or even to 

 the view at the opposite side. 



Diagnosis. In general diagnosis is easy, thanks to the slowness 

 with which the disease develops. 



Prognosis. The prognosis varies in each case, more especially 

 according to the more or less marked debility of the animal. Ascites due 

 to gestation is usually of a very simple character, but if it is the result 

 of pericarditis produced by a foreign body, or of nephritis, the outlook is 

 very gloomy ; lesions of the kidney in particular showing little tendency 

 to recovery. Finally, the prognosis varies when the -ascites follows 

 disease of the liver, for certain exceptional cases have been noted in 

 which an attack of hepatitis has led to the disappearance of the 

 transudate. 



Lesions. The lesions peculiar to this disease are ver}^ trifling. 

 Transudation takes place without inflammation of the peritoneum, 

 although the veins of the abdominal cavity are abnormally dilated. 

 The abdominal wall is thin and distended, and the tissues are colour- 

 less as though soaked in water. The cavity is distended with a clear 

 lemon-coloured albuminous liquid free from blood corpuscles. 



