oTG Peritonitis. 



liver and spleen of the horse. Chronic peritonitis is very often 

 eircnniscribed in extent, especially on the serous membranes of 

 the liver and spleen, seats of puncture of the rumen or cecum, 

 and in the pelvis around the bladder and sexual organs. In cat- 

 tle, and still more frequently in pigs, chronic peritonitis leads to 

 the formation of bony plates close to the Avound made for 

 ovariotomy (Gurlt, Joline, Delaud). 



Symptoms. In view of the fact that peritonitis is generally 

 a secondary condition, its symptoms are preceded by those of 

 the primary disease, but the latter give way to those of peri- 

 tonitis either gradually or suddenly, according to whether the 

 infection of the peritoneum is severe or not. The primary dis- 

 ease is, as a rule, some severe disease of the stomach, intestine 

 or genital organs. If the peritonitis is due to an acute septi- 

 cemic disease its symptoms are more or less obscured by those 

 of the primary disease, but in other cases the s^nnptoms of 

 peritonitis are very obvious. 



In cases of acute diffuse peritonitis abdominal pain is the 

 most pronounced and usually the most persistent sjanptom. 

 Animals show evidence of pain in a variety of ways, groaning, 

 whining, bellowing, grinding the teeth, looking round at the 

 body, switching their tails, etc. Thej^ avoid all sudden move- 

 ments, stand with their feet close under the body, either arch or 

 hollow their backs, and in the latter case hold their heads and 

 necks drawn back. Horses often try to lie down, but, as a rule, 

 do not get beyond the attempt; should they succeed, however, 

 they exercise great care in carrying out the movement, and in 

 some cases lie on their backs. Cattle, as a rule, remain standing 

 and only lie down just before death. Small animals lie in a 

 crouching attitude, and their countenances are often expressive 

 of great pain. The abdominal wall may be painful all over, or 

 only in parts, and the animals try to avoid all pressure on it. 

 Motion is stiiT and only short steps are taken, any deviation 

 from the straight line being avoided. If the inflammation is 

 localized in the anterior part of the abdomen, going uphill is 

 especially painful. 



The abdominal pain and the susceptibility to pressure of the 

 abdominal wall vary from individual to individual, but to a still 

 more marked degree in the various species. In the horse the 

 sjnnptoms of pain are principally sul)jective, and they are never 

 completely absent ; whereas susceptibility to pressure on the ab- 

 dominal wall is very seldom demonstrable, owing to its nat- 

 ural and in this case increased tenseness. In small animals 

 the opposite holds good and in cattle both subjective and ob- 

 jective symptoms are less clearly shown and may be absent 

 altogether. 



The abdomen remains normal in size in the early stages and 

 may be even less than normal in circumference owing to reflex 



