448 THE TRACTICE OF VETERINARY MEDICINE. 



of the calf, and whether it be of a weakly or robust build. 

 Pain, if excessive, may be antagonized by the administra- 

 tion of opiates, after which antacids should be adminis- 

 tered to counteract the excessively acid condition of the 

 stomach; the administration of chalk is often attended with 

 benefit, and pepsin is also good to assist digestion. The 

 mother, also, should receive attention, and if her milk is 

 too rich in quality she must be reduced ; but if it be too 

 poor in quality, the mother should be fed upon a liberal 

 quantity of easily digestible and highly nourishing food, 

 given tonics, etc. This condition may also occur in calves, 

 colts, and other animals, in consequence of sucking the milk 

 of the mother when she is heated by exertion. 



PERITONITIS. 



Definition. — Inflammation of the peritoneum. — Peritonitis 

 occasionally co-exists with enteritis, and is a very serious 

 disease, whether occurring alone or as a complication of 

 some other condition. It occurs as an independent disease, 

 and may be caused in a variety of ways, as by exposure to 

 cold, punctured wounds, etc. ; it also follows castration, especi- 

 ally in cases where the animal struggles violently during 

 the operation, or is exposed to the cold afterwards. It may 

 also be caused by putting too much caustic on the clams. 

 Any irritation of the peritoneum may cause peritonitis, and 

 it very often occurs as a -complication of metritis, consti- 

 tuting the condition known as metro-peritonitis. 



Symptoms. — The animal stands the greater portion of the 

 time, the pulse is from sixty to eighty per minute, and is 

 wiry in character; the mouth is hotter than usual, the 

 breathing is quickened, the eyes somewhat reddened, and 

 there is present every evidence of intense fever; the patient 

 shows signs of being in great pain, and the head is turned 



