DISEASES OF THE PERITONEUM. 239 



in combination with opium is also said to be of great value 

 in the treatment of this disease. 



Section Y. 



DISEASES OF THE PERITONEUM. 



PERITONITIS. 



Etiology. — Peritonitis (cj^/rs/i/w, I stretch around) 

 inflammation of the serous covering of the abdominal viscera 

 and walls, is not a common disease in the horse, though it 

 may be set up by a variety of causes. 



Idiopathic or primary peritonitis is met with as the 

 result of exposure to cold and damp, and is of greater fre- 

 quency as a sub-acute or chronic disease than as an acute 

 affection. It is not uncommonly observed in this sub-acute 

 or chronic form in young horses from exposure and in- 

 sufficient diet. 



Traumatic peritonitis^ is the form which follows the 

 infliction of wounds of the abdomen, and various surgical 

 proceedings, as castration and operations for hernia. 



Sometimes inflammation of the peritoneum occurs as the 

 result of injuries from within, as rupture or perforation of 

 the organs in connection with it. 



As instances may be given rupture of the walls of the 

 stomach or intestine, or of the liver, spleen, or kidney, or 

 of an abcess or hydatid in the substance, or in connection 

 with the various abdominal organs. 



Sometimes peritonitis follows bursting of the bladder from 

 over-distension. 



General or localized peritonitis may also be set up by 

 propagation of inflammation from the bowels, liver, uterus, 

 and mammary glands. 



Lastly, secondare/ or sympathetic pieritonitis occurs in some 



■^' Traumatic peritonitis will be more fully considered in our Manual 

 of the Theory and Practice of Surgery. 



