PERITONITIS. 423 



the animal, or else engendered in his constitution by deple- 

 tion carried too far in the treatment of the case in its early 

 stage. The little pain and disturbance the chronic disease is 

 apt to create in its incipient stage renders it difficult of detec- 

 tion ; though occasionally, and especially when it comes to be 

 more advanced and attended with certain consequences, what 

 are called — 



"Symptoms of Abdominal Irritation^^ will make their 

 appearance, and give us reason to suspect, and probably detect, 

 its presence. These are — occasional pawing, or lifting up 

 his legs to his belly, but not with urgency; sometimes 

 lying down upon one side at full length, and, while down, 

 now and then raising the head towards the belly, and 

 groaning ; tenderness expressed when the abdomen is 

 touched ; flanks drawn in ; respiration quickened, which will 

 in some cases come on in paroxysms ; pulse small and fre- 

 quent ; bowels constipated, or else unusually relaxed ; crouch- 

 ing under weight or pressure upon the back ; an awkward 

 gait of the hind quarters in walking. 



Termination. — The tendeucy of chronic peritoneal inflam- 

 mation is to effusion of serous fluid, and, along with it, more 

 or less lymphy matters, into the cavity of the belly, a morbid 

 state hardly more remediable than hydrothorax : it therefore 

 behoves us to obtain the earliest information possible of the 

 presence of such an inflammation, and when once we have 

 attacked it, not to cease or even slacken our counter- active 

 measures, until we appear to have set our patient out of all 

 danger of internal efi'usiou. 



Treatment. — Frequent small bloodlettings — about three 

 quarts, or even but three pints, every two, three, or four 

 days, according to the condition and strength of the patient, 

 as well as the actual state of his symptoms. Mild but con- 

 tinued doses of aloes and calomel, in combination with 

 Venice turpentine or resin, soft soap, nitre, the spirit, aether, 

 nitric, with acet. scillse and liquor ammon., may be alternated 

 with other tonic diuretics. Blisters to the belly. Rowels 

 in both chest and belly, and setons along the sides of the 

 abdomen. Walking exercise, according as the strength and 



