PERITONITIS 577 



PERITONITIS (INFLAMMATION OF THE PERITONEUM) 



The peritoneum is the thin shiny membrane which Hnes the 

 abdominal cavity, and is reflected over the abdominal organs to 

 form their outer or serous coat. Through injuries of the abdomi- 

 nal wall or of the intestines germs may reach this peritoneal mem- 

 brane and set up an inflammation which is known as peritonitis. 

 In the hog this membrane is very resistant to germ infection, and 

 as a result peritonitis is comparatively rare in the hog as compared 

 with other animals. 



Causes. — Peritonitis may be caused as a result of injuries to the 

 abdominal wall. For instance, in fighting with other animals 

 there may be severe injury of the belly wall. Surgical operations 

 are another cause for this disease. Wounds inflicted by sharp 

 instruments, as from, a pointed stick or other foreign body perfora- 

 ting the wall of the belly. These wounds, if neglected, may become 

 infected, and the germs spread to the peritoneum, with the estab- 

 lishment of a fatal infection. Castration wounds in rare instances 

 become infected, and the disease may spread to and involve the 

 peritoneum. 



Another common source for inflammation of the peritoneum is 

 by the spread of inflammation from the intestine or the uterus. 

 Inflammation of the stomach or bowels may become so severe as to 

 allow of the passage of germs through the wall of these organs and 

 start up an infection in the peritoneum. In like manner, foreign 

 bodies, such as nails, pieces of bone, or other sharp objects, may 

 penetrate the wall of the bowel or stomach and infect the peri- 

 toneum. In hog-cholera the ulcers may eat through the bowel 

 wall and produce a peritonitis. 



Inflammation of the uterus, especially after farrowing, may 

 spread to the peritoneum and set up a fatal infection. In an occa- 

 sional case the uterus ruptures and a fatal peritonitis results. Per- 

 forming of cesarean section may be followed by inflammation of the 

 peritoneum and death. 



Symptoms. — As this disease occurs as a comphcation of some 

 other inflammation of the abdominal viscera, in most instances it is 

 often entirely overlooked. The symptoms of the primary disease 

 may be so severe as to entirely overshadow those of the peritonitis. 

 The frequency with whicJi healed lesions of peritonitis are seen on 



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