416 ASCITES, OR DROPSY OF THE BELLY. 



present. As the serous accumulation proceeds, the belly 

 becomes more pendulous, and, upon striking, emits a dull 

 sound : the pulse and breathing both now grow somewhat 

 hurried ; the former being small and but little developed. 

 The early constipation gives place sometimes to diarrhoea of 

 fcetid stools, and that particularly where the liver is much 

 affected or the disease is much advanced ; at which stage 

 the pulse is often found to be hardly perceptible by the 

 artery, but to vibrate with a peculiar thrill at the heart. 

 The appetite now fails ; peritoneal irritation frequently pro- 

 duces colicky symptoms ; and a few active pangs carry off 

 the poor beast. 



The post-mortem examination, as may be supposed, very 

 frequently shows the kidneys pale within ; the liver some- 

 times much diseased, occasionally but little so. The mesen- 

 teric folds are often thickened, adherent, and show coagula- 

 ble deposit on them ; and the peritoneum is also seen 

 frequently thickened either by original inflammation, or by 

 subsequent irritation and maceration. The fluid thrown out 

 is serous, occasionally (though seldom) muco-purulent ; 

 sometimes uniform, but more frequently, like other serous 

 •accumulations in the horse, at least like those of the chest, 

 it is mixed with coagulable masses or flocculent portions. 

 The quantity varies, but is very seldom enormous ; this 

 may be accounted for by the horse being generally destroyed 

 ere the quantity becomes great. 



The treatment of ascites promises little ; because it is 

 rather a symptom of visceral disorganization than of simple 

 irritation : we are warranted, however, in attempting the 

 removal of the fluid by exciting the absorbents, as detailed 

 in Hydrothorax ; and by strengthening the system generally 

 by tonics. We must, however, use no depletion : it may 

 also be observed, that purgatives are not admissible here : 

 on the contrary, they may be expected to occasion much 

 constitutional disturbance. External frictions, frequent and 

 long continued, are best ; with gentle, repeated exercise, 

 aided by warm clothing. But as soon as fluctuation is dis- 

 tinctly perceived, at once proceed to the operation of tap- 

 ping, because it will ofler the only reasonable chance in the 

 complaint when performed early. 



Paracentesis abdominis is a simple operation. The spot 



