93 DISEASES OF THE DIGESTIVE APPARATUS 



which is seen in those cases where there is ulceration and perforation of 

 the mucous membranes. Vomiting is always present, the vomited 

 matter being greenish-yellow mucus, and in the latter stages we fre- 

 quently find faecal matter in the vomited material; the urine is lessened 

 in amount and contains a large amount of indican. There is total loss 

 of appetite. The temperature rises to 40° C. or above. If the disease is 

 not so severe as to cause death in a day or two the temperature fluctu- 

 ates, being high at one part of the day and then it becomes subnormal, 

 its character being remittent. The pulse is fast, thin and wiry, and 

 finally imperceptible. 



The majority of cases are fatal, the animals dying in from one day 

 to a week, according to the intensity of the disease. They usually die in 

 a condition of collapse; in rare cases from heart-failure or suffocation 

 from the rapid collection of the exudate. The most rapidly fatal cases 

 are those due to the perforation with septic infection. 



Circumscribed or Chronic Peritonitis produces less marked symp- 

 toms and is harder to recognize, the symptoms of diffuse chronic peri- 

 tonitis being those of ascites, and, as a rule, not diagnosed except on 

 post-mortem. The best way to confirm a diagnosis is to puncture the 

 abdomen with a small trocar and see the character of the fluid. 



Therapeutics. — Remove the cause if possible; if this cannot be ac- 

 complished by surgical interference, acute diffuse peritonitis should be 

 treated with constant applications of cold water compresses to the ab- 

 domen, and, if the irritation is very intense, the application of a covmter- 

 irritant such as frictions of camphor oil, mustard poultices or mustard oil; 

 the latter is the best. Take 30 to 50 grammes, of a mixture composed of 

 mustard oil, 10 parts and olive oil 100, rubbing it well into the abdomen; 

 applications of hot water to the abdomen by means of the priessnitz 

 compress are also useful. Opium is to be given internally in doses of 

 0.1 to 0.5 grammes; laudanum 1.0 to 5.0, and where there is collapse 

 give whiskey and spirits of camphor. If there is any obstruction of the 

 bowels, give injections of warm water or subcutaneous injections of phy- 

 siological salt solution. The exudate should be removed by puncture 

 of the abdomen, but this is not to be done until the acute symptoms 

 have subsided. It must always be borne in mind (and this holds good 

 in inflammation of other serous membranes) that the production of a serous 

 exudate is a process that tends to lessen the acuteness of the existing 

 conditions, because the liquid helps to keep the intensely inflamed parts 

 separate and prevents frictions and its complicating inflammation, hence 

 it should not be removed too early but when the exudate is suspected to 

 be purulent and by means of an explorative puncture has been proven to 

 1)0 so, a laparotomy must be performed, and the whole abdominal cavity 

 washed out with a weak solution of salicvlic or boric acid. When the 



