118 CLINICAL BACTERIOLOGY AND 



can be considerably strengthened and fortified if a suitable 

 vaccine is administered in addition to local treatment and 

 proper drainage. 



The B. coli may gain a footing in the peritoneum, espe- 

 cially in cows after parturition, through the womb, seen in 

 such cases as metroperitonitis. Here, again, where we 

 suspect such a condition, much can be done by vaccines. 



Streptococci may infect the peritoneum through strangles 

 attack running an irregular course, and also from the womb 

 in mares and cows. 



The cocci may locate themselves in a mesenteric gland, 

 which in time bursts, the bacteria are liberated, and peri- 

 tonitis sets in. Here, again, if the condition is diffused 

 and acute, little good will follow any line of treatment, 

 but should it be limited, and not too severe, much benefit 

 will follow the injection of 20 c.c. antistreptococcic serum 

 and a vaccine of 500,000,000 devitalized streptococci to a 

 horse, repeated in three to five days in a double quantity. 



It is more than probable that the majority of the peri- 

 toneal inflammations we see in practice are of bacterial 

 origin, except those cases due to traumatism; and, of course, 

 they also soon become organismally contaminated, if they 

 are not already so. 



Moreover, those acute cases of muco-enteritis which we 

 so often see in equine practice affecting high-conditioned, 

 grossly-fed animals are all probably due, either primarily 

 or secondarily, to bacterial invasion. 



Pyelonephritis. 



Diseases in general of the urinary system have, on the 

 whole, been seriously neglected by practitioners of com- 

 parative medicine. This is partly accounted for by the 

 fact that even grave nephritic conditions may exist, and 

 give no positive indications of their existence to the clinical 

 observer. More important, perhaps, is the undeniable fact 

 that clinical investigations are not as thorough as they 

 might be, nor are they as often applied as they should be. 



