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called periioyiitis, accompanied by considerable fever, 

 and usually costive n ess. The second is that of the 

 internal or mucous coat, called enteritis. 



The muscular coat is that which is oftenest affected. 

 Inflammation of the external coats of the stomach, 

 whether the peritoneal or muscular, or both, is a very 

 frequent and fatal disease. It speedily runs its course, 

 and it is of great consequence that its early symptoms 

 should be known. 



The causes of peritonitis are both numerous and 

 various. We have seen that colic may give rise to it. 

 Constipation may be viewed in the light both of cause 

 and effect in its relation to it. Collected hardened 

 faeces must naturally, not only of themselves, be 

 irritative, but obstructive and subersive of the func- 

 tions of the bowels, and in either one or the other 

 ways may lay the foundation for an attack of inflam- 

 mation. Certain kinds of indigestible food, calculous 

 bodies, irritating matter of any sort, within the bowels, 

 may cause an inflammation of them. Obstruction of 

 any of their passages— whether it be from the lodg- 



