DISEASES OF THE DIGESTIVE ORGANS. 19? 



partook of some gruel, and rested well during the night. Next 

 morning he got five drachms of aloes and one of ginger, in solu- 

 tion; the bowels responded to the same, and four days after ha 

 was at work. We would not, however, have the reader suppose 

 that the same agent shall suit all cases of this character; for 

 another similar feat might prove a failure, and a third equally un- 

 manageable. A case might yield to the ordinary sedatives, how- 

 ever, provided the patient could be induced to swallow them. 



Inflammation of the Peritoneum (Peritonitis). 



The peritoneum is a serous membrane, which not only gives a 

 covering to the intestines, but also a lining to the abdominal cav- 

 ity. Our pathologists teach that the peritoneum, like other serous 

 membranes, is very ready to take on inflammatory action upon the 

 operation of certain exciting causes. "Watson informs us that 

 "acute inflammation, beginning in one spot, is almost sure to 

 tiansfer itself to any other spot that happens to be in contact with 

 the first, and is very apt to extend itself rapidly to the whole 

 membrane. The disease tends to the effusion of serum, and of 

 coagulable lymph. It is of the adhesive kind, and its effects are 

 those of distending the peritoneal cavity with fluid, or of gluing 

 its opposite surfaces together, so as to obliterate that cavity, or 

 ot forming partial attachments. In all these respects the analogy 

 between inflammation of the peritoneum and inflammation of the se- 

 lous membranes of the chest and the covering of the heart is perfect." 



Peritonitis is generally a manageable disease when treated ac- 

 cording to the principles of rational medicine ; but when treated 

 according to the dictum of Blain and others, who have never 

 done any original thinking, in so far as veterinary science is con- 

 cerned, it is decidedly the reverse. For example, here is a pas- 

 sage from Blain's works: 



"The treatment of peritonitis is much the same as for enteritis. 

 The only difference is, that the animal will lose more blood before 

 he displays any symptoms of uneasiness. We may also be more 

 bold with purgatives. The three ounces of solution of aloes may 

 be increased to five, the pint of oil enlarged to a pint and a half; 

 and if this produces no signs of its having acted on the bowels, 

 •it may even be repeated when another three hours and a half have 

 elapsed. All the other measures are alike, in both cases." 



