DISEASES OF THE DIGESTIVE ORGANS. 57 



subsidence of the congestion. When the congestion is of long dura- 

 tion the malady becomes chronic, and the result may be fatal if the 

 cause continues to act violently and without cessation. The account 

 of the following case illustrates the foregoing statement: 



A C-y ear-old ox was fed a large quantity of green corn about mid- 

 night ; he was afterwards driven so fast that he -could not ruminate, 

 and then compelled to draw a heavy load. At 10 o'clock in the morn- 

 ing he fell down, when it was noticed that his abdomen was swollen ; 

 he was forced up and had hardly been unyoked when he fell dead. 



Lesions. On opening this ox a large quantity of green corn was found 

 in the rumen which had only been masticated once. There were sev- 

 eral quarts of blood in the abdomen, the spleen was much enlarged, 

 and had several ruptures at different points along its posterior border. 



Treatment. Bleeding is the first means to be employed in treating 

 congestion of the spleen. The bleeding should be copious, and the first 

 abstraction of blood should not be less than five quarts. In making 

 this estimate the author is supposed to take as the type a working ox 

 which was in good condition at the time of his becoming affected with 

 congestion of the spleen. If there is not a marked improvement in the 

 animal's state two hours after he is bled he should be bled again. In 

 cases of this kind, which are not of a very aute character, bathing of 

 the left flank with cold water is recommended. 



In addition to the above measures mild, soothing, acidulated drafts 

 should be given, low diet, rest, and occasional injections of a small 

 quantity of lukewarm water. 



DISEASES OF THE PERITONEUM. 

 PERITONITIS. 



Peritonitis may be divided into certain varieties, according to its 

 mode of causation; (1) Traumatic, when the disease arises from wounds 

 penetrating the abdomen; (2) Idiopathic, when the disease arises from 

 exposure to cold and wet. The second variety of peritonitis occurs 

 chiefly among working oxen, and it may here be mentioned that in those 

 animals the membrane which lines the abdomen and covers the outer 

 surface of the bowels is apt to become congested by sudden chilling of 

 the skin, which empties its rich network of small blood-vessels to a 

 large extent, so that the blood must accumulate in some part of the 

 interior of the body. 



Gawie*. When a working ox has been warmed up and is sweating 

 during hard work he may have to stand for some tim^ exposed to cold 

 wind or to a cold ruin, which soon chills the surface of his body. When 

 cattle are driven through rivers or into ponds, so that their bodies 

 become wet, and they afterward lie on the ground when the air is cold, 

 such exposure may produce peritonitis. Wounds penetrating the abdo- 

 men may also cause it. 



Symptom*. A continuous or occasional shivering; the animal lies 



