58 DISEASES OF CATTLE. 



down, but appears uneasy; it frequently turns its head towards its belly 

 and lows plaintively ; pressure on the flanks produces pain; has no 

 appetite; muzzle is dry and no rumination; while standing its legs are 

 placed well under its body; pulse small and hard. The evacuations 

 from the bowels are dry and hard. If this disease is complicated by 

 the presence of inflammation of the bowels the pain is more severe and 

 the animal is more restless. The skin is cold and dry in the early stage 

 of this disease, but in a more advanced stage this condition may be 

 succeeded by heat of the skin and quick breathing. The fits of trem- 

 bling, uneasiness, small and hard pulse and tension of the left flank are 

 symptoms the presence of which should enable one to reach the conclu- 

 sion that peritonitis exists. 



Post-mortem appearance. The membrane lining the abdomen and 

 covering the surface of the bowels is reddened to a greater or less extent, 

 and there is usually considerable serous or watery fluid collected in the 

 abdomen. 



Treatment. When we have to do with the traumatic form of perito- 

 nitis, as when the horn of another animal has been thrust through the 

 abdominal walls, this lesion must be treated in accordance with direc- 

 tions before given, but the general treatment must be similar to that 

 which follows : Peritonitis resulting from castration or from parturition 

 fever must also be treated in connection with the special conditions 

 which give rise to it, as the general treatment of this disease must be 

 modified to some extent by the exciting cause. 



The body should be warmly clothed, and it is advisable, when prac- 

 ticable, to have a blanket which has been wrung out of hot water 

 placed over the abdomen, then covered by several dry blankets, which 

 are maintained in position by straps or ropes passing round the body. 

 The wet blanket must be changed as it cools the object of treatment 

 being to warm the surface of the body and to determine as much blood 

 to the skin as possible. When the matter of clothing the body has 

 been attended to the aim of treatment must be : (1) To obtain rest for 

 the affected parts; (2) to subdue inflammation and fever; (3) to sustain 

 the animal's strength. The first indication is to give a dose of lauda- 

 num or powdered opium. An ounce and a half of the first or a dram 

 of the second may be given in a pint of tepid water, and if the pain is 

 not perceptibly allayed the dose should be repeated in two hours. It 

 is dangerous to give purgatives in peritonitis, as they stimulate the 

 movements of the bowels, increase the suflfering, and aggravate the 

 disease. Tincture of aconite should be given in ten-drop doses every 

 two hours for the purpose of reducing fever and inflammation. Cruzel 

 strongly recommends bleeding for this purpose, but it should only be 

 applied when the pulse is strong and when the animal is in good con- 

 dition, and it should be borne in mind that it can not have any bene- 

 ficial effect, but the reverse, if inflammation has existed for two days. 

 The diet should consist of laxative food and drinks, such as Unseed 

 tea. If peritonitis assumes chronic form the diet should be nutritious, 



