DISEASES OF THE DIGESTIVE ORGANS. 49 



To bring on evacuations of the bowels it is better to give rectal injec- 

 tions than to administer purges. The strength may be sustained by 

 cotfee, whisky, or camphor. 



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

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

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

 are maintained in position by straps or ropes passing around 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. The diet should consist of laxative food and 

 drinks, such as linseed tea. If peritonitis assumes chronic form the 

 diet should be nutritious, such as selected clover hay, linseed cake, 

 grass, etc., and iodid of potassium should be given in gram doses 

 dissolved in a pint of water three times a day. 



DROPSY OF THE ABDOMEN (ASCITES). 



In this disease there is a serous, or watery, effusion in the cavity 

 of the abdomen. 



Causes. — AMien old animals are fed on innutritions food or when 

 an animal is reduced by disease, they become anemic; or, in other 

 words, their blood becomes impoverished and dropsy may follow this 

 condition. An innutritions and insufficient diet will produce the 

 same effect in young animals. It is one of the results of peritonitis, 

 and may also arise from acute or chronic inflammation of the liver, 

 such as is of common occurrence when flukes are present in the liver 

 in large numbers. Heart disease and chronic lung disease may be 

 followed by ascites. It is sometimes, in calves, a symptom of infes- 

 tation with worms. 



SymptoTThS. — A gradual increase in the size of the abdomen at its 

 lower part, while the flanks becomes hollow; pallor of the mucous 

 membrane of the mouth and eye; weak and sluggish gait; want of 

 appetite, and irregularity in ruminating. On percussion or tapping 

 the surface* of the abdomen with the fingers, a dull sound is produced. 

 If the hand and ann are oiled and passed into the rectum so far as 

 possible, on moving the hand from one side to the other the fluctua- 

 tion caused by the presence of fluid in the abdomen may be felt. 



Treatment. — If possible the cause must be discovered and removed. 

 The diet should be nutritious, and in those cases where we have 

 merely to deal with anemia (the bloodless state) arising from insuffi- 

 cient diet, the use of tonics and diuretics, at the same time keeping 

 the skin warm, may bring about a gradual absorption of the fluid 

 contained in the abdomen. One of the following powders may be 

 mixed with the animal's food three times a day ; or, if there is any 

 uncertainty as to its being taken in that way, it should be mixed with 

 16923°— 12 4 



