STROKE OF LIOHTNINO. Ho 



of the peritoneum be exposed to irritation, the liquid exudation is rapidly 

 absorbed by the healthy part of the membrane, f-o that the cavity is .kept dry 

 and free from putrescible matter. In rabbits it wasi found that a consider- 

 able quantity of simple water, or even of fluids containing septic bacteria, 

 could be injected into the peritoneal cavity without evil results following, 

 the fluids being rapidly absorbed and carried into the blood-stream. If, how- 

 ever, the quantity injected was greater than could be thus rapidly disposed 

 of, septic peritonitis invariably followed" (Ei'ichsen). The entrance, into 

 the abdominal cavity, of dung from a wounded bowel, dirt, or blood is 

 extremely liable to give rise to fatal peritonitis. The most obvious lesson 

 to be gained from the foregoing observations is the neces.'^ity of the employ- 

 ment of the strictest possible antiseptic precautions (p. 70) in all operations 

 (.'^ueh as castration) by which the peritoneum is necessarily wounded, and 

 in the treatment of all injuries by which the peritoneum has been hurt. 



VARIETIES. — Peritonitis may be circumscribed (confined to one 

 s})ot) or diffuse (affecting more or less the entire surface) ; acute 

 or chronic; primitive (appearing independently of any other dis- 

 ease), or secondary to an injury or other affection. In horses, it is 

 almost always acute and secondary. 



CAUSES. — ^The usual cause is injury to the peritoneum, as in 

 castration, penetration of the abdomen, hernia, and foaling. Trasbot 

 states that the drinking of excessive amounts of cold water or the 

 eating of inordinate quantities of snow or ice may bring it on. 



SYMPTOMS. — Frequent and wiry pulse (showing high arterial 

 pressure) ; hurried breatliing ; rigidity and distension of the 

 abdomen, which is very painful to the touch; arching of the back 

 and tucking up of the belly; great depression and distress; dis- 

 inclination to move ; frequent and painful attempts at making urine, 

 which is voided in small quantities ; and coldness of the ears and 

 legs. Up to the last, the lungs seem to act well; but the heart 

 appears unable to supply them with blood. Towards the end, the 

 pulse becomes imperceptible. In fatally acute cases, the animal 

 dies after a few hours' suffering:. 



'&• 



CHANCES OF RECOVERY.— As a rule, an attack of peritonitis 

 in the horse is followed by death. 



TREATMENT.— We may try the effect of f oz. of Indian hemp in 

 a ball, or 1|- oz. of chloral hydrate in a pint of water, and apply 

 warm fomentations to the part. We might bleed. 



Stroke of Lightning. 



Horses which are out in the field are sometimes struck with 

 lightning. There have been a few cases of horses being more or 

 less injured by discharges from electric wires. The shock may 

 cause instantaneous death ; or more or less unconsciousness, and 



8* 



