PERITONITIS IN BIRDS. 



From caponizing, accidental traumas, ruptured oviduct, perforations of 

 bowels by foreign bodies or worms, pyogenic susceptibility slight. Symp. 

 toms : inappetence, drooping head, wings, tail, erect plumage, stiffness, 

 straining, tense, tender, pendent belly. Treatment : unload cloaca, punct- 

 ure and irrigate abdomen, laxatives. Prophylaxis, by laxative food, expul- 

 sion of worms, antisepsis in operations, unloading cloaca, etc. 



Causes. Birds contract peritonitis from caponizing, and other 

 penetrating wounds of the abdomen, from rupture of the ovi- 

 duct impacted with egg matter, from perforations of the in- 

 testines by foreign bodies, and from perforations by worms. 



The danger from ordinary pyogenic germs is, however, at its 

 minimum, since birds stand at the opposite extreme from the 

 horse, and their wounds rarely suppurate. 



Symptoms. The bird loses appetite, droops head, wings and 

 tail, ruffles its feathers, walks stiffly and heavily, and expels 

 faeces with much effort and even with cries. When caught the 

 abdomen is found to be full, tense and pendent and very tender 

 to the touch. There is more or less hyperthermia (108 and 

 upward), and the subject becomes more and more dull, stupid 

 and feeble until death; 



Treatment. In certain cases relief may be had by the unload- 

 ing of the cloaca, or the evacuation of peritoneal fluid, followed 

 by antiseptic, irrigation of the cavity. Laxatives may also be 

 resorted to. The most important measures are, however, 

 prophylactic, and run in the direction of careful manipulation 

 and antisepsis in caponizing, the unloading of impacted cloaca, 

 before it has developed serious disease, the maintenance of a 

 suitably laxative diet, aud the prevention and treatment of 

 worms. In case of tumors causing chronic peritonitis, laparo- 

 tomy can be resorted to with great confidence. 



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