414 Veterinary Medicine, 



Treatment. The first consideration is the removal of the 

 cause. If this is a mere vicious action of the peritoneum, or the 

 presence of a thrombus, or of operable tumor, or even of curable 

 disease of the liver or kidneys, success may be hoped for, while 

 in dilatation of the heart, insufficiency of the cardiac valves, ir- 

 remediable disease of the lungs, liver or kidney, or malignant or 

 inoperable tumor no such result can be hoped for. 



Apart from the removal of the cause the first indication is to 

 evacuate the liquid and this may be done with a large hypodermic 

 needle or small cannula and trochar inserted by preference on or 

 near the linea alba while the animal is in a standing position. 

 Skin and instrument should be rendered thoroughly aseptic, and 

 a bandage should be wrapped round the abdomen and gradually 

 tightened as the liquid escapes. This to a large extent obviates 

 the tendency to faint, or to cerebral anaemia which has caused 

 sudden death in a number of cases. It also to some extent 

 counteracts the sudden effusion of blood in the abdomen, which 

 is at times determined by the vacuity. 



Injection of a solution of iodine (tincture of iodine 1 pt., iodide 

 of potassium 1 pt., boiled water 20 pts. ) has been employed 

 sometimes with success, but in other cases it has roused a fatal 

 inflammation. It is best adapted to a simple morbid relaxed 

 state of the peritoneum. 



Saline purgatives (sulphate of soda or magnesia) are especially 

 useful in complicated cases and should be pushed in continuous 

 action, as far as the strength of the animal will warrant. By 

 depletion from the portal system they oppose the tendency to 

 mechanical transudation, while by rendering the portal blood 

 more dense they strongly solicit endosmosis from the adjacent 

 peritoneum. 



Diuretics have been used extensively and with benefit. They 

 may prove injurious in a kidney that is already the seat of irri- 

 tation and yet after all be the least of two evils. In some cases 

 instead, the resulting dilution of a dense and irritating urine is 

 directly soothing to the tender kidney. Saltpeter ( 1 o to 1 5 grs. ) , 

 acetate of soda ( 1 5 to 30 grs. ) , squills ( 1 to 2 scr. ) , may be re- 

 peated so as to keep up a free action. Pilocarpine (subcutem) 

 (tbtt to ~h grain daily), has removed the ascitic fluid in 14 days 

 (Zahn), but its action is always to be dreaded in a weak system, 

 or with a diseased heart or lungs. 



