250 DISEASES OF THE PERITONEUM 



PERITONITIS. 



Definition. — An inflammation of the peritoneum. From 

 the standpoints of intensity and duration peritonitis may be 

 classified into: (o) Acute, and (b) chronic. 



Acute Peritonitis.— Definition.— An acute inflammation of 

 the peritoneum. From a clinical standpoint acute perito- 

 nitis may be divided into: (a) Circumscribed or localized, 

 and (b) general or diffuse. Other divisions are hardly recog- 

 nizable during the life 'of the animal. Even the most severe 

 cases of peritoneal infection often show the least evidence 

 of inflammatory reaction. The inflammatory reaction which 

 takes place in peritonitis is often a salutary process, by pre- 

 venting excessive absorption from the peritoneum, leading to 

 the destruction of microorganisms that have gained entrance, 

 and by the formation of fibrin and adhesions preventing the 

 spread of infection to the entire serous membrane. 



Etiology. —From the standpoint of cause acute peritonitis 

 may be divided into : (a) Primary, and (b) secondary. 



(a) Primary, acute peritonitis is applied to those cases 

 where there is no local focus in the abdomen to account for 

 the infection of the peritoneum; it is assumed that the 

 infection has reached the abdomen by the blood or lymph 

 stream, or from some injury to the abdominal wall, such as 

 blows, kicks, gunshot wounds through the abdominal walls, 

 bowels, etc., or operations of various kinds on the organs in 

 the abdominal cavity. 



(b) Secondary, acute peritonitis is due to infection at some 

 localized area in the abdomen, or in the immediate neighbor- 

 hood, which develops rapidly producing a diffuse or circum- 

 scribed inflammation. This form of peritonitis is very 

 common in animals and results from a number of conditions. 

 It may be due to infection from the abdominal viscera, 

 following perforation of their walls, or to inflammation and 

 the infection passing through the walls. The following con- 

 ditions are frequent causes: Perforation pf gastric or 

 duodenal ulcer; acute toxic gastro-enteritis; mycotic gastro- 

 enteritis; traumatic rupture of the stomach or bowels; 

 strangulation of the bowels, volvulus; intussusception; 



