174 DISEASES OF DOMESTICATED BIRDS 
may be present in severe, or chronic cases of enteritis, sarcomatosis, 
tuberculosis, peritonitis or other debilitating diseases affecting the 
abdominal organs. 
Symptoms. Except in a marked dropsical condition, no external 
manifestations of ascites are readily noticeable. On palpation of 
the abdominal region the presence of fluid may be detected. Its 
presence has no great diagnostic importance since it is merely as- 
sociated with a more serious affection which may be difficult of ac- 
curate determinaticn during the life of the bird and which in the 
large percentage of cases is not open to practical treatment. 
Differential diagnosis. Ascites is often confused with an ex- 
cessive formation of fat in the abdominal wall or with a drooping 
abdomen. Palpation of the abdomen and the absence of emaciation- 
or other signs of disease would eliminate ascites. When the latter 
is present a distinct fluctuation of liquid is felt, much the same as 
in the palpation of a water bag. 
Treatment. When detected, the fluid may be evacuated by punc- 
ture of the abdominal wall with a hypodermic needle. Except in 
eases of septic ascites this method of procedure would be of little 
permanent value since the fluid would be readily absorbed in the 
event that the primary cause of its presence were corrected. 
PERITONITIS 
Characterization. Peritonitis occurs frequently in domesticated 
birds. It is manifested by an inflammatory condition of the serous 
coverings of the visceral organs accompanied by a serous, or coagu- 
lated exudate in the peritoneal cavity. 
Etiology. Various causes may be responsible for this affection. 
There are numerous specific diseases of a septicemic nature in which 
the involvement of the peritoneum is of secondary consideration. 
Besides these the most important direct causes of peritonitis are 
infected yolk concretions or deposits, ovarian infections, extension 
of inflammation of the oviduct, or rectum, as a result of rupture, 
perforation of the digestive tract by foreign bodies or as a result of 
ulcerative changes in the intestinal wall such as sometimes occur in 
coccidiosis of fowls, or entero-hepatitis of turkeys. 
Symptoms. These are nonspecific since the general attitude of 
an affected bird is similar to that displayed in several other in- 
fectious diseases. Diagnosis is difficult except through post-mortem 
examination. The disease is usually of an acute nature, death 
