SECTION VI. 



DISEASES OF THE PERITONEUM AND 

 ABDOMINAL CAVITY. 



CHAPTER I. 



PERITONITIS. 



Peritonitis, i.e., inflammation of the peritoneum, may attack any of 

 the domesticated animals. It must, however, be regarded as an almost 

 accidental and relatively infrequent disease. It is due to infection of 

 very varyint;- character, and from the clinical standpoint may assume 

 one of two forms — acute peritonitis or chronic peritonitis. 



ACUTE PERITONITIS. 



The micro-organisms which produce peritonitis have not been the 

 subject of special investigation in the domesticated animals, though 

 the colon bacillus and streptococci, so frequently found in the female 

 genital tract after parturition, seem to be the most frequent causa- 

 tive agents. Certain putrefactive organisms niaj- also bring about the 

 disease. 



The peritoneum may become infected, and acute peritonitis ensue 

 under various circumstances. 



All operations in which the peritoneal cavity is opened, such as 

 castration of the cow and of the sow, laparotomy, gastrotomy, enter- 

 otomy, etc., may be followed by acute peritonitis if performed without 

 sufficient regard to aseptic precautions. Peritonitis then usually 

 assumes an acute septic form. 



Even simple puncture of the rumen, though usually quite harmless 

 if carefully performed, may by followed by local or general peritonitis 

 should food material escape from the rumen and find its way into the 

 peritoneal cavity. 



One of the most frequent causes is infection from the genital tract 

 soon after parturition. Here the agents of infection are not introduced 

 directly into the cavity, but find their way there in consequence of a 



