86 DISEASES OF THE DIGESTIVE APPARATUS. 



helps to keep the intensely inflamed parts separated and prevents 

 friction and its complicating itiflammaiion. 



Abdominal Dropsy. 



(Hydrops Ascites ; Ascites ; Hydrops Abdominis ; Hydrops 



Peritonii.) 



By this is meant a colleciion of a serous liquid in the abdom- 

 inal cavity that originates without inflammatory symptoms, being 

 solely due to transudation. The amount of liquid collected varies 

 very much. In some cases there are only a few spoonfuls collected, 

 while in a very large dog the author found 21 litres of fluid. 



The color of the fluid is sometimes as clear as water, but it is 

 generally reddish-yellow. It may also be filled with fibrinous 

 flakes, which indicate chronic peritonitis. When exposed to the 

 atmosphere it becomes firm and jelly-like. It is thin and watery 

 and slightly sticky when pressed between the fingers, and about the 

 specific gravity of blood-serum. At first the peritoneum is normal, 

 but, if this condition lasts some time, the peritoneum becomes pale 

 or dull white, and finally a fatly degeneration sets in; when the 

 animal has been repeatedly punctured inflammatory processes take 

 place, and are followed by adhesions. 



Etiology. Ascites never appears as an independent disease, 

 and can only be regarded as the symptom of another disease. As 

 the peritoneal veins belong to the mesenteric system, any obstruc- 

 tion of the portal veins causes these serous collections, as in cirrho- 

 sis of the liver or tumors of that organ, or from compression of 

 the mesenteric veins by tumors, abscesses, etc. Ascites is also seen 

 as a symptom of general dropsy from disease of the kidneys or lungs, 

 and from defective action of the heart. It may also be caused by 

 local diseases of the peritoneum, from tuberculosis, carcinoma, or 

 from chronic inflammatory conditions. It is, therefore, best to draw 

 a direct line between transudate and inflammatory exudates. 



Friedberger and Frohner could not find a trace of ascites in a 

 dog ten years old that had carcinomas in nearly all the abdominal 

 organs and peritoneum. 



Clixical Symptoms. The chief clinical symptom of this dis- 

 ease is the presence of fluid in the abdominal cavity. Small 

 amounts very frequently are not noticed, and in fact cannot be 



