ABDOMINAL DROPSY. 



87 



determined by any means except by tapping When there is a 

 considerable collection of serous fluid the abdominal wall is dis- 

 tended, and, from the fluid being in the lower portion of the abdo- 

 men, the outlines of the trunk resemble those of a pear; there is a 

 peculiar sunken appearance of the flanks. When the tips of the 

 fingers are struck against the distended abdomen there is a fluctu- 

 ating movement, and when there is a large quantity of fluid 

 present the sound of the fluid can be heard when the side of the 

 abdomen is struck sharply with the flat of the hand. With per- 

 cussion we can tell to a certain extent the amount of fluid present. 

 The animal should be made to stand, thus having the fluid lying in 



Fig. 30. 



Section through the abdomea of the dog showing ttie distribution of the peritoneum : 

 a, kidney ; b, aorta ; c, vena cava ; d, intestine ; d', duodenum ; e, pancreatic gland ; /, spleen ; 

 g, liver ; A, subperitoneal fat. 



the base of the abdomen. By percussing, beginning at the lowest 

 part of the abdomen and moving upward on the wall, where there 

 is fluid, we will get a dull sound, and when the line of fluid is 

 passed we get the intestinal or tympanitic sound. It is very im- 

 portant that the animal should be in a standing position, as it can 

 be readily understood when the animal is lying on its side, the 

 fluid being beneath, we would get a clear tympanitic sound all over 

 the wall on the upper side and still have a large quantity of fluid 

 in the cavity. 



The higher the fluid collects the greater is the pressure on the 



