8o THE MANAGEMENT AND DISEASES OF THE DOG. 



injected, nose dry and hot, tongue white and slimy, breathing 

 increased, and expirations hot. 



As the disease advances the pain becomes most intense : 

 the very countenance of the poor animal is expressive of the 

 agony he is enduring. Sharp cries bespeak the torture pro- 

 duced even by the slightest pressure. Lying now in any posture 

 affords not the slightest relief ; and the patient stands, prop- 

 ped up, as it were, with his legs apart, breathing with dif- 

 ficulty, for this act is now performed independent of the ab- 

 dominal muscles or diaphragm. The abdomen becomes dis- 

 tended, the tongue dry and furred ; thirst extreme, urine 

 scanty and high-colored, and there is obstinate constipation. 

 In a short time the herald of death approaches, all pain 

 ce&sQ=,-~-mi>rfificaiwn is the boon he grants before life leaves 

 the suffering frame. The extremities become cold, the pa- 

 tient is comatose, and so passes quietly away ; or, occasionally, 

 delirium closes the scene. 



Post-mortem Appearances. — Intense inflammation of the per- 

 itoneal membrane, often extending through its whole thick- 

 ness, and portions of it are not unfrequently found to be gan- 

 grenous. The membrane covering the intestines is frequently 

 involved ; livid patches are also to be observed on that por- 

 tion of it covering the stomach and liver. The abdominal 

 cavity contains more or less serous fluid ; if the disease has 

 existed long the quantity is considerable, of a bloody hue, and 

 smells very offensive. 



Treatment. — In the early stage of acute peritonitis, the 

 bowels may be moved by an oleaginous aperient ; but in the 

 later stages — when, in all probability, the membrane covering 

 the intestines is involved, together with- the inability of the 

 system to withstand depletion — ^purgatives are attended with 

 great danger, and simple enemas alone should be relied ^n. 



Hot fomentations, linseed-meal poultices, or bags of hot 

 salt should constitute local treatment. At the onset leeches 

 may be applied to the abdomen ; but they are not admissible 

 at a later period. 



