144 SWINE PRACTICE 



is associated with the proliferation of fibrous tissue aud usually 

 greater or less adhesions of the visceral and parietal peritoneum. 



Symptoms. — Acute peritonitis is associated with abdominal pain, 

 the severity of which depends upon the extent and intensity of the 

 inflammation. The pain may be manifested on palpation of the ab- 

 domen. The affected animals have a "tucked up" appearance; the 

 appetite is diminished or perhaps wanting. There is a rise of 

 temperature and a rapid, wiry pulse. The animals are uneasy and 

 restless and grunt when forced to move. Constipation is present. 

 The acute type of peritonitis is usually of short duration, the ani- 

 mals in many instances dying within forty-eight hours, especially 

 when the condition is the result of an operation. 



Animals affected with chronic peritonitis may show some digestive 

 derangement or there may be no evidence of disease. 



Treatment. — Remove the cause, and the further treatment will de- 

 pend upon the cause and nature of the lesions. In all cases the bowel 

 movement should be diminished or inhibited by the use of opiates. 

 If the disease is the result of injury, surgical interference and 

 the rational application of antiseptics is indicated. If the animals 

 eat they should receive only liquid foods easy of digestion. 



TUMORS 



Some cases of peritoneal tumors in swine have been reported. The 

 fibroma of swine is usually benign; it may be tabular or peduncu- 

 lated. Sarcoma, endothelioma, and carcinoma also have been ob- 

 served, the first being the most common. 



The above-mentioned tumors are pathologically identical to the 

 same type of tumors observed elsewhere in swine or in other ani- 

 mals, and they produce practically the same results, with the pos- 

 sible exception that the malignant tumors are not so fatal as in 

 some other animals, particularly in the human. 



PARASITES 



The cystic form of the Taenia echinococcus (echinococcosis) is 

 probably the most common parasitic invader of the peritoneum of 

 swine. The' description of these cysts will be found under the dis- 

 cussion of parasites of the liver. 



The Cysticercus tenuicollis is occasionally observed involving the 

 peritoneum of swine, although in the central United States these 



