98 THE CANADIAN HOESE 



Causes. — It is usually the result of chronic peritoneal 

 inflammation, or a sympathetic extension, or accompaniment 

 of " water in the chest," (hydrothorax) — ^.chronic disease of 

 some important organ contained in the belly, which it in- 

 vests. Occasionally it occurs in conjunction with enlarged 

 liver or spleen. Sometimes also from impeded circulation, 

 consequent on abnormal tumours pressing on some import- 

 ant vessels ; and, unquestionably, as in the human subject, 

 some animals have a dropsical tendency (diathesis.) 



Symptoms. — The animal is observed to be dull and in- 

 active, the bowels are costive, and the urine scanty ; he is 

 always thirsty, watery swellings appear between the fore legs, 

 which soon extend backward along the belly to the sheath 

 or udder; the belly is large, and v^hen struck, emits a dull 

 heavy sound. As it goes on, the breathing becomes hurried, 

 and the pulse quick and small, the thirst intense, the appetite 

 fails, the enlargement of the belly becomes move perceptible, 

 the external swelling greater, and the breathing much in- 

 creased; as death approaches, the pulse becomes imper- 

 ceptible, and as Blaine remarks, " the peritoneal inflam- 

 mation produces colicky symptoms frequently, and in this 

 way being occasionally but little disturbed, and at other 

 times very ill, a few active symptoms carry ofi' the poor 

 beast." 



Treatment. — When the watery eflfusion is extensive, few 

 cases recover ; however, much can be done to arrest it in the 

 early stages ; the prospects of recovery, of course, depending 

 a good deal on the cause of the complaint : when accom- 

 panied by hydrothorax, it almost invariably proves fatal. The 

 strength from the first must be harboured, stimulants must 

 be given from the beginning ; open the bowels by an active 

 purgative, smart friction being frequently applied ta the 

 belly, or if the swelling is considerable, it should be sup- 



