The Abdomen 135 



carried out on dogs these conditions have been chiefly the cause of 

 fatal termination. But even when infective processes have started 

 up the disposition of the membrane with its pockets and recesses 

 offers opportunity for localization. 



While the above remarks are true with regard to the dog in 

 health, the conditions are changec^ when, for instance, the peri- 

 toneum has already been subjected to infection, as may occur in 

 cases of intestinal obstruction, and there is then some risk to be 

 considered. Infective processes are then more likely to arise, not 

 only by direct migration of bacteria, but through their deposit 

 from the circulation. When an intestinal obstruction has existed 

 for any length of time a state akin to septicemia is produced, namely, 

 copremia, or in other words, the blood is charged with the pro- 

 ducts of intestinal putrefaction, together with the bacteria causing 

 the same. Under these and like circumstances, the wound may 

 tend to heal unkindly, and may even lead to unfavorable termina- 

 tion, but even here the risk may be greatly reduced by adequate 

 provision for drainage. 



Because of this remarkable tolerance of abdominal sec- 

 tion, the practitioner need never shrink from undertaking the 

 operation as an explorative measure. It is not always pos- 

 sible to corroborate a diagnosis of internal lesion by external 

 appearances or palpation. Especially is this the case in plethoric 

 animals and where the lesion is situated in a position remote from 

 the surface of the body. For instance, an animal may exhibit all 

 the symptoms of acute impermeability of the intestinal canal — in- 

 tractable vomiting and suppression of defecation, with extreme pros- 

 tration — and yet the abdominal wall may be so tense as to preclude 

 the possibility of diagnosis by palpation. Again, it is very difficult 

 in gunshot cases to decide whether the intestine or any other oi^an 

 has been perforated or not. The appearance of the external wounds 

 has no diagnostic value, since there is no gaping of the parts owing 

 to contraction of the abdominal muscles, and it is often impossible, 

 and in most cases inadvisable, to use a probe. Sometimes the sexual 

 impulse is manifested after ablation of the ovaries. This is generally 

 due to the persistence in situ of a portion of the ovarial tissue, which 

 can be ascertained by an explorative operation. It is recognized that 

 the sudden accidental application of a violent compressive force to 

 the abdomen when the bladder is distended is very apt to cause rup- 



