152 Surgical Diseases and Surgery of the Dog 



In extrauterine gestation there may be entire absence of any 

 indicative symptoms, but on the other hand rabiform symptoms may 

 be induced by reflex nervous irritation. In these cases the fetus 

 can generally be palpated as a firm tumor-like body. 



Treatment. In all cases of this nature the fetus together with 

 any adventitious tissues should be removed. When rupture of the 

 uterus has occurred the operation should be undertaken as speedily 

 as possible. 



NEOPLASMS. 



Neoplasms occasionally develop on the peritoneum as primary 

 growths but they are more often secondary. The primary manifes- 

 tations are both innocent and malignant types. Of the former, 

 fibroma of the gastro-colic omentum and chyle-cyst of the omentum 

 have been observed, and emphysematous cysts of the mesentery, 

 cysts containing pentastomes ; and hydatids of plerocercoides and 

 echinococci have been recorded as rare occurrences. Of the latter, 

 tubercular growths are comparatively common. Sarcomata of the 

 omentum, mesentery, and of the peritoneum have also been de- 

 scribed, while a neoplasm growing on the mesentery, the histologic 

 identity of which was not determined and which was surrounded 

 by secondary growths with metastases in the liver was witnessed 

 by Bom. 



Secondary neoplasms are of the malignant type. Miliary car- 

 cinoma has been observed by Cadeac in an animal from which he 

 had previously removed a mammary tumor. Secondary chondroma 

 of the peritoneum occurring as a metastasis from a tumor of the 

 same nature in the mammary gland has been described by Boutell'e. 

 Metastatic venereal granulomata occur occasionally, and the mesen- 

 teric glands are often involved in cases of Jympho-sarcoma. 



Symptoms and Diagnosis. Innocent primary tumors if of 

 sufficient dimensions produce abdominal enlargement. The par- 

 asitic hydatids usually provoke inflammatory secretion which may 

 cause an ascitic appearance. Growths of both innocent and malig- 

 nant types generally give rise to cachexia. The diagfnosis of all 

 forms of tumor is aided by palpation. 



Treatment. Innocent growths are eradicable by opening the 

 peritoneal cavity and removing them by appropriate surgical me- 

 thods. Malignant growths are best left alone. 



