CONCLUDING REMARKS. 8/ 



escape into the vagina this must be irrigated or swabbed out 

 with antiseptics. Its presence is indicated by loss of appetite, 

 pain and general uneasiness, accompanied by high temperature. 

 Careful vaginal or rectal (or both) exploration should be made, 

 the abscess being detected as a soft palpitating body under the 

 fingers. It should be lanced as scon as is considered expedient, 

 and the surrounding parts kept clean by syringing or swabbing 

 with an antiseptic. 



Peritonitis should be treated immediately by the internal 

 administration of antiseptics and opiates, and by the external 

 application ol hot rugs covered with waterproof sheeting and 

 affixed to the body with surcingles. If only local, and not due 

 to septic causes, it need give no alarm. The vagina should be 

 kept clean with warm antiseptics. 



In connection with peritonitis and the formation of an abscess 

 it is worth while to bear in mind that, in a mare with a wide 

 vagina, air will sometimes be heard to rush into the abdomeri. 

 It is always possible, if the..bed upon which the animal is cast is 

 made of some dusty material or the air is otherwise infected, 

 that this may prove a source of infection, and care should be 

 taken to avoid it as much as possible. 



It will be noticed that two of the cases (see Appendix, Cases 

 6 and 22) died of twisted gut within a short time afterwards. 

 Whether this can be attributable to the operation or was merely 

 coincidence it seems hard to say definitely. Further statistics 

 may perhaps help to decide the point, which is worth noting. 

 I have no recollection of having punctured the omentum in 

 either case. 



Concluding Remarks.— Considering the apparent severity of 

 the operation it is really remarkable what very slight (if any) 

 systemic disturbance occurs when it is performed under anse.s- 

 thesia and with strict adherence to antiseptic precautions. These 

 are, however, essential to an uninterrupted series of successful 

 results. In opening such an important cavity as the abdomen 

 one must not forget that a septic infection cannot take place 

 without the presence of septic organisms, and that under 



