322 DISEASES OF THE DIGESTIVE APPARATUS, 



hj a simple dimiuutioa of appetite ; later we always observe com- 

 plete anorexia. In the horse (as in man) we have seen eructations 

 and vomiting (Roll) ; these are phenomena which must be ascribed 

 to an affection of the gastric serous membrane and to paralysis of 

 the constrictor muscle of the cardiac orifice. 



5. Acceleration of the respiration. Sometimes the respirations 

 are short and superficial, at other times deep and painful ; 20 to 70 

 per minute may be counted ; it is not unusual to recognize a serious 

 dyspnœa, the causes of which are : paresis of the diaphragm, due 

 to inflammation of its peritoneal covering, the compression of the 

 pectoral cavity by the exudate, and at certain times by tympanites,, 

 painful contraction of the diaphragm and abdominal walls ; lastly, 

 circulatory troubles consecutive to the diminution of cardiac ac- 

 tivity. The respiration may be exclusively pectoral, on account of 

 the sensitiveness of tlie diaphragm and abdominal walls (consider- 

 able rising and lowering of the ribs, and activity of the intercostal 

 muscles). When the diaphragm participates in the inflammation,, 

 we observe a kind of painful hiccough (singidtus), which pro- 

 duces abrupt respiratory movements and shaking of the whole 

 body, and along the insertion of this muscle an abnormal sensitive- 

 ness easy to find by palpation (Anacker). 



6. The general condition is ordinarily disturbing. As soon as 

 the colics have disappeared we observe a profound apathy, sleepi- 

 ness, and great weakness. The patients seem to fear the least 

 movement, and hold the head low or leaning against the walls of 

 the stall ; they are absolutely indifferent to anything going on 

 around them. Being very weak and staggering, they are subject 

 to partial tremblings and convulsions ; nevertheless, they generally 

 keep a standing position (we have seen a horse maintain this posi- 

 tion until death occurred) ; they become stiff, immobile, and it is 

 hard to displace them ; in some instances they neigh a short time 

 before succumbing. When exhausted they sink upon the ground, 

 and the fatal termination is close at hand. 



Course. In the majority of instances acute peritonitis ends in 

 death ; this is produced either through septic infection or by heart 

 weakness (and its paralysis), sometimes by asphyxia. There is 

 peritonitis by perforation, which may take the patient off within 

 twelve hours, but oftener in twenty to thirty hours. The disease 

 may follow a slower course and last from eight to fourteen days, 

 become gradually attenuated, and pass into the chronic state. 



