330 DISEASES OF THE DIGESTIVE APPARATUS. 



anterior bipedal position, the serosity accumulates above the dia- 

 phragm and the dulness starts at the xiphoid cartilage ; the pressure 

 exerted upon the diaphragm bj the liquid influences the respiration, 

 which may become rapidly dyspnoeic ; the animals are restless, agi- 

 tated, and endeavor to return to the quadrupedal position. 



The breathing is accelerated and painful, phenomena due to the 

 crowding forward of the diaphragm and the reduced mobility of 

 the abdominal walls, which are more or less distended ; the acces- 

 sory muscles of respiration come very actively into play ; sometimes 

 we observe dyspnœa, the breathing becomes " suction-like,'^ and is 

 accompanied by convulsive movements of the alee of the nostrils. 



Not the slightest fever is observed, unless produced by some 

 complication. The pulse is almost constantly accelerated and small ; 

 toward the end of life it is often evasive ; the heart is very excita- 

 ble and its movements are tumultuous. The mucous membranes 

 become increasingly pale ; in the sheep the conjunctiva is infiltrated 

 with liquid and the skin is very pale. The hair is dull and bristly, 

 and the extremities cold. Dogs prefer to remain in a sitting posi- 

 tion, the fore legs extended ; their movements are slow and seem 

 to be performed against their will. They become tired quickly, and 

 finally remain down constantly. Paresis of the vesical sphincter 

 produces incontinence of urine. 



If the disease follows its regular course the appetite diminishes 

 gradually, and then disappears. In the ox, rumination and the 

 peristaltic movements take place but irregularly. In the dog, the 

 appetite is not impaired for some time, but it is capricious ; the 

 animals vomit from time to time; we see alternations of constipa- 

 tion and diarrhea, sometimes of meteorism ; the quantity of urine 

 is often increased at the beginning of the trouble, later it is much 

 lessened. The lacteal secretion is reduced, and the symptoms of a 

 serious digestive trouble become more clearly defined. 



Course. The course of ascites is essentially chronic. Organic 

 consumption progresses slowly ; œdema appears upon the sheath, 

 the teats, the dependent portion of the belly, upon the legs, etc., as 

 much from the effect of the pressure exerted upon the large venous 

 trunks of the abdomen by the ascitic fluid as by the slowly devel- 

 oped hydremia. The animals become gradually weaker and more 

 miserable ; a time comes when they are unable to rise ; their eyes 

 sink, dyspnœa increases (in the ox, according to Eberhardt, nauseas 

 and vomitings are observed) ; a profuse diarrhea appears, and death 



