DISEASES OF THE PERITONEUM. 333 



"which has doubtless been frequently mistaken for this disease, 

 especially in the equine race, is of less gravity than that of ascites. 



Treatment. The indications are subordinate to the nature of 

 the particular disease by which the abdominal dropsy is produced — 

 diseases of the heart, lungs, liver, etc. These morbid conditions, 

 however, even when recognized, frequently resist the agents directed 

 against them, and we become restricted to the use of palliative 

 means. The alimentation of the patients should be rich in albumin, 

 and we must try to stop the peritoneal transudation by using pur- 

 gatives and diuretics ; sialagogues and diaphoretics may also be 

 tried. 



As a diuretic, digitalis associated with juniper berries and acetate 

 of potash is especially recommended. We may prescribe as follows 

 for the dog : 



— Infusion of leaves of digitalis 150 grammes. 



Acetate of potash liquor^ ) -j^^ 

 Juniper berries 3 

 S. — One to two tablespoonfuls daily. 



We administer also squill and sulphate of soda, caffeine, in the 

 shape of sodo-benzoate of caffeine (for the dog the dose is 0.5 to 

 2 grammes ; for the horse, 5 to 10 grammes), tincture of strophan- 

 thus (for the dog, 10 to 25 drops; for the horse, 10 to 25 grammes). 

 Purgatives are of less value than diuretics ; under their continued 

 use the organism becomes debilitated ; gamboge, however, has 

 frequently been used for the dog, also croton oil and jalap. Sub- 

 cutaneous injections of pilocarpine may be tried in all animals; it 

 is given in small doses (great caution is required, especially in cases 

 of heart troubles) : 0.20 gramme for the horse; 0.30 gramme for 

 the ox; 0.01 gramme for the dog. The administration of sub- 

 limate (0.1 to 1 gramme), formerly much used for dogs, is abso- 

 lutely worthless and is dangerous. 



Surgical intervention — puncture of the abdomen— should be re- 

 served for the cases where the fluid, having become too abundant, 

 presses upon the diaphragm to such an extent as to cause dyspnœa 

 and threaten asphyxia. In all other circumstances paracentesis is 

 of no value ; the obstacle to the circulation remaining, the abdomen 

 becomes again rapidly filled, and the blood, at the expense of which 

 this new transudation is made, becomes poorer, especially in al- 



1 This liquor, recognized by the Russian and German Pharmacopoeias, is an aqueous 

 aolution of the acetate of potash by weight 1 to 18. — n. d. t. 



