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DEPARTMENT OF SUkGERY. 
Penetrating Wounds that Divide the Peritoneum .—These 
wounds are the most simple ones included in this classification 
of abdominal wounds. The penetration of the peritoneal 
cavity may be revealed by the presence of the viscera or the 
protrusion of it into the wound ; or suspected by the amount 
of shock following the injury ; and sometimes by symptoms of 
peritonitis which follow soon after the accident, but in all 
events suspected perforation should be treated as if they actually 
existed. These wounds are more serious in herbivora than in 
carnivora or omnivora; this being due to the tension of the 
abdominal walls caused by the large digestive organs common 
to them. In ruminants these wounds are not so serious as in 
non-ruminating herbivora, and all non-ruminating herbivora 
are solipeds, which are strong, active and muscular animals that 
are very susceptible to peritonitis and consequently abdominal 
wounds are more dangerous than in ruminants. This suscepti¬ 
bility is due to the activity and irritability of solipeds. The 
more active, nervous and irritable the animal the more suscep¬ 
tible it is to peritonitis following abdominal wounds, and the 
cause of susceptibility is the activity and irritability of the 
patient which retards or prevents cicatrization, and increases 
the danger of infection, and such infection is followed by an 
inflammation which extends to the peritoneum. The horse is 
the best developed representative of the family of solipeds and 
is therefore more susceptible to it than either the mule or ass 
as a consequence of the development of his muscular and 
nervous system. 
Ruminants being of a different nervous temperament gener¬ 
ally, are less susceptible to it, and therefore wounds of this 
character yield to treatment much better than in the horse. 
The result following the treatment of these wounds depends 
to a great extent upon the prevention of infection, peritonitis 
and prolapse of the viscus. If asepsis can be obtained and con¬ 
tinued, a recovery may be expected ; and even though pus ex¬ 
ists as a natural consequence of faulty antisepsis, the early 
adoption of a more thorough antiseptic treatment may ward off 
peritonitis when conditions are apparently unfavorable for a 
good recovery. 
Treatment .—The main object in treating abdominal wounds 
of this character is to prevent a prolapse of any part of the 
contents of the abdominal cavity, and to make the wound 
aseptic. All foreign substances and soft tissues that are 
lacerated and that may become necrotic must be removed pall 
