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Inflammation of the peritoneum, or membrane which lines the abdomen.

Inflammation of peritoneum.

The characteristic signs of acute inflammation of the peritonaeum are, - violent pain in the abdomen, increased by the slightest pressure, often by the simple weight of the bed-clothes. It generally occurs in the parturient state; Lochoperitonitis, and begins on the second or third day after delivery. At times, a malignant epidemic, and perhaps contagious, variety has made its appearance, and destroyed numbers of females. This has been described under the name Puerperal Fever, Metroperitonitis, Enecia Synochus Puerperarum, (F.) Peritonite puerperale, Metropiritonite puerperale, Fievre puerperale, Typhus puerperal, Erythematic or Nonplastic Puerperal Peritonitis, Typhohaemic Peritonilis, Adynamic or Malignant Puerperal Fever, Low Fever of Childbed. It is, according to some, a malignant inflammation of the peritoneum and uterus; according to others, a Uterine Phlebitis. In any form it requires active treatment, early employed. The appearances on dissection are such as occur whenever a serous membrane has been inflamed, and such inflammation has produced death :-effusion of fluid with flakes of coagulable lymph in it; appearances of vascularity, &c., in the membrane. The treatment- in active peritonitis-must consist of the same course as recommended under Enteritis. In the chronic kind, symptoms must be combated as they arise, and it may be advisable to excite a new action in the system by means of mercury. In the epidemic and malignant variety, unless bleeding be freely employed at the very outset, it does harm. If used early, it is of decided advantage. Everything depends upon arresting the morbid process at the outset.

Inflammation of the peritoneum.