The impression conveyed to one from a
rapid survey of the vast literature 011 the subject
of Peritonitis is that this literature may be
divided into two clearly defined and widely differing
parts.
The one part dealing with the experimental
side of the subject,is chiefly concerned with
physiological and pathological questions,and to a
less degree with prophylactic measures for peritonltis;
this part is highly scientific in its methods and design.
The other part deals with the methods and
the results of the surgical treatment of Peritonitis
practised in various hospitals and this section
bears for the most part singularly little relation
to the former one.
This separation and lack of co-operation
between the experimental and the clinical workers
on the subject has, one feels sure, retarded the
progress of our treatment of Peritonitis.
The work recorded in this thesis is an
attempt to harmonise and to combine the methods of
experimental research with those of clinical and
practical therapeutics. Whilst this thesis treats
essentially of the use of certain prophylactic and
therapeutic measures for peritoneal infections,
facts of a more purely pathological and bacteriological
nature which were brought out during the
research are ,however,also recorded and discussed
