Peritoneal Laceration Due to Muscular Effort

HEMOPERITONEUM is usually seen in such clinical conditions as ruptured ectopic pregnancy or severe abdominal trauma. The unanticipated finding of a large amount of blood in the peritoneal cavity without apparent cause is rarely encountered. The case recorded below is unusual, and thought to be worthy of record. Report of a Case A 66-year-old white man (BA 871) was admitted to the Easton Hospital on April 9, 1964, suffering from vague, lower abdominal distress of 48 hours' duration. Prior to this he had enjoyed excellent health. He was known to have had bilateral inguinal herniae and had received sclerosant therapy for this condition as a child. He smoked heavily and noted frequent paroxysms of severe coughing. During such an episode he experienced acute pain in the right inguinal area. This subsided rapidly, leaving only a persistent dull ache throughout the lower region of the abdomen. He had pursued his normal