71 



Hepatitis, botli acute and chronic, is recorded ])y (lilchrist as 

 rare. It is denoted by nnnsual paleness of tlie dung, by irregu- 

 larity of the bowels, and indigestion ; chronic disease must be 

 diagnosed by negative symptoms. Hodgson mentioned acute 

 Hepatitis as known to the Natives under the name Heca Belau 

 and treated by purging and firing, Gilchrist substitutes fomen- 

 tation and bleeding for the firing and in chronic cases he gives 

 alteratives, especially calomel, and tonics. There can be no doubt 

 that at post-mortem examinations frequently the liver has been 

 considered diseased because of ignorance as to its much divided 

 condition normally. Hydatid invasion of the livkr is extremely 

 common, but is probably seldom a cause of death directly, although 

 on active service it exaggerates the debility caused by the fa- 

 tigues of campaigning. It must be remembered in making a post- 

 mortem examination of a camel in which these larvte are found 

 that they are only to be considered the cause of death if they 

 have burst or if there are manifest signs of inflammation of the 

 liver traceable to their presence or if there is practical complete 

 h;ss of functional liver substance. The latter is sometimes the 

 case, the organ assuming an enormous size in consequence of the 

 presence of cysts, but whether or no actual excess in bulk of the 

 liver may so disturb intrathoracic or intra-abdominal pressure as 

 to cause death has not been established. Unfortunately in so far 

 as we know at present hydatid disease of liver admits neither of 

 exact diagnosis nor cure. The ordinary liver Fluke (Distomum 

 hepaticum) has been found in the liver and gall passages of the 

 BactricUi camel, but no record is to hand of it giving rise to path- 

 oloorical conditions. 



Chapter VL— THE CIRCULATORY SYSTEM. 

 The heart of the camel is small and sometimes undergoes fatty 

 degeneration, but the condition most familiar in post-mortem 

 examination is a sort of semigelatinous change due to effusion 

 between the fibres and the fat in the furrows being entirely re- 

 placed by yellow jelly-like substance. This appearance has given 



:iiul .slimy; Jibdomen (listciidcd, horly surFac-e wiu-ni, tenipcratiiic 103°F; 

 i.ater i)iu'giiip: set in. :<al animuniaf and decoction of necni leaves- cured tlic 

 case in ci.jrlit dav.-;. 



