154 



PARASITIC AMOEBA OF MAN. 



The rupture of a liver abscess is of comparatively 

 frequent occurrence and may take place into the ab- 

 dominal cavity, the pleura, the pericardium, or into 

 adjoining viscera. Of 24 cases observed at the Army 

 General Hospital, in San Francisco, no less than 

 seven ruptured before death, five into the right 

 pleural cavity, and two into the left pleural cavity 

 and the pericardium. As this question is of con- 

 siderable surgical importance the following table illus- 

 trating the place of rupture in over 100 cases may 

 prove of service: 



TABLE III. 

 ILLUSTRATING THE SITE OF RUPTURE IN AMCEBIC ABSCESS OF THE LIVER. 



When very large or situated near the surface an 

 amoebic abscess is often visible externally, but fre- 

 quently they are only discovered upon section of the 

 liver; when multiple abscesses are present only one 

 or two may be visible, the others being situated deep 

 within the organ. In such instances a careful exam- 

 ination will always disclose the fact that there is 



