58 THE LIVER. 



for in the diminished tension of the capillaries in the 

 tissues of the liver, which takes place upon the stoppage 

 of influx of blood from the umbilical vein, and which 

 gives rise to an increased transfusion of bile into the 

 blood. In strong, fully-developed infants the equilibrium 

 of pressure is soon restored, but in infants prematurely 

 born, where the respiration is a long time in becoming 

 established, and where the foetal vessels remain long 

 open, a more or less intense degree of Jaundice is apt to 

 make its appearance ; hence it is that we find that infants 

 prematurely born are more liable to Jaundice than those 

 born at full time. 



The symptoms of infantile Jaundice usually appear 

 soon after birth, sometimes even within a few hours, ot 

 the colour becomes most distinct about the third day, 

 and then, as a general rule, lasts one or two weeks. It is 

 generally attended with languor, drowsiness, and debility; 

 the skin and eyes present a more or less jaundiced tint ; 

 the urine of a deep yellow ; there is constipation ; the 

 stools are pale in colour, but afterwards resume their 

 normal tint. 



11. There are two distinct forms of Jaundice which 

 affect woman during her piv^nancy, which in their 

 symptoms and results present very different features. 

 Oue of these is of little importance, and easily removed 

 by a very simple mode of treatment ; but the other, how- 

 ever, is of very serious import, as \\e tind it generally 

 associated with serious organic lesion of the hepatic 

 tissue, and almost invariably terminates fatally. The 

 first of these forms makes its appearance during the 

 later months of pregnancy, and is produced by the 

 distension of the womb, or by the accumulation of i 



