114 TREATMENT OF CHRONIC ATROPHY CIRRHOSIS. 



most important anatomical phase connected with this 

 form is the destruction of the ramifications of the 

 portal vein, the branches of which terminate in blind, 

 club-shaped extremities. 



The disease is chronic, and is invariably accom- 

 panied by general torpor of the abdominal ganglia, and 

 venous plethora of the abdominal viscera; cancerous 

 ulcerations of the stomach and intestines ; and by the 

 formation of brownish black or greenish black tarry 

 bile, and fasces of a similar composition. By itself this 

 form of atrophy rarely proves fatal, though death may 

 ensue from the general marasmus brought on by the 

 prolonged congestion of the portal system, or from 

 repeated attacks of intermittent or remittent fever. 



TREATMENT. 



The leading indications for the treatment of this, 

 the chronic form of inflammation of the liver 

 (cirrhosis) must vary according to the state of the 

 disease, and the consequences to which it gives 

 But from the difficulty of its early recognition, or from 

 the patient not seeking early the advice of his medical 

 adviser, an opportunity is not often afforded of treating 

 the complaint in its incipient stage ; and from what hns 

 been already said of the nature of cirrhosis, it is quite 

 clear that it is only in the early stage that 

 we can successfully grapple with the complaint, 

 and so benefit the patient. During this, " the 

 early stage," while the inflammation is active, and 

 the effused lymph in a liquid condition, our Materia 

 Medica undoubtedly contains remedies which possess 

 the power of checking the further effusion of lymph, 



