310 JAUNDICE. 



If horses, destroyed on account of other complaints, are examined when they 

 are not more than five years old, the liver is usually found in the most healthy 

 state ; but when they arrive at eight or nine or ten years this viscus is fre- 

 quently increased in size it is less elastic under pressure it has assumed more 

 of a granulated or broken down appearance the blood does not so readily per- 

 meate its vessels, and, at length, in a greater or less quantity, it begins to exude, 

 and is either confined under the peritoneal covering, or oozes into the cavity of 

 the belly. There is nothing for awhile to indicate the existence of this. The 

 horse feeds well, is in apparent health, in good condition, and capable of con- 

 stant work, notwithstanding so fatal a change is taking place in this important 

 viscus ; but, at length, the peritoneal covering of the liver suddenly gives way, 

 and the contents of the abdomen are deluged with blood, or a sufficient quan- 

 tity of this fluid has gradually oozed out to interfere with the functions of the 

 viscera. 



The symptoms of this sudden change are pawing, shifting the posture, dis- 

 tension of the belly, curling of the upper lip, sighing frequently and deeply, the 

 mouth and nostrils pale and blanched, the breathing quickened, restlessness, 

 debility, fainting, and death. 



On opening the abdomen, the intestines are found to be deluged with 

 dark venous blood. The liver is either of a fawn, or light yellow, or brown 

 colour easily torn by the finger, and, in some cases, completely broken 

 down. 



If the haemorrhage has been slight at the commencement, and fortunately 

 arrested, yet a singular consequence will frequently result. The sight will 

 gradually fail ; the pupil of one or both eyes will gradually dilate, the animal 

 will have guita serena, and become perfectly blind. This will almost assuredly 

 take place on a return of the affection of the liver. Little can be done in a 

 medical point of view. Astringent and styptic medicines may, however, be tried. 

 Turpentine, alum, or sulphuric acid, will afford the only chance. The veteri- 

 nary world is indebted to the late Mr. John Field, for almost all that is known 

 of this sad disease. 



object was her restoration and comfort. Men was given, the wound again attended to, and 



were set to work to rub her perfectly dry, and some gruel placed within her reach, 

 some warm gruel, with a little cordial med- " At midnight she was standing at ease in 



cine, was given. The state of the wound was what may not inappropriately be called her 



next examined, and it was well cleaned with cradle. The legs were tolerably warm ; the 



tepid water. It was very dark-coloured. The pulse 60, and full; the enema had done its 



vitality of the young granulations was appa- duty, and she was in a much more comfortable 



rently destroyed, and it emitted, in some de- state than I had any right to expect. I 



gree, perhaps, from the mud which had been ordered her a warm mash and some gruel, for 



BO long in contact with it, an offensive efflu- hope began once more to cheer me. 

 vium. It was well dressed with the spirit of " On the following and succeeding days she 



nitrous ether, and properly bandaged in order continued gradually to regain her strength, but 



to prevent its receiving any further injury in she required great care and attention, and it 



her ineffectual attempts to rise. was not until the expiration of the fourth day 



" We soon, however, began to fear some that I dared to remove her from the slings, 



ill consequence from the continuance of these and then only for a few hours during the day, 



efforts, and we determined to raise her with the carefully replacing her in them at night, 



slings, those useful appendages to every ve- Some slight sloughing took place from the 



terinary establishment. This was soon effected, wound; but the principal effect of her imrner- 



We allowed very little bearing on the abdo- sion was a severe catarrh. She required occa- 



men, except when she was compelled, in order sional attendance to the wound ; and it was 



to ease her hind extremities, which were yet not until the 12th of January more than 



unable to support their share of the weight of twelve weeks after the operation that the 



the body. Frictions, stimulants, and bandages, last of the metallic sutures came away. She 



were applied to tho extremities. An enema soon afterwards returned to her usual work." 



