306 HEALTH AND DISEASE 



Symptoms. — In acute hepatitis the patient exhibits a dull, heavy 

 appearance. The head hangs low, the eyelids droop, and the face wears an 

 expression of drowsiness. As a rule the membranes of the eye, the nose, 

 and the mouth are more or less yellow. The urine is dark in colour, emits 

 an offensive odour, and throws down on standing a dirty-looking deposit. 

 In some instances there is diarrhoea, and in others constipation, or both 

 these conditions may exist in the same animals at different times. The 

 motions when hard are glazed, or coated with a layer of sticky mucus. 

 Deep pressure in the right flank may cause the animal to wince, and 

 pain is further manifested by the head being occasionally turned in that 

 direction. The mouth is hot and clammy, and fever is present in propor- 

 tion to the severity of the disorder. 



Causes. — As a rule, acute inflammation of the liver owes its origin to 

 disease existing in some neighbouring or remote organ, from which the 

 blood becomes contaminated with septic or putrid matter from some 

 unhealthy wound or abscess. In the adult, ulceration of the bowels, or 

 the stomach, is the more common source of such matter, and from these 

 organs it is readily transferred by means of the blood-vessels into the liver, 

 there to irritate and inflame the gland and provoke the formation of 



abscess. 



In foals it is most frequently seen in connection with that destructive 

 malady commonly termed "joint ill". 



Here the wound at the seat of the navel becomes foul and unhealthy, 

 and organisms of putrefaction gain entrance to the liver by following the 

 track of the blood-vessels connecting the one with the other. 



Treatment. — Consideration of the nature and origin of the disease 

 affords but little encouragement to hope for the complete success of treat- 

 ment, whatever benefit may be derived from it, and practical experience 

 bears out this view of the question. At the outset it will be necessary 

 to promote a free action of the bowels, and this may be done by the 

 administration of a dose of sulphate of magnesia, to be followed by the 

 daily administration of a quantity sufficient to maintain a reasonable 

 action of the bowels. Ipecacuanha, by promoting the action of the skin 

 and unloading the liver of bile, will materially aid in relieving the affected 

 organ. 



A sharp blister over the right side of the belly should be promptly 

 applied, and the body should be warmly clad in rugs and bandages. 



To withhold all food for twenty-four hours will be a distinct benefit to 

 the patient, and so long as the acute symptoms continue he should be 

 restricted to a soft or liquid diet. 



