HEALTH AND DISEASE 



process continue, the function of the liver becomes impaired, and the 

 supply of bile for the purpose of digestion is both insufficient in quan- 

 tity and indifferent in quality. 



In these circumstances the general health gives way, there is loss of 

 strength, swelling of the legs, an unthrifty appearance, and gradual 

 wasting of the body. 



These symptoms offer no evidence of the seat and nature of the 



disease, and it may be that re- 

 liable indications of the organ 

 affected will not appear until 

 the last stages of the malady 

 have been reached. The bowels 

 now become irregular, the fseces 

 pale in colour and offensive in 

 odour, the membranes lining 

 the eyelids and the nose assume 

 a yellow appearance, and the 

 urine is similarly discoloured. 

 The difficulty of diagnosing 

 the existence of parasites in the 

 liver is in some measure a dis- 

 advantage, but experience has 

 amply shown that nothing can 

 with safety be given to our 

 patient that will dislodge 

 these distomes from their 

 stronghold. In view of this 

 fact, the great object of treat- 

 ment should be to uphold the 

 animal's strength by the ad- 

 ministration of vegetable and 

 mineral tonics in a plentiful 

 supply of good nutritious food. 

 A small quantity of common salt may also, be given daily, and with 

 these measures good nursing and healthy surroundings should be enjoined. 

 If the damage inflicted on the liver is not great, the parasites will in the 

 ordinary course quit the organ, and a return to health may be anticipated. 



Echinococcosis of the liver, as it is termed, is the result of the invasion 

 of that organ by the embryo of a tape-worm (Tcenia eehinoeoccus) which 

 infests the intestines of the dog. As in the case of the distomes just 

 noticed, the mode by which the parasites gain access to the body is 



Fig. 113. — Liver infested with Eehinoeoccus 



A, Liver studded with eehinoeoccus cysts. B, Titniu 

 tape-worm of the dog. c, Embryo or young tenia. D, Hooklet. 



