394 CHAPTER 56. 



given. None answer better than half a drachm each of nitric and hydro- 

 chloric acid in a pint of water with one ounce of tincture of gentian, or 

 half a pint of the infusion. 



812. Inflammation of the Liver. Acute Hepatitis. 



If the congestion runs into Inflammation, the pulse will become hard, 

 quick, and small, and the usual symptoms of fever will be present. Pain 

 will be felt, if pressure be applied to the right side just behind the saddle 

 place, but the pain is not great, because the parts are soft and capable of 

 swelling. 



If the attack is not checked, the faeces usually become clay-like in 

 colour and consistency. The dryness, itchiness, and yellow tint of the 

 skin increase, and the unhealthy, rough, arid staring appearance of the 

 coat is more marked. The glands about the throat and other parts of the 

 body sometimes become enlarged. The animal rapidly loses condition. 

 Occasionally severe diarrhoea supervenes and complicates the symptoms. 

 Ascites, or dropsy of the belly, is a common sequel of the attack. 



The liver is also occasionally, though but rarely, subject to sudden 

 acute attacks of Inflammation. This disease is known as Acute Hepatitis. 



The horse becomes dull and moping, and probably coughs occasionally. 

 He hangs his head, his eye droops, and he loathes his food. He seems to 

 suffer from inward pain, but not of a severe kind. He has not lain 

 down during the previous night, the dung balls are small and dark 

 coloured, the urine is scanty, the mouth is hot, and the animal is feverish. 

 The fever runs on, and the inner side of the lips, cheeks, tongue, and the 

 mucous membranes of the nose and eyes are tinged with yellow colour 

 accompanied with a pasty state of the mouth with a rather sour smell. If 

 blood be abstracted, the serum will be of a golden hue. The dung 

 balls are tinged or perhaps deeply stained with bile, and often encased in 

 viscid mucous matter. The urine is of a yellow colour with a copious 

 sediment. The patient lies down occasionally, looks at his side, rises 

 again, and occasionally walks round the box in a circle to the right. 

 This is a common symptom in acute hepatitis. If the right side bo 

 pressed upon, he will flinch, or perhaps bite, arid show signs of tender- 

 ness. 



The pulse becomes quick, strong, and bounding, the breathing is dis- 

 turbed and short. The patient appears dull and stupid and often sinks 

 into a lethargic state, or he may stagger in his walk. 



In either of these attacks, if the symptoms are not soon relieved, the 

 case may end in rupture of the liver. 



813. Treatment. 



Both in Inflammation of the liver and in the cognate affection Acute 

 Hepatitis, no time must be lost in attacking the disease. In most cases 

 in the early stage a dose of aloes should be administered. By this cathar- 

 tic the overloaded condition of the bowels will be relieved. Warm 

 fomentations should be applied to the region of the liver, as recommended 



