692 CONGESTION OF THE LIVER. 



nected with intimate liver-structure or having their situation 

 immediately subjacent to the fibrous investing membrane. 



So long as these ruptures are not extensive, and particularly 

 so long as they are contained within the proper capsule of the 

 gland — the Glissonian covering — they are rarely fatal. Such 

 apoplexies, if not immediately terminating fatally, are exceed- 

 ingly likely, from the relations and influences of the effused 

 material, to induce serious textural changes ultimately en- 

 dangering life. 



Their occurrence, when of an extensive or serious nature, is 

 indicated by collapse or sudden evidence of abdominal pain, 

 with marked alteration in the pulse and the appearance of the 

 visible mucous membranes. These suddenly appearing symp- 

 toms closely connected it may be with some sudden excitation 

 or disturbance in an animal previously in a plethoric condition, 

 and in which steady or recurring hepatic congestion has been 

 a distinct feature. 



When not extensive and of a serious character, extravasations 

 of blood, either beneath Glisson's capsule or into the true 

 hepatic structure, are not to be differentiated from ordinary 

 congestive attacks, save that their advent is occasionally marked 

 with symptoms rather more distinctly indicative of abdominal 

 pain. 



Treatment of Hepatic Congestions. — When we have reason to 

 believe that a condition of hyperemia is being developed in a 

 manner gradual rather than sudden, the natural course is the 

 withdrawal of those conditions and influences likely to operate 

 in the production of the turgescence, lessening of the food- 

 supply, and allowing more exercise, with the exhibition of a 

 moderate dose of aloes, to be followed with the liberal use of 

 such salines as the sulphate of soda or magnesia ; these latter 

 are taken often to a full amount readily enough in food or 

 drinking-water. 



When the horse is otherwise robust, not suffering from some 

 previous disease, either cardiac or pulmonary, and with no 

 marked symptoms of syncope, and where the hepatic disturb- 

 ance has been sudden and is marked by severity, the removal 

 of blood previous to the exhibition of the purge is indicated. 

 With those cases, however, where the symptoms of involvement 

 of the liver are only complementary to the existence of some 



