Double Gall- Bladder. 515 



tions, occlusion of the ducts by inflammatory swelling, tumors of 

 the liver or adjacent parts, echinococcus, cysticercus, or cica- 

 trices may be cited. Cadeac mentions a case of congenital 

 atresia of the bile duct in the calf. Vigne}' records a case in the 

 cow in which the greatl}' dilated gall bladder formed a hernial 

 mass in the epigastric region which was, however, easil}' reduced 

 by manipulation. 



In all such cases the distended bile ducts stand out as white 

 branching lines on the back of the liver converging toward the 

 portal fissure. The walls of the ducts may be attenuated or 

 thickened and it is alleged calcified. They are usually lined \>y 

 a deposit of cretaceous consistency precipitated from the retained 

 bile. The contents of the distended ducts and bladder are vari- 

 able. The}' ma}- have the color (yellow, green) and consistency 

 of bile ; they may be thick, dense and albuminous ; the}^ may be 

 thin and serous from inflammatory or dropsical exudation ; they 

 may be granular, or purulent. 



Though there is no gall bladder, in the soliped, a similar con- 

 dition of the biliary ducts may be produced in the same way. 



According to the degree of obstruction there may be more or 

 less acute symptoms of biliar}' colic, icterus, marasmus, poisoning 

 by bile acids, etc. 



Treatment must be directed toward the removal of the special 

 cause of dilatation. 



DOUBLE GALL-BLADDER. 



As a congenital formation the gall bladder is sometimes divided 

 into two at its fundus, and in other cases the division extends 

 throughout, forming two complete sacs. This has been found in 

 the sheep, cat, ox (Gurlt, Goubaux) and pig (Goubaux). Such 

 a redundancy does not interfere with normal functions. 



