^20 Veterinary Medicine. 



The calculi may be little larger than grains of coarse sand. 

 When larger and solitary they are mostly globular or mulberry 

 shaped ; if many are together they have become polygonal by 

 friction. In other cases notably with distomata they form hollow 

 tubular incrustations on the bile ducts, and contain a thick 

 grumous bile. They are usually of a green color, but may be 

 yellowish brown, yellow, or whitish. When cut across they 

 present a nucleus enclosed in successive layers, each successive 

 one often differing from the la.st in color. Their specific gravity 

 is low, some will even float in water when taken from the ducts, 

 and all float when dried. Their composition is variable but 

 chiefly cholesterine, bile acids, resin and pigments, an albumoid 

 matter, with lime .salts, etc. The nucleus may be the remains 

 of a dead parasite, epithelial cells, blood, pus, mucus, etc. 

 The outer layers are usually the hardest. 



There may be attendant hypertrophy of the liver, cirrhosis, 

 amyloid and other degenerations, catarrh of the biliary ducts, and 

 distension or (according to Birnbaum ) rupture of the portal vein. 



Symptoms. There are no reliable diagnostic symptoms apart 

 from the colics which accompany the obstruction of a bile duct by 

 a passing calculus. These in the main resemble the colic of 

 ordinary indigestion, but they may be complicated by unusual de- 

 pression and nervous prostration. There may be drooping of the 

 head, ears and eyelids, watery eyes, re.sting the head on the 

 manger or pushing it against the wall. The urine is liable to be 

 red or reddish (Jobelot), and if it or the mucosae show a yellow- 

 ish tinge it is strongly suggestive. There may be constipation or 

 diarrhoea. Tlie colics are severe and may last for several days 

 (Seaman, Lucet, Burgoin) without fever and recover abruptly 

 when the stone passes into the duodenum. They recur, however, 

 with the impaction of another .stone, and this intermittent feature, 

 with the marked prostration, and the access of slight jaundice 

 with each colic furnishes the best means of diagnosis. 



Treatment. During the access of colic give a full do.se (i to 2 

 lbs. ) sulphate of soda in warm water along with some active anti- 

 spasmodic (belladonna, lobelia, chloroform, ether), and foment 

 the loins and hypochondriac regions. Olive oil in large doses 

 (i to 2 quarts) has been found effective. Salicylate of soda in 

 full doses is beneficial in .stimulating the biliary .secretion, diluting 



