CAI.CAREOUS NODULES AND DEGENERATIONS OF 

 THE EIVER. 



Calcified roundish nodules, in groups, under capsule. Mostly in solipeds. 

 Theories of origin : parasites, microbes, emboli, omphalitis, intestinal dis- 

 ease, biliary obstructions. Calcification of liver with large abdominal aneu- 

 risms. Cszoker's case. Diagnosis and specific treatment impossible. 



In the domestic animals in general the liver may become the 

 seat of imperfectly spherical nodules of a white, yellow or brown- 

 ish white color, v^arying in size from a millet seed to a pea or hazel 

 nut, and of a gritty consistency and feeling, from the deposition of 

 earthy .salts. These may be seen in groups under the proper cap- 

 sule, the adjacent hepatic tissue being healthy, or atrophied, 

 sclerosed or pigmented. These lesions have been found most 

 abundantly in solipeds. 



Pathogeyiesis. The most varied doctrines have been advanced 

 as to the origin of these lesions. They have been attributed to 

 the previous presence in the liver of linguatula, echinococcus, 

 ccEiiurus, oxyurus, distoma, and other parasites (Cadeac, Ma- 

 zanti, Olt, Ostertag, Gripp, Eeuckart, Ratz), to glanders, to mi- 

 crobian attacks (Dieckerhoff), to mnuite embolic infarcts in om- 

 phalitis in the foal, or intestinal disease in the adult (Kitt), and 

 to obstructions by the eggs of distomata in the biliary ducts 

 (Galli-Vallerio). It is not improbable that the lesion may be 

 due to any one of these in a specific case, and this may be ascer- 

 tained by the existence of certain definite features and conditions. 

 Linguatula, echinococcus and coenurus can only be suspected in 

 districts where the.se prevail, and a careful examination of the 

 central mass of the nodule should reveal the presence of the inde- 

 .structible booklets, as certified for given cases by Olt, Ostertag 

 and Gripp. In case of nematoid worms or di.stomata, the eggs 

 may possibly be found as in the cases of Villach and Ratz, or the 

 embryos I^Mazanti). Or there may be traces of channels formerly 

 hollowed out by the worms in the vicinity of the nodules, as seen 

 by Eeuckart. Coincident tumors of the intestinal mucosa from 

 larval nematodes, or aneurism or emboli in the anterior mesente- 

 ric artery would corroborate this conclusion. If distomata had 



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