JAUNDICE. 22^ 



The symptoms of this sudden change are — pawing, shifting the 

 posture, distention of the belly, curling of the upper lip, sighing 

 frequently and deeply, the mouth and nostrils pale and blanched, 

 the breathing quickened, restlessness, debility, fainting, and death. 



On opening the abdomen, the intestines are found to be deluged 

 with dark venous blood. The liver is either of a fawn, or light 

 yellow, or brown color — easily torn by the finger, and, in some 

 cases, completely broken doviai. 



If the hemorrhage has been slight at the commencement, and 

 fortunately arrested, yet a singular consequence will frequentlv 

 result. The sight will gradually fail ; the pupil of one or both 

 eyes will gradually dilate, the animal will have gutta serena, and 

 become perfectly blind. This will almost assuredly take jdace on 

 a return of the affection of the liver. Little can be done in a 

 medical point of view. Astringent and styptic medicines may, 

 however, be tried. Turpentine, alum, or sulphuric acid, will af- 

 ford the only chance.^ 



JAUNDICE, 



Commonly called the The Yellows, is a more frequent, but 

 more tractable disease. It is the introduction of bile into the gene- 

 ral circulation. This is usually caused by some obstructi-on in 

 the ducts or tubes that convey the bile from the liver to the intes- 

 tines. The yellowness of the eyes and mouth, and of the skin, 

 where it is not covered with hair, mark it sufficiently plainly. 



* Note hy Mr. Spooner. — The symptoms which we have noticed as attend 

 ing this disease are, a heavy dull appearance, loss of appetite, and respira 

 tion somewhat quickened, but not distressed as in inflammation of the luniks ; 

 the pulse is distinct and somewhat quickened, perhaps from lifry to sixty it) 

 the minute. The membranes of the eyelids are yellow, or at any rate pale. 

 It is a very obstinate disease, often becoming fatal, even when the syinpton^s 

 at first do not appear to denote danger. In such instances they gradually 

 increase in severity, and symptoms of severe pain become connected with 

 those of distress previously existing, and, in the course of six to ten days, 

 the case b(iComes fatal. 



Bleeding is required in the first instance, but not to the same extent as in 

 inflammation of the lungs. Recourse should then be had to mercurial alter- 

 atives. Calomel two scruples, with opium one scruple, should be given 

 twice a day for several days, until the system appears to be affected by the 

 mercury. The relaxation of the bowels should be promoted by a pinh of 

 linseed oil, repeated twice or thrice. The hair should be cut off the side 

 opposite the liver, and mercurial or blistering ointment rubbed in. If the 

 horse refuses to eat mashes, plenty of linseed or oatmeal gruel should be 

 given with the horn. 



The hepatirrhoea, or rupture and bleeding from the liver, mentioned in 

 the text, is uniformly fatal, if not at the first, at the second or third attack. 

 It is sometimes atteuaed with amaurosis, or paralysis of tl*i optic nerve. 

 Treatment is comparatively useless. 



