JAUNDICE. 213 



reservoir. The ox occupies a long time in filling his paunch, and it is onl^. 

 Juring rumination that the food passes into the true stomach to be digested. 

 The meal of the dog is speedily swallowed. They need a gall-bladder \o 

 contain the bile, which continues to be secreted when it cannot be used ; 

 but to the horse, so frequently eating, it would be useless. 



INFLAMMATION OF THE LIVER 



Is a disease of rare occurrence in the horse. He is not exposed to the 

 causes which produce that complaint in other animals. Although his food 

 is sometimes highly nutritive, the work which is exacted from him prevents 

 it from unduly stimulating this important organ ; and when inflammation 

 of the liver does occur, it is with so much difficulty distinguished from thai 

 of the bowels, that if yellowness of the eyes and skin are not present, even 

 the professional man is liable to be deceived. 



Bleeding from, or rupture of the liver, is another disease of old 

 horses, and especially of those that have been highly fed. It is generally 

 fatal, but of unfrequent occurrence ; it is recognised by the frequent and 

 feeble pulse, the pawing and sighing of the animal, the coldness of the 

 extremities, whiteness of the eye and mouth, fullness of the belly, and 

 speedy debility. A veterinary surgeon is alone competent to give assist. 

 ance here. 



JAUNDICE, 



Commonly called the yellows, is a more tractable disease, and a little 

 more frequent. It is the introduction of bile into the general circulation, 

 and which is usually caused by some obstruction in the ducts or tubes 

 which convey the bi!e from the liver to the intestines. The horse, however, 

 has but one duct, through which the bile usually flows as quickly as it is 

 formed, and there is no gall-bladder in which it can become thickened, and 

 even hardened into masses so hard as to be very appropriately called gall- 

 stones. Jaundice does, however, occasionally appear either from an increased 

 flow or altered quality of the bile, or obstruction even in this simple tube. 

 The yellowness of the eyes and mouth, and of the skin where it is 

 not covered with hair, mark it sufficiently plainly. The dung is small 

 and hard ; the urine highly coloured ; the horse languid, and the appetite 

 impaired. 



It is first necessary to inquire whether this affection of the liver be not 

 the consequence of the sympathy of this organ with some other part; for, 

 to a very considerable degree, it frequently accompanies inflammation of 

 the bowels and the lungs. These diseases being subdued, jaundice will 

 disappear. If there be no other disease to any great extent, we must 

 endeavour to restore the natural passage of the bile by purgatives, not con- 

 sisting of large doses, lest there should be some undetected inflammation 

 of the lungs or bowels, in either of which a strong purgative would be 

 dangerous ; but given in small quantities, repeated at short intervals, and 

 until the bowels are freely opened. Two drachms of aloes, and one of 

 calomel, given twice every day, will be as much as can at all times be 

 administered with safety. Bleeding should always be resorted to, regulated 

 according to the apparent degree of inflammation, and the occasional stupor 

 of the animal. Plenty of water, slightly warmed, or thin gruel, should bo 

 given; the horse should be warmlv clothed, and the stai)le well ventilated, 

 but not cold. Carrots or green meat will be very beneficial. Should the 

 purging, when once excited, prove violent, we should be in no haste to stop 

 it, unless inflammation is beginning to be connected with it, or the horse is 

 very weak The medicine recommended under diarrha;a may then be 



